DLL stands for Dynamic-link libraries. This is a file that includes data and code that can be utilized by more than one program. DLL files help with code reuse, code modulation, disk space, and storage efficiency. All of this means that the program works faster and more efficiently.

In essence, these files are the core components of Windows. But sometimes, this DLL file might be lost and users may receive the “missing .dll file” error message. 

Generally, this error message appears when another program uses similar .dll file and remove the file itself or change the content. The first application’s dependency gets broken and it stops running.  

Sometimes, the DLL file might be infected with malware or viruses giving rise to this issue. An outdated version of the Operating System and Driver can also cause this problem. 

Therefore, if you encounter this issue, then you should know the procedures to resolve this problem. 

So, in this post, we are going to provide various useful procedures to solve this error. Hence, follow this guide carefully and find the fix that works best in resolving this problem for you.

Effective Procedures to Fix Missing .DLL File Error

Before starting off with any fix, first, you need to reboot the system. Sometimes, rebooting the system can solve several problems that you are encountering. 

After rebooting the device, check if the problem is still there or not. If you still find this error on your computer, then you need to try other procedures. 

In the section below, you will get to know some of the effective and useful procedures to get rid of this glitch from the system. Try them one by one.

Procedure 1 – Restore the Deleted DLL File

Somehow if you delete the DLL file from the system, then you may see the DLL missing error on the screen. So, you have to restore this file from the Recycle Bin. 

So, go to the Recycle Bin and search for the missing DLL file and then revive it. If you can not access the system, then you need to start the system in Safe mode and then restore the missing DLL file. To start the system in Safe mode, follow these steps:

1. From the keyboard, hold the Windows Home key and press the I button to open the Settings window. 
2. When the Settings window opens, locate the Update & Security section, double-click on it. 
3. From the Update & Security window, select the Recovery tab on the left panel.
4. On the right pane, select the Restart Now option under the Advanced Startup tab. Now, the system restarts.

After restarting the system, you will see the ‘Choose an option’ list will appear. From that list, go to the Troubleshoot section. 

In the Troubleshoot section, select Advanced Options and then click on the Startup Settings button. After that, select the Restart button. Once the PC restarts, click on the Safe Mode option. 

After these steps, you need to try to restore the deleted DLL file and then check if the problem is fixed or not. 

Procedure 2 – Perform System Restore

It is possible that the change in the system configuration or a recent update or registry changes is causing the DLL missing problem. 

If such is the case, you need to perform a System Restore to take back the system to a restore point where it was working good. Go through the directions mentioned below to do that.

1. First of all, go to the Search Panel, type Control Panel and then hit the Enter key.
2. From the Control Panel window, select the System & Security section and then click on the System button.
3. In the System window, click on the System Protection button on the left panel.
4. When the System Protection window opens, select the System Restore button.
5. In the next window, select the restore point that you want. After that, select the Next button. If any confirmation page appears, click on the Finish button. 

It will take a few minutes to complete this process. After completing this process, check if the problem still shows up or not. 

Procedure 3 – Install the Latest Version of the Operating System

This problem can be caused by an outdated version of the Operating System. So, you must keep the system up to date. To update the Operating System, follow the instructions hereunder:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon to open the WinX Menu list and then select Settings.
2. In the Settings window, double-click on the Update & Security section. When the Update & Security window opens, go to the Update tab on the left panel.
3. From the Update tab, click on the Check for updates button to check whether any updates are available or not.
4. If you find the update, then you will get an option Update, click on it to begin the update process.

Once the update process is complete, the computer will automatically restart. After that, check if the error has been fixed or not. 

Procedure 4 – Update the Display Driver

If you have not updated the display driver for some time, then you may come across this error on your computer. So, you need to update the driver. The following steps will help you:

1. Press the Windows Home button along with the X Key to launch the WinX Menu list and choose Device Manager.
2. From the Device Manager window, navigate to the left panel and select the Display Adapters section to expand it. 
3. Locate and right-click on the driver and then select the Update Software Driver button to start the update process.

After finishing the update process, restart your computer and then see if the error still persists or not. After performing these steps, if the error still appears, then you should try the next fix. 

Procedure 5 – Run the System File Checker Tool

If the Windows system files are corrupted somehow, then you can receive the DLL missing error. So, you need to run the system file checker tool. To do that, follow these instructions:

1. At first, press the Win + X keys to open the WinX Menu list and select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. When the Command Prompt window opens, enter SFC/scannow and then hit the Enter key to run this command.

Once the scanning process is complete, reboot the machine.

Procedure 6 – Run DISM Tool

After running the System File Checker tool, if the error is still present, then you need to run the DISM tool. It is an in-built tool of Windows. 

Running this tool will hopefully fix this error on your PC. Perform the steps as instructed below.

1. Firstly, open the Search box, type CMD and right-click on it to open the list. After that, choose the Run as administrator button.
2. Enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth command in the Command Prompt window and then press the Enter button.  
3. This process will take some time to finish. Once done, reboot the device and then check if the program runs fine without any hassle. 

Wrapping up

Hopefully, using these procedures, you will be able to fix DLL missing error on the system on your own. Try to follow each and every procedure carefully and perform the steps on your PC to resolve this issue. 

If you have any queries or you have any trouble with these steps then you need to seek help from a professional to get rid of this error.