On Windows startup if your system cannot or is unable to load a required dll file and you see a message – Failed to load DLL, then this post will help you. The error message could be:
- The dynamic library dll failed to load.
- Failed to load dll library.
This error can occur if Windows OS fails to locate the DLL library which the system needs to access during startup. It could also occur if could happen if the DLL is not in a directory specified in the path or if the DLL has gone missing or corrupted. This error is commonly seen if you have removed a malware infection – but a DLL file has been left behind.
Failed to load DLL file on Windows
If you face this error, here are a few things you could try:
1] Reinstall the program
Reinstall the program which is throwing this error. Better still, uninstall it, download the latest setup file and install it.
2] Check startup programs
Check the Startup programs – especially the Windows Registry startup paths and remove the startup entry to this dll file
3] Run Registry Cleaner
Run CCleaner or any other good Registry Cleaner to clean up the residual registry and file junk
4] Re-register the DLL file
If the file in question is a legitimate DLL file that is required by one of your programs, you could try and re-register this DLL file. The Regsvr32 tool is a command-line utility that can be used for registering, and un-registering OLE controls as DLL and ActiveX (OCX) controls in the Windows operating system. If you find that some of your Windows functions are not working properly, you may need to register your dll files.
5] Use Dependency Walker
Use freeware Dependency Walker to troubleshoot, if a specific program of yours is not loading, or a service is failing to start with an error pointing to a specific dll. You can load that program or dll in Dependency Walker, to see which file is failing to load or what module is causing the problem – and then fix it.
6] Check details in Event Viewer
If nothing helps, you may need to open the Event Viewer and check for error messages or codes caused for this file.
How do I fix missing DLL files in Windows 11/10?
There are different ways to fix a missing DLL file error in Windows 11/10 PC. For example, you can run the SFC scan, use the DISM tool, copy the DLL file from another system and restore it to your computer, etc. However, it entirely depends on the operating system and the particular DLL file you are getting problems with.
How do I install a DLL file in Windows 11/10?
If you have a DLL file and want to install it on Windows 11/10 PC, you need to use the regsvr32 command in an elevated Command Prompt window. However, you must check if the downloaded DLL file is valid or not. Otherwise, you may encounter various problems after registering or installing it on your PC.
How do I fix Windows DLL errors?
Although it depends on the particular DLL file, you may have to use the System File Checker, DISM tool, etc. However, if it is related to a game, it is recommended to repair or reset it instead of downloading the DLL file from a third-party source.
Hope something helps!
Related read: The procedure entry point could not be located in the dynamic link library.
