If you see UnityPlayer.dll is missing or not found error while playing a game on your Windows PC, this article may help you resolve the issue. UnityPlayer.dll is a Dynamic Link Library responsible for generating 3D materials for games and animated characters. It is developed by Payload Studios. DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library. It is a file that contains code and data required by one or more than one programs to run properly. When a DLL file gets corrupted, or you delete it by mistake, the programs or games that use that DLL file do not run properly, and you will receive the DLL is missing or not found error. Some users cannot play the games that use the UnityPlayer.dll file because it is either missing or not found by the game.
The code execution cannot proceed because UnityPlayer.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.
UnityPlayer.dll is missing or not found on Windows PC
Apart from games, you may also receive this error message in other programs that use the UnityPlayer.dll file if the file is missing from your system. If UnityPlayer.dll is missing or not found by a program on your system, try the following fixes to resolve the issue.
- Uninstall and reinstall the game or program
- Move all the files to the game installation folder
- Copy the UnityPlayer.dll file from another computer
Let’s see all these fixes in detail.
1] Uninstall and reinstall the game or program
One of the causes of the missing DLL files error is improper installation. If you have terminated the installation process of your game or program or if the power was shut down unexpectedly during the installation of the game or program, some of the files might have been corrupted. In this case, reinstalling the game or program fixes the issue. Windows is also suggesting you reinstall the problematic program (read the error message).
Uninstall the game or program via the Windows 11/10 Settings app, then download the game again. Now, run the installer file to install the game again. Make sure that the installation process is not terminated this time.
2] Move all the files to the game installation folder
By default, all the programs and games are installed on our C drive. Installing a larger game on the driver will obviously take up more space on the drive. This can create performance issues. To free up space on the C drive, some users move the game files from the installation folder to another location (on another hard drive partition). Doing this causes issues in that game. If you have done such a thing, the game is showing the “UnityPlayer.dll is missing or not found” error due to this. To fix this problem, move all the files to the game installation folder.
If you did not move the game files from the game installation folder to another location and the game is showing you the error message, check if the game exe file is located inside the game installation folder. If not, the exe file is placed at another location. Now, click on Windows Search and type the name of your game. Right-click on it and select Open file location. You will find the exe file there. Now, copy that exe file and paste it into the game installation folder. After that, right-click on the exe file placed inside the game installation folder and create a desktop shortcut for the same. Now, launch the game from this desktop shortcut.
Related: UnityPlayer.dll caused an Access Violation (0xc0000005)
3] Copy the UnityPlayer.dll file from another computer
If the problem still persists, copy the UnityPlayer.dll file from another healthy computer to your computer. You will find the UnityPlayer.dll file only on that computer that has the program or game which requires the UnityPlayer.dll file is installed. For this, you can contact your friends who play the same game you are experiencing the issue with.
By default, the DLL files are located at the following location on a Windows PC:
C:\Windows\System32
Apart from the above location, the DLL files are also located in the game installation folder. Therefore, you have to look for the UnityPlayer.dll file at both locations.
This should fix the issue.
Read: Bad Image, D3D11.dll is not designed to run on Windows, Error 0xc0000020.
How do I fix UnityPlayer.dll not found?
If the installation process is terminated or if the particular game or program is not installed properly, it may result in corrupted or missing files. The UnityPlayer.dll is not found error occurs when the game or program does not find the UnityPlayer DLL file on your system. You can fix this issue by copying the UnityPlayer.dll file from another computer to your computer. If the DLL file is not available, reinstallation of the same game or program can help.
How do I fix missing DLL errors?
DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library. It is a file required by one or more programs to run properly. If you get the missing DLL file error on your system, running the System File Checker or DISM scan, re-registering the DLL files, etc., can help. You can also copy the missing DLL file from another healthy computer to your computer to resolve the issue.
I hope this helps.
Read next: Failed to load DLL file on Windows computer.
