How to Fix Asl.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Asl.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the asl DLL file.

In some cases, asl.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

Asl.dll Errors

There are several ways asl.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common error messages you might see:

• Asl.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because asl.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
• Cannot find [PATH]\asl.dll
• The file asl.dll is missing.
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: asl.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.

The context of the asl.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

Asl.dll error messages are usually associated with an Apple program like iTunes or Safari. The file might exist in any of these folders:

• C:\Program Files\iTunes\
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\
• C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Safari\Apple Application Support\

However, your specific error might appear while using or installing a different program, when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation.

How to Fix Asl.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the simpler solutions first.

1. Restore asl.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" asl.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

   If you suspect this, but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover the file with a free file recovery program.

   Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete this step, or any of the steps below, if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the error.

2. Repair the Apple Application Support installation. This is the tool used by iTunes and Safari that actually utilizes asl.dll, so repairing it should fix the missing or corrupt asl.dll file.

   To do this, open Control Panel and find the Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs option. Select Apple Application Support (the 32-bit one if you see two similarly named entries) and then select Repair (or Change if you don't see Repair) at the top of that window. Repeat for the 64-bit version (if you see it) if the 32-bit repair didn't fix the DLL error.

3. Download and install the latest version of iTunes if repairing Apple Application Support didn't resolve the asl.dll error.

   You might first try removing the current version of iTunes before updating or reinstalling. You can do that with a free uninstaller tool or via Control Panel (in the same place you completed Step 2, but choose Uninstall or Remove on the iTunes entry).

   Try your best to complete this step. Reinstalling the program that provides the asl.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

4. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some asl.dll errors could be related to a virus or other malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file. It's even possible that the asl.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

5. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the asl.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, System Restore could solve the problem.

6. Reinstall the program that uses the asl.dll file. If the asl.dll DLL error occurs when you use a particular program (other than iTunes, since you already completed that step above), reinstalling the program should replace the file.

7. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to asl.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file asl.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.
   

   The asl.dll file may or may not be related to video cards—this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

8. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if asl.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

9. Test your memory and then test your hard drive. We've left the majority of hardware troubleshooting to the last step, but your computer's memory and hard drive are easy to test and are the most likely components that might cause asl.dll errors as they fail.

   If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.

10. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual asl.dll file troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a startup repair or repair installation should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

11. Use a free registry cleaner to repair asl.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid asl.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

12. Perform a clean installation of Windows. This will erase everything from the hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the asl.dll error, this should be your next course of action.

    All the information on your hard drive will be erased during a clean install. Make sure you've made the best attempt possible to fix the asl.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

13. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any asl.dll errors persist. After a clean Windows installation, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.