How to Fix Dsound.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If installing the latest version of DirectX doesn't fix the error, reinstall the program that needs the file

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on December 9, 2022

Dsound.dll issues are caused in one way or another by an issue with Microsoft DirectX.

The dsound.dll file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows-based games and advanced graphics programs, dsound.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by dsound.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, 10, 8, etc.

Dsound.dll Errors

dsound DLL error message

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

  • The file dsound.dll is missing
  • Dsound.DLL Not Found
  • File dsound.dll not found
  • Dsound.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.
  • Failed to load library: DSOUND.dll

The error message could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, most commonly video games. The error is usually seen when the game or program is started. GTA IV, Valorant, Fortnite Battle Royale, and League of Legends are some examples of games known to throw this error.

How to Fix Dsound.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

Do not download the dsound.dll file individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of reasons why download DLLs like that is never a good idea. If you've already done so, delete it immediately and continue with these steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The dsound.dll error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version will fix the dsound.dll not found error.

    Microsoft often releases updates to DirectX without updating the version number or letter, so be sure to install the latest release even if your version is technically the same.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the dsound.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or other program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of it on the installation disc.

    Sometimes, though not often, the version included on the disc is a better fit for the program than the latest version available online.

  4. Reinstall the game or software program. Something might have happened to the program files that work with dsound.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore the dsound.dll file from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your error, try extracting the DLL file individually from the DirectX downloadable package.

  6. Update the drivers for your video card. While it's not the most common solution, in some situations updating the drivers for the video card in your computer could correct this DirectX issue.

  7. Run System Restore to restore your computer to a point in time when the error wasn't occurring. If you're able to, this should restore the file and fix the errors.

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.

Was this page helpful?