How to Fix 'Engine.dll Not Found or Missing' Errors

Engine.dll errors are caused by some problem with the engine DLL file, either because it's missing entirely or because it's corrupt and therefore can't be used properly. In some cases, engine.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware problem, or even a hardware failure.

Engine.dll Errors

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

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

Engine.dll error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation. The context of the engine.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

The engine.dll error message could apply to any program or system that might use the file on any of Microsoft's operating systems, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

How to Fix Engine.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're presented, which starts with the easier-to-solve tips first.

1. Restore engine.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" engine.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. Just makes sure you deleted the file (not your antivirus program) and that it was working properly before you did that.

   Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete any of these steps if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the error.

2. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some engine.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 engine.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

3. Reinstall the program that uses the engine.dll file. If the error occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

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

4. Verify the integrity of the game cache if you're getting the engine.dll error when you try to play a Steam game.

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

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

7. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if engine.dll errors began after you updated a particular hardware device's driver.

8. Run the sfc /scannow System File Checker command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the engine.dll file. If this DLL file is provided by Microsoft, the System File Checker tool should restore it.

9. Install any available Windows updates. Many service packs and other patches replace or update some of the hundreds of Microsoft distributed DLL files on your computer. The engine.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

10. 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 engine.dll errors as they fail.

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

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

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

    We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. We've included the option here as a "last resort" attempt before the destructive step coming up next.

13. Perform a clean installation of Windows. This erases everything from the hard drive and installs a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the engine.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 engine.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

14. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any engine.dll errors persist. After a clean install of Windows, 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.