How to Fix Fm20.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Fm20.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the Microsoft Forms DLL file. In some cases, these errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

Fm20.dll Errors

There are several ways fm20.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common related error messages:

• Fm20.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because fm20.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
• Cannot find [PATH]\fm20.dll
• The file fm20.dll is missing
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: fm20.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again

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

Given that the file is used by Microsoft Office and is, at least in some versions of Windows, stored within the MS Office installation folder, there's a good chance it's related to a program within that software suite, such as Excel.

However, the error message might apply to any other program or system that might utilize 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 Fm20.dll Errors

1. Restore the file from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" fm20.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

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

   Undeleting this DLL file is a smart idea only if you're confident you've deleted the file yourself and that it was working properly before you did that.

2. Reinstall the program that uses the file. If fm20.dll errors occur when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

   This file is most likely associated with a Microsoft Office program, so reinstalling Office should be your primary focus in this step. Don't forget to save your product key first, if necessary.

   Try your best to complete this step. Reinstalling the program that provides the original fm20.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

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

4. 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. This DLL file might be included in one of those updates.

5. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some fm20.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 the error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

6. 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.

7. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to fm20.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file fm20.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

   This file is most likely not 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 the 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 fm20.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 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 fm20.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid 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.

12. 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 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 error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

13. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any fm20.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.