How to Fix Fmod.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

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

Fmod.dll Errors

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

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

Fmod.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 fmod.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

The error message could apply to any 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 Fmod.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're listed, which is from easier to solve to more difficult:

1. Restore fmod.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" fmod.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 make sure you deleted the file, and not your antivirus program (or it might contain malware).

   Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete 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 fmod.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 fmod.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

3. Is the fmod.dll error seen with a Steam game? There are a couple of things you could try.

   First, verify the integrity of the game files to make sure they're installed correctly. Corrections will be made automatically if changes need to be made.

   If that doesn't work, take note of what you did before you saw the fmod DLL error. If you recently installed a patch for the game, consider downloading the whole game and not just the patch. Using just the patch can throw an error against various DLL files, including fmod.dll.

4. Shut down any programs that might be using the fmod.dll file. It's possible that one program is currently using/locking the DLL file, in which case it needs to be terminated in order for the fmod.dll file to be used in the program you need it for.

5. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the fmod.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 fmod.dll file. If the fmod.dll DLL 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 fmod.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

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

   The fmod.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 fmod.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

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

10. 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 fmod.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

11. 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 fmod.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.

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

13. Use a free registry cleaner to repair fmod.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner may be able to help by removing invalid fmod.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.

14. 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 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 fmod.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

15. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any fmod.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.