How to Fix Glut32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Download the official glut32.dll file, or reinstall the program that needs it

Glut32.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the glut32 DLL file, a file used by the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT). In some cases, glut32.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

The glut32.dll 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 10Windows 8Windows 7Windows VistaWindows XP, and Windows 2000.

Glut32.dll Errors

There are several ways glut32.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common error messages you might see:

  • Glut32.dll Not Found
  • This application failed to start because glut32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
  • Cannot find [PATH]\glut32.dll
  • The file glut32.dll is missing
  • Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: glut32.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again
glut32 DLL error message in Windows

This DLL file is used by the OpenGL Utility Toolkit, but the context of your specific glut32.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

Glut32.dll error messages most likely appear while using or installing certain programs.

How to Fix Glut32.dll Errors

Try these tips in the order they're presented to address the easier and more likely fixes first.

Do not download glut32.dll from a "DLL download" website. There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file is a bad idea. If you need a copy of glut32.dll, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source (step 2 below).

  1. Restore glut32.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" glut32.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 it with a free file recovery program. Just make sure it was working fine before it was deleted (i.e., it was corrupted or malicious).

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

  2. Download glut32.dll from OpenGL. This is the original source for this DLL file, so it's safe and recommended to get it here versus anywhere else.

    Through that link, look for the glutdlls37beta.zip link, or one with a similar name. Next to it is a paragraph that says this is where you'll find the DLL and LIB files.

    You'll need to copy the DLL file to wherever it is that it's missing from.

    glut32 dll file in a folder
  3. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some glut32.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 glut32.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

  4. Reinstall the program that uses the glut32.dll file. If the glut32.dll DLL error occurs when you use a particular program, and completing Step 2 wasn't helpful, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

  5. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the glut32.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, a System Restore could solve the problem.

  6. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to glut32.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file glut32.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

    The glut32.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.

  7. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if glut32.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

  8. 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 glut32.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.

  9. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual glut32.dll file troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a startup repair or repair installation should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

  10. Use a free registry cleaner to repair glut32.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid glut32.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

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

  11. Perform a clean installation of Windows. A clean install of Windows will erase everything from the hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the glut32.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 glut32.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

  12. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any glut32.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.

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