How to Fix Helper.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Helper.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the helper DLL file.

In some cases, helper.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

Helper.dll Errors

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

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

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

How to Fix Helper.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the simpler solutions first.

1. Restore helper.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" helper.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 remember to do this only if you're sure the file was working properly before it was deleted (i.e., not 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. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some helper.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 error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

3. 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.

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

   For example, Microsoft's Feedback Hub uses this DLL file, so your helper.dll error message could be related to that app. If you're not sure where to begin on this step, check this app first.

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

5. 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 helper.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

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

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

8. Test your memory and then test your hard drive. I'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 helper.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 helper.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 helper.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid helper.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

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

11. 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 helper.dll error, this should be your next course of action.

    All the information on your hard drive will be erased during this step. Make sure you've made the best attempt possible to fix the helper.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to performing a clean installation.

12. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any helper.dll errors persist. After a clean installation of Windows, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.