How to Fix Libeay32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If reinstalling the program that needs this file doesn't fix the error, install OpenSSL to safely download libeay32.dll

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on March 8, 2023

Libeay32.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the libeay32 DLL file. This file is used by various software programs to help transfer data securely over networks.

In some cases, libeay32.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware infection, or even a hardware failure.

Libeay32.dll Errors

Libeay32.dll error message

There are several ways libeay32.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common ways you might see them:

  • Libeay32.dll Not Found.
  • This application failed to start because libeay32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
  • Cannot find [PATH]\libeay32.dll.
  • The file libeay32.dll is missing.
  • Libeay32.dll is missing from your computer, please reinstall the application.
  • Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: libeay32.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 error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the issue.

The libeay32.dll error message could apply to any program or system that uses 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 Libeay32.dll Errors

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

Don't download libeay32.dll from a "DLL download" website; downloading a DLL file like that is a bad idea. If you need a copy of this file, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.

  1. Restore libeay32.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" libeay32.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.

    Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete this step, or any of the following steps, if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the error.

  2. Reinstall the program that uses the file. If the libeay32.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 this file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error. Microsoft Office is one example of a program that uses this file; reinstalling MS Office, if this is where you see the error, would be what you should do for this step.

  3. Install OpenSSL to supply the computer with the libeay32.dll file. The previous step is probably a smarter choice, but if you can't do that, installing OpenSSL is a good plan.

    During installation, you're asked where you want to copy the DLLs. Choose the option for the Windows system directory, but if you don't, manually copy the file into the system folder later.

    If the latest OpenSSL version doesn't provide the libeay32.dll file, try installing an older version, like v1.1. It's possible that newer editions don't provide this particular DLL file.

  4. If you're using Symantec Endpoint Protection and see the error when running ClientRemote.exe, copy libeay32.dll to this folder: 

    \Tools\PushDeploymentWizard

    See these detailed instructions on where to find the libeay32 DLL file for help.

  5. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some libeay32.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.

  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 the file. If, for example, you're receiving a libeay32.dll is missing error only when you open your browser, try updating the drivers for your network card and see if that helps.

  8. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if the errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

  9. 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.

  10. Use a free registry cleaner to repair libeay32.dll related issues in the registry. This might be able to help by removing invalid libeay32.dll registry entries that could be causing the DLL error.

  11. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any errors persist. After a clean install of Windows, your DLL issue can only be hardware related.

Need More Help?

See How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? if you'd rather not fix this problem alone. Through that link is 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.

Was this page helpful?