How to Fix Lua.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Lua.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of lua.dll, a DLL file associated with the Lua programming language.

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

Lua.dll Errors

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

• Lua.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because lua.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
• Cannot find [PATH]\lua.dll
• The file lua.dll is missing.
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: lua.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. You might also see lua.dll errors when you try to open or play a PC game.

The context of the error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

How to Fix Lua.dll Errors

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

1. Restore lua.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" lua.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 data 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. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some lua.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 lua.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

   It's possible that the AV tool is incorrectly marking lua.dll as a virus, in which case you can remove it from quarantine to fix the error. However, take caution, because the DLL file might actually be dangerous; use your best judgement here. If you know it's safe, simply disable your AV program when you play the game, or add an exception to quit scanning the game folder.

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

   GameLoop (or, at the least, an app installed through it) is one program we know uses this file. If you're having lua.dll problems in this Android emulator for Windows, uninstall it from your computer, reboot the PC, and then install it again.

   The same goes for lua.dll errors in Steam.

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

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

   The lua.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.

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

6. 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 lua.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

   Even if lua.dll isn't one of the updates included in Windows Update, it's best to keep Windows updated because one of the updates might be necessary for lua.dll to work properly.

7. 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 lua.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.

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

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

9. 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 lua.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 lua.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

10. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any lua.dll errors persist. After a clean Windows installation, 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.