How to Fix Nspr4.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Nspr4.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the nspr4 ​DLL file.​

In some cases, nspr4.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

This DLL file is related to the Netscape Portable Runtime (NSPR). It's used in Mozilla software, Oracle’s server applications, OpenOffice, and other software.

Nspr4.dll Errors

There are several ways nspr4.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common ways you might see these errors.

• Nspr4.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because nspr4.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
• Cannot find [PATH]\nspr4.dll
• The file nspr4.dll is missing
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: nspr4.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again

Nspr4.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 error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

How to Fix Nspr4.dll Errors

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

1. Restore nspr4.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" nspr4.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. Reinstall the program that uses the nspr4.dll file. If the nspr4.dll error occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

   For example, delete Firefox from your computer if this is the program showing the DLL error, and then download and install Firefox again.

   Try your best to complete this step. Reinstalling the program that provides the nspr4.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

3. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some nspr4.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.

4. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to nspr4.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file nspr4.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

   The nspr4.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 nspr4.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 nspr4.dll file could be included in one of those updates, or at the least, an update installed through Windows Update could be necessary for nspr4.dll to work correctly.

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 nspr4.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. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual nspr4.dll file troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a startup repair or repair installation should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

9. Use a free registry cleaner to repair nspr4.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid nspr4.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this DLL 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.