How to Fix Opengl32.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors

Opengl32.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the OpenGL Client DLL file. In some cases, these errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

Opengl32.dll Errors

There are several ways opengl32.dll errors can show up on your computer, such as:

• Opengl32.dll Not Found. This application failed to start because opengl32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
• Cannot find [PATH]\opengl32.dll.
• The file opengl32.dll is missing.
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: opengl32.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.

How to Fix Opengl32.dll Errors

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

1. Restore opengl32.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" opengl32.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

   If you suspect this, but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you might be able to recover the file with a free data recovery program.

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

2. Reinstall the program that uses the opengl32.dll file. If the 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 the opengl32.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this error.

3. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to opengl32.dll.

   If, for example, you're receiving a "The file opengl32.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating your video card drivers.

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

5. Run the sfc /scannow System File Checker command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the file. This file is provided by Microsoft, so System File Checker should restore it.

6. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some opengl32.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.

7. 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. This DLL file could be included in one of those updates.

8. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the opengl32.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, System Restore could solve the problem.

9. 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 opengl32.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.

10. 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.

11. Use a free registry cleaner to repair opengl32.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid DLL registry entries that might be causing the error.

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

12. 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 opengl32.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 error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

13. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any opengl32.dll errors persist. After a clean install of Windows, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.

Need More Help?

If you don't want to fix 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.