How to Fix Vorbisfile.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

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

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

Vorbisfile.dll Errors

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

• Vorbisfile.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because vorbisfile.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
• Cannot find [PATH]\vorbisfile.dll
• The file vorbisfile.dll is missing.
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: vorbisfile.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.
• This program can't start because vorbisfile.dll is missing from your computer

These errors typically appear while using or installing certain programs or video games, but they could also occur when Windows starts or shuts down.

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

Audacity, SpaceEngine, and The Last Remnant, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are just a couple of programs known to use this file, so it's possible for vorbisfile.dll errors to show up in the context of those applications and games.

How to Fix Vorbisfile.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

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

   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 vorbisfile.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 vorbisfile.dll 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 vorbisfile.dll 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 vorbisfile.dll file. If the vorbisfile.dll 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 vorbisfile.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

5. Adjust the sound settings so the output device is set to CD Quality instead of DVD Quality. This is probably not a solution for everybody, but it's worth a shot.

   Once the sound settings are open, choose your speakers from the Playback tab, and then go to Properties > Advanced to find the menu for changing the sound format.

6. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to vorbisfile.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file vorbisfile.dll is missing" error when you play an audio file or video, try updating the drivers for your sound card.

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

8. 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 vorbisfile.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

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 vorbisfile.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 vorbisfile.dll file 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 vorbisfile.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid vorbisfile.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

    We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. We've included the option 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 vorbisfile.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 vorbisfile.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

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

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see our article 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.