How to Fix X3daudio.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If installing DirectX doesn't fix the error, reinstall the software that's producing the error

By
Tim Fisher
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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.
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Updated on February 9, 2023

X3daudio.dll problems all source in one way or another from a glitch with Microsoft DirectX. The x3daudio.dll file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Because DirectX powers most Windows-based games and advanced graphics programs, x3daudio DLL errors usually show up only when you use these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98, including Windows 11, Windows 10, etc., may be affected by x3daudio.dll and other DirectX problems.

X3daudio.dll Errors

x3daudio dll error message

There are several ways x3daudio.dll errors can show up on your computer. Listed here are several of the more common ones:

  • The file x3daudio.dll is missing
  • X3daudio.DLL Not Found
  • File x3daudio.dll not found
  • X3daudio.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.

The error message could apply to any program that depends on Microsoft DirectX, most commonly video games. Ark and The Elder Scrolls are just a couple of examples of games we've seen throw one of these errors.

How to Fix X3daudio.dll Errors

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

Do not download the x3daudio.dll file individually from any "DLL download site." Downloading DLLs from sites like that is a bad idea. If you've already done so, remove it immediately and continue with these steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The x3daudio.dll error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the 'not found' error.

    Microsoft often releases updates to DirectX without updating the version number or letter, install the latest release even if your version is technically the same.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the x3daudio.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD.

    Usually, if a game or another program uses DirectX, the software developers will include a copy on the installation disc. Sometimes, though not often, the version included on the disc is a better fit for the program than the latest version available online.

  4. Reinstall the game or software program. Something might have happened to the program files that work with x3daudio.dll, and a reinstallation could do the trick.

  5. Restore the x3daudio.dll file from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your x3daudio.dll error, try extracting the file from the DirectX downloadable package.

  6. Update the drivers for your video card. While it's not the most common solution, in some situations, updating the drivers for the video card in your computer could correct this DirectX challenge.

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.

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