How to Fix Xlive.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

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

Xlive.dll Errors

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

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

Xlive.dll error messages might appear while playing certain games, like Fallout or Dark Souls, or when installing particular programs.

The context of the xlive.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem. Keep it in mind when following the steps below.

How to Fix Xlive.dll Errors

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

1. Download and install Microsoft Games for Windows. The xlive.dll file is included in this download, and installing it will likely replace the DLL file, fixing this problem.

   The DLL file should install to one or both of these folders:

   C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
   C:\Windows\system32\
   

   If you need to, copy it from one location to the other, or to the folder that the xlive.dll error message describes is missing the DLL file. For example, if you're getting the xlive.dll error in Fallout, you might need to copy the DLL file here:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout
   

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

2. Restore xlive.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" xlive.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.

   Undeleting the DLL file is a good idea only if you're confident you've deleted the file yourself and that it was working properly before you did that.

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

   Try your best to complete this step. If Step 1 was unsuccessful, reinstalling the program that provides the file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

4. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some errors could be related to a virus or other malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file. It's even possible the xlive.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

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

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

   This DLL file may or may not be related to video cards—this was just an example. The key here is to pay close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

7. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if the 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 xlive.dll file could be included in one of those updates, or an update might include files that xlive.dll relies on to work correctly.

9. 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 these 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, which might include xlive.dll.

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

    We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. They're included as an 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 xlive.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 errors persist. After a clean installation of Windows, your DLL issue 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.