How to Fix Winmm.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

A troubleshooting guide for winmm.dll errors

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

The winmm.dll error message could apply to any program or system that might utilize the file on any of Microsoft's operating systems, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8Windows 7Windows VistaWindows XP, and Windows 2000.

Winmm.dll Errors

winmm.dll error message

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

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

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 Winmm.dll Errors

Do not download winmm.dll from a "DLL download" website. There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file is a bad idea. If you need a copy of this file, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.

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

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

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

  2. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some winmm.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 the 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 the winmm.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 winmm.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 this file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

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

    The winmm.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.

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

  7. Run the sfc /scannow System File Checker command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the winmm.dll file. Since this DLL file is provided by Microsoft, System File Checker tool should restore it.

  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 winmm.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

    Windows Update check in Windows 11

  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 winmm.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 winmm.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid winmm.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 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 winmm.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.


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

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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