How To Fix Openal32.dll Errors On Your PC
OpenAL32.dll is a file created “Creative Technologies” to load up the Open Audio Library feature on Windows. Designed to provide advanced audio features on your system, this file is continually used by many games, advanced software programs and a range of other Windows features. Unfortunately, it’s often the case that a lot of computers will show openal32.dll errors which will look like one of these messages:
- “openal32.dll Not Found”
- “This application failed to start because openal32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.”
- “Cannot find openal32.dll”
What Causes OpenAl32.dll Errors?
OpenAl32.dll errors are caused by a number of problems, but mainly because your computer is either unable to read the file it requires to run, or has some sort of problem with the software trying to load it. Here is a list of the problems which causes the OpenAL32.dll errors on your PC:
- Openal32.dll is not found / missing
- Openal32.dll is corrupted
- Openal32.dll is damaged
- Your software cannot read the file
- Windows needs to be updated
How To Fix OpenAL32.dll Errors On Your PC
Step 1 – Reinstall Any Program Causing The Error
It’s often the case that the games or software which use this file will either become erroneous or damaged, preventing your computer being able to load it to read it correctly. If you want to resolve the errors you’re seeing with the file, you should first re-install the problems that could be affecting the software that’s trying to use it, allowing your computer to run much smoother as a result. Here’s how to do this:
- Click “Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs”
- Locate the game or program causing the errors
- Select “Remove”
- Proceed with the Uninstallation process
- Restart your PC
- Re-install the software
This will wipe all the old software settings that the file used, allowing your PC to better read the openal32.dll file on your computer again. This will generally work for most systems, but if it does not, you should follow the next steps:
Step 2 – Repair OpenAL With The “OpenAL Updater”
The “OpenAL Updater” is an official application released by Creative Studios to help repair any potential problems which are causing the errors on your PC. This software will correct any of the issues which continually lead your computer to show the openal32.dll error, allowing your system to run much smoother and more effectively as a result. To use this program, just download it onto your computer and then follow the steps it uses to allow your PC to run smoothly again.
Step 3 – Use A Registry Cleaner
A big cause of the “openal32.dll is missing” or the “openal32.dll not found” error is that there is a mis-match of data inside the registry database. The registry contains information about all the DLL & system files on your computer and keeps your PC running smoothly by providing quick links to the files it needs. Unfortunately, it’s often the case that the ‘registry’ will become damaged and the links to the various DLL files will become corrupted and unreadable. To fix this, you should download a registry cleaner and use it to scan through your computer & remove any of the damaged or corrupted DLL reference paths that are inside it. This would fix the error you are seeing if the top two steps didn’t.