How ro Fix COMCTL32.dll missing or not found on Windows 11 - Complete guide

In case you did not know how to fix COMCTL32.dll missing or not found on Windows 11, here is all you need.

Would you like to learn how to fix the COMCTL32.dll is missing or not found error on Windows 11 or 10? Windows implements the COMCTL32.dll, or Common Controls Library, dynamic link library. Common controls are regular user interface elements, such as buttons, scroll bars, progress bars, etc., which are provided by the operating system and utilized by third-party applications for developing attractive, consistent user interfaces.

A very common error message, which might be received when an application fails to find the file at the time of installation or at the time of launching, might be "COMCTL32.dll is missing" or "COMCTL32.dll was not found." Perhaps it has been accidentally corrupted, deleted or modified, incompatible with other programs, or infected by malware that targeted system files. Here's the full error message:

It means that because it cannot find COMCTL32.dll, the execution of code cannot proceed. The program should work after it is reinstalled.

Alternatively

The program cannot start because COMCTL32.dll cannot be found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.

If you have faced a similar problem, in this article, you will learn how to fix it.

Where does the comctl32 DLL file go?

Comctl32.dll (Common Controls Library) of Windows operating system provides the application controls and functionalities such as buttons, menus, scroll bars, etc. It is possible that this file now works properly, if missing or damaged, in VB programs.

It resides in the folder C:\Windows\System32 under forms of Windows with 32 bits. In the 64-bit editions, though, it is in the C:\Windows\System32 folder for the 64-bit applications and in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder for the 32-bit applications. It may well be inside the WinSxS folder, too.

Get COMCTL32.dll working on Windows 11 if it is not already there.

The steps to repair the "COMCTL32.dll is missing or not found" issue in a Windows 11/10 computer are as described below: 

Re-register the file COMCTL32.dll. 

Initiate the SFC and DISM scan. 

Launch the software again. 

Restore your system. 

Please re-register the file after manually downloading it. 

Let's take a look. 

First of all, re-register the file COMCTL32.dll.

If it doesn't work, then re-register the dll file with the following command:

registry entry COMCTL32.dll

run SFC and DISM

Use the utilities SFC and DISM to run scans. If you are experiencing a problem where any system DLL files appear missing, running one of these scans is a great place to start.

In the Command Prompt window that opens as an administrator, type in sfc /scannow and press Enter to begin the SFC scan. When this program is run, it will automatically scan your computer for any damaged or missing system files and replace them if found.

If the SFC utility did not fix your problem, you could run the utility DISM. If SFC isn't working, then it can heal the deeper corruption in the Windows system image and repair it. 

Launch DISM using the same Command Prompt by typing DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

You will now need to restart your computer in order for the system repairs to be in effect. 

Step 3: Reinstall the Software

This is what should be done if the problem occurs in running a particular software and the error message indicates that an application's DLL dependency missing or corrupted. When you reinstall the software, it replaces all the required files with new ones, including any missing or corrupt DLLs. The process ensures that your program gets the proper version and proper location of all the DLLs it needs.

Reinstall an app by opening the Settings, then to Apps > Apps Installed. Locate the app from the list and click the three dots beside its name, and then select Uninstall. After that, more prompts will appear on-screen that you need to follow in order to fully uninstall the app. By removing the app, you are able to reinstall it by downloading the latest version available either through the developer's website or the Microsoft Store. Check if it is just a temporary glitch or issue caused by just needing to restart your computer.

four] System Restore

By this, you can use the System Restore feature to go back in time to a point when the COMCTL32.dll file was intact, assuming that you have enabled a restore point.

To do this, go to the Start menu and search for "system restore," then select Create a restore point; under the System Protection tab, click System Restore. Now, select the previous restore point you created before the occurrence of the problem and follow the succeeding on-screen instructions to complete the restore.

Alternatively,

5] Re-register the file after having it manually downloaded.

Winbindex is an online service that allows users to download Windows OS files directly from Microsoft servers and get some information about them. If the COMCTL32.dll file is available on Winbindex, it is worth looking there.

Go to the Winbindex front page. Search for 'comctl32.dll'. If the file exists, it would be downloadable; however, before downloading, make sure that it is compatible with your version and architecture of Windows.

Once downloaded, extract the DLL to its correct location. Reregister the DLL by running regsvr32 comctl32.dll in an elevated Command Prompt. 

This will conclude our How to Fix COMCTL32.dll missing or not found on Windows 11 article, and we did hope it was as helpful as possible.