The VideoLAN Forums

I am trying to install a program and its saying the VLC dll is missing. I read older articles on here and tried some of the solutions such as a clean uninstall and reboot and reinstall from the website, I rebooted again and tried opening a file and same message, I tried just a standard yahoo search since the forums surprisingly doesnt have any recent solutions and the ones on here are incomplete. I also still have my vlc taking forever to open could this be the reason why? can someone please help me I love VLC its the only video player that is easy to use. thank you in advance for any help.

You'd have to ask from the vendor of the program. It's impossible to answer your question when it's so vague.

its any program for example winrar i go to install it and this message pops up and researching it says its a vlc problem, i think thats why it takes my videos 15 minutes to actually play. i dont know what else to do I wiped all traces of vlc then rebooted and clean fresh install and same thing.

It sounds to me like the libvlc.dll file isn't registered which is why you keep seeing the message that it's missing even though it could well be present in the appropriate directory.

You didn't mention whether you have the 32-bit version of the VLC player installed, or the 64-bit. I'm going to assume that it's the 64-bit so do the following please.

1. Hit Windows key + R to open the Run command.
2. Copy/paste the text in bold type and click OK: C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC
   By the way, in a command prompt window you have to right click and paste. In that respect CTRL+V doesn't work.
3. Check to see whether libvlc.dll is present in the directory which opens.
4. If it's there close the directory and then right click the Windows Start button and click "Command Prompt (Admin)". This will give you a command prompt which looks like this: C:\Windows\System32>
5. Since the dll file isn't present in the System32 directory, you have to change the path to match the location where it actually is. So type: CD\ and hit Enter.
6. You should now be able to see just a C:\ prompt which looks like this: C:\>
7. Copy/paste: CD C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC and hit Enter.
8. At the C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC prompt, either type, or copy/paste: regsvr32 /u libvlc.dll and hit Enter. You might see a message that the file was unregistered.
9. Next type, or copy/paste: regsvr32 libvlc.dll and hit Enter. You should get a message that the file was successfully registered.
10. Type: EXIT to close the command prompt window and reboot the computer.

Try and open vlc and play something.

Even though the libvlc.dll file is present (presumably) it's still important to unregister it which is what the regsvr32 /u libvlc.dll command does in order to clear anything which might be causing Windows not to be able to find it.

If you have the 32-bit version of vlc installed, type or copy/paste C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC as appropriate instead. Otherwise all the commands are the same.

If you get an error message performing any of the above commands make an exact note of it without paraphrasing and post it here please.

I'd also recommend you download the free version of Malwarebytes and performing a Threat scan (you'll see it on the menu). Delete anything it finds.

Thanks for the speedy response, I followed the exact directions but when i get to part 7 i get this exact error

'C:\Programs' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch files.

I ran as admin and the Dll file is showing in the folder but cant get past part 7.

I cannot use Malwarebytes bc everytime I install it it locks my computer up and I can only use it in safe mode to remove it. I have tried that software many times. I do however have Microsoft essentials and ran a full scan 2 days ago and it found a couple issues but those have been resolved.

Sorry I forgot to mention i am running windows 7 64 bit.

What am I doing wrong. thanks for the help

Apologies EmDee, I made a mistake in the syntax in step 7. I've corrected it now and have attached a screenshot taken from my own machine showing the correct command sequence.



(click to enlarge)

I got to step #8 but then when I go to unregister it I get this pop up and cant do anything

the module "libvlc.dll was loaded but the entry-point DllregisterServer was not found

Make sure that libvlc.dll is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again.

Also I downloaded a malware software and there was on that i cleaned and re ran a virus scan

I got to step #8 but then when I go to unregister it I get this pop up and cant do anything

the module "libvlc.dll was loaded but the entry-point DllregisterServer was not found

Make sure that libvlc.dll is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again.


Also I downloaded a malware software and there was on that i cleaned and re ran a virus scan

"DllregisterServer" errors usually imply that the user trying to (un)register a dll file doesn't have administrative priviliges.

So, we have to fix that first before going any further. Steps to take:

1. Hit Windows key + R to open the Run command again and type (or copy/paste): netplwiz and click OK.
2. In the menu which opens, click the username which you used to login with to highlight it and then click the Properties button.
3. Click the Group Membership tab in the next menu.
4. Click fhe Administrator radio button to turn it black which will add you to the Admin group.
5. Click Apply/OK and then reboot the computer.

Next, repeat the previous command prompt steps and you shouldn't see any error messages this time.

EDIT: I just noticed mention that you have Windows 7 installed. So to get an elevated command prompt, type: CMD in the search bar and hit Enter. When it appears in the results, right click it and click Run As Administrator.

Sorry about long delay, I tried the new steps and i got it to switch to admin and rebooted, went through the steps again and step 8 im stuck same error message as before.

Sorry about long delay, I tried the new steps and i got it to switch to admin and rebooted, went through the steps again and step 8 im stuck same error message as before.

OK, run CMD again as Administrator and at the prompt, type: sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

The tool will scan the OS for file corruption which may be contributing to the problem. At the end of the scan you'll get a report. If it says Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them, download the System Update Readiness Tool and then run that to fix the errors sfc /scannow was unable to correct. You can run it directly from your browser, or download it to the desktop and run it from there.

Try to run same steps again to register the libvlc.dll file afterwards.

If the problem persists, download this tool from the Microsoft site and run it.

Hopefully, one of the above will fix the problem.

sorry about the lon delay I have been pretty sick, I tried the steps you gave me the SFC /scannow always says there are issues that cant be fixed. I even tried running in safe mode. I then tried to dl the MS tool offered and it took forever to download and when it finally did that had a error as well, but it had to have worked because now my windows updates are actually installing. I am having various issues with the laptop itself where the software is going to have to be reloaded and now the annoying BSOD are popping up. The only good news is the video player plays its just taking forever (5-10) minutes for a video to play. I even removed subs and a couple of the settings to change and still no change. I dont know what else I can do. at this point I am going to have to wait until I can get someone to look at the laptop and then try it out again and if the issue is still on going then I will report back, most likely because the laptop is so old it just needs to be put to bed.

You could try creating a new user profile on Windows perhaps. You didn't mention what your operating system is, but if it's old it might be Windows 7.

That being the case, follow instructions in this Microsoft article to create a new user profile.

Otherwise you might have to consider reformatting and then reinstalling Windows providing you have backup media and have a record of your product key. If you don't know what your product key is and it's not printed on a label somewhere on the machine, you can retrieve it with this free tool: https://neosmart.net/OemKey/

i am running windows 7 64 bit, I am having a few other issues that its going to need another reload I will have to take it to the shop to have it done, I never made the discs and when I went to create them it says ones were made and only one set could be made. once the reload is done I will report back my results. thanks for the help

i am running windows 7 64 bit, I am having a few other issues that its going to need another reload I will have to take it to the shop to have it done, I never made the discs and when I went to create them it says ones were made and only one set could be made. once the reload is done I will report back my results. thanks for the help

You can create Windows 7 installation media using a USB stick provided you have a product key. See this link

If you don't know what your OEM product key is download this tool

OEM is an acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer i.e. Dell, HP etc.