Microsoft describes this file as the Shell Light-weight Utility Library.
Shlwapi.dll Errors
There are several ways shlwapi.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common error messages you might see:
Shlwapi.dll Not FoundThis application failed to start because shlwapi.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.Cannot find [PATH]\shlwapi.dllThe file shlwapi.dll is missing.Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: shlwapi.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.
Shlwapi.dll error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, or when Windows starts or shuts down. The context of the error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem. The 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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
How to Fix Shlwapi.dll Errors
Follow these steps in the order they’re given below to try the more likely fixes first.
Need More Help?
If you’re not interested in fixing this DLL 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. If you suspect that you’ve accidentally deleted shlwapi.dll but you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover shlwapi.dll with a free file recovery program. If you can’t reinstall the program, try uninstalling any updates that might have been installed around the time you started seeing the shlwapi.dll error. For example, open Control Panel and uninstall the most recent browser update if there is one and if the DLL error is associated with the browser. If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.
