How to Register a DLL File

The file extension DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library. These files are required by applications to run and usually contain a library of functions that can be shared by one or more different software applications. The same DLL file can be used by one or more programs simultaneously.


The DLL files, although small in size, are nevertheless necessary for relevant applications to function. Importantly, these files have to be stored in specific locations where the programs using them can access them as required.

Registering DLL Files

To be of any use, the DLL files have to be registered properly within your operating system registry.

There are basically two ways in which this can happen. Most DLL files are self registering. This means that you will have to make no extra effort to ensure that they have been registered. These files will store themselves in the correct and specific folder without any other intervention necessary.

The other way to get your DLL files registered is by manually registering using a few simple commands.

Steps to Manually Register a DLL File

  • Let your computer boot completely and once ready click on the Start button on the windows taskbar, and then click on "Run".
  • In the Run field you will now need to enter a specific command for the DLL to be registered.
  • The usual command used is "Regsvr32" followed with other parameters like the DLL filename and the file location.
  • Your Run field should look something like this- Regsvr C:WindowsSystemfilename
  • So here there are essentially two parts, the regsvr command, and importantly the location and name of the dll file (do not forget to add the .dll extension after the file name). Take care that the file location that you have entered is accurate along with the file name.
  • Now all you need to do is press the Enter key or click the Run or Okay tab with your mouse. Your DLL file will be now registered and you will get a confirmation message to that effect from the Windows prompt. This confirms that the DLL file has been successfully added in the system registry.

Unregistering DLL Files

There are instances when you might want to manually unregister a particular DLL file. This can be done very easily as below-

  • Click on the Start button and then on Run to open the Run field box.
  • You will need to type that same command that you used to register the DLL file, along with the unregister parameter (/u)
  • To unregister a DLL file, your syntax in the Run filed should look like this - Regsvr32 /u FILENAME
  • Only the file name is not enough and you will need to prefix it with the correct location of the file. For instance, regsvr32 /u c:windowssystemabcdefg.dll

Now press the Enter key and you will be notified that the file has been unregistered from the system registry.