dwmapi.dll - Analyze and How to Fix Errors

★★★★☆ Verified File (27.08.2026)

⚠️ Important Notice: File dwmapi.dll: Essential Windows component for desktop window manager services. Manually replacing system libraries can brick future Windows updates or cause critical system failures.

Architecture:	other	️ Not detected
Antivirus scan	✅ Clean	No viruses detected.
Digital signature	🟡 Not signed	Signature missing. The file may have been modified.
Hash Integrity	ℹ️ Unverified	File Hash protection is missing.
File size	15.9 kb.	16247 bytes.

Hashes:

MD5: f34c6f2428ff53dcec0e9cdfe0569127
SHA-1: 748a14f1446e14550cc837b16933684714f6fce2
SHA-256: bbd3865089713f409a983aae68d4ce667627720077b9297193dd9700150be1f0
SHA-512: 6c984a5fdcb8dd5390200cb8b2d180a9f342b2a72b08183c3a3d5008dab25cb3e779315791f7ca6b659ba5ecc967ca35bbb07fb7c925a911c3d2264e5475fe75

How to Fix Dwmapi.dll Errors Without Downloading

A dwmapi.dll error usually means the file is corrupted, missing, or blocked by your system. Downloading this file from third-party websites is dangerous and can introduce malware.

Here are the safest and most effective ways to fix the error using built-in Windows tools.

1. Run SFC and DISM Scan

Windows has built-in tools to find and replace corrupt system files automatically.

Press the Windows Key.
Type cmd.
Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Wait for the scan to finish.
Next, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
Restart your computer.

2. Update Windows

A missing DLL file is often restored during a system update.

Open Settings (Press Win + I).
Click Update & Security (or Windows Update on Windows 11).
Click Check for updates.
Install all available updates and restart your PC.

3. Reinstall the Blaming Program

If the error only happens when opening a specific app or game, that program's installation is likely broken.

Open Control Panel.
Click Uninstall a program.
Find the application causing the error.
Click Uninstall.
Download and reinstall the application from its official source.

4. Run a Malware Scan

Sometimes malware disguises itself as a DLL file or blocks the genuine file from loading.

Open Windows Security.
Click Virus & threat protection.
Select Scan options.
Choose Full scan and click Scan now.

5. Use System Restore

If the error started recently, you can roll your system back to a time when it worked perfectly.

Type Create a restore point in the Windows search bar and click it.
Click the System Restore button.
Choose a date before the error started appearing.
Follow the on-screen prompts and let Windows restart.

To help pinpoint the exact solution, let me know:

What specific error message do you see on your screen?
Does this error happen when you boot up Windows or when you open a specific game/app?

📊 Diagnostics Tool: Verify Your `dwmapi.dll` File

Worried that the file on your PC has been modified by malware? Drop it into the form below. Our script will verify its file size, cryptographic hash (MD5/SHA-1), and check for a valid Microsoft digital signature.

Other versions:
️ dwmapi.dll 10.0.19041.5794 32-bit (x86) | ️ dwmapi.dll 10.0.19041.5794 64-bit (x64)
Similar files:
️dwmapi.dll.mui