What are WINSOCK.DLL Error Messages?

Dynamic Link Library WINSOCK.DLL Errors

WINSOCK.DLL is considered a type of Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file. Dynamic Link Library files, like WINSOCK.DLL, are essentially a "guide book" that stores information and instructions for executable (EXE) files - like sapisvr.exe - to follow. These files were created so that multiple programs (eg. Windows) could share the same WINSOCK.DLL file, saving valuable memory allocation, therefore making your computer run more efficiently.

Unfortunately, what makes DLL files so convenient and efficient, also makes them extremely vulnerable to problems. If something happens to a shared DLL file, either it goes missing or gets corrupted in some way, it can generate a "runtime" error message. Runtime is pretty self-explanatory; it means that these errors are triggered when WINSOCK.DLL is attempted to be loaded either when Windows is starting up, or in some cases already running. Some of the most common WINSOCK.DLL errors include:

• Access Violation at address - WINSOCK.DLL.
• WINSOCK.DLL could not be found.
• Cannot find C:\Windows\System32\WINSOCK.DLL.
• Cannot register WINSOCK.DLL.
• Cannot start Windows. A required component is missing: WINSOCK.DLL. Please install Windows again.
• Failed to load WINSOCK.DLL.
• The application has failed to start because WINSOCK.DLL was not found.
• The file WINSOCK.DLL is missing or corrupt.
• This application failed to start because WINSOCK.DLL was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

Your WINSOCK.DLL file could be missing due to accidental deletion, uninstalled as a shared file of another program (shared with Windows), or deleted by a malware infection. Furthermore, WINSOCK.DLL file corruption could be caused from a power outage when loading Windows, system crash while loading WINSOCK.DLL, bad sectors on your storage media (usually your primary hard drive), or quite commonly, a malware infection. Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

How to Fix WINSOCK.DLL Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your WINSOCK.DLL issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click System Restore.
4. Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
5. Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
6. Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the WINSOCK.DLL error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many WINSOCK.DLL error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
3. In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
4. If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
5. After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the WINSOCK.DLL error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your WINSOCK.DLL File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate WINSOCK.DLL file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free WINSOCK.DLL files for every applicable version of Windows. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

1. Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download WINSOCK.DLL Files".
2. Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
3. Copy the file into the appropriate directory for your Windows version:


Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\
Windows XP: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 8: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 8.1: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 10: C:\Windows\System32\

4. Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

You are downloading trial software. The purchase of a one-year software subscription at the price of $29.97 USD is required to unlock all software features. Subscription auto-renews at the end of the term (Learn more). By clicking the "Start Download" button above and installing "Software", I acknowledge I have read and agree to the Solvusoft End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy.