The program cannot start because OpenAL32.dll is missing

OpenAL (Open Audio Library) is an audio application programming interface (API) multi platform. It is designed for efficient representation of multi-channel three-dimensional positional audio. It is included in many games as one of their main parts and helps them run smoothly, enriching the user experience.

The error “The program cannot start because openai32.dll is missing from your computer” it means that the package file is not present on your computer and the application you are running cannot function without it. This problem usually occurs when playing games on Steam (or through other platforms) or when installing an application for the first time. This problem is very common with very simple workarounds. Check.

Note: Do not try to download the .dll file from any external website and replace it. The font is not approved and may contain malware. Follow the methods below.

Solution 1: use the game DLL package

Every Steam game is already preloaded with the OpenAL32.dll file, as it is part of your installation process. We can navigate to the file location and run the executable. Hopefully, the problem will be solved instantly without further action. Please note that an administrator account is required to perform these actions.

1. Press Windows + E to start File Explorer. Now navigate to the folder where the Steam application is installed and go to the following file path:

Steam / SteamApps / common /

Here represents the game with which you have the error message.

1. Inside the game folder, you will find a directory called »_CommonRedist«. Open it.

2. Once inside the folder, you will find »OpenAL«. Open it too.

3. Here is another folder called »0.7.0«. Open it.

4. Now you will find an executable file called »exe«. Run the executable file to replace the missing DLL.

5. After installing the DLL, restart your computer and start the game.

Solution 2: copy the DLL from an existing one

Usually, many games have this problem if they do not have the DLL installed or if the installation package is corrupted or incorrectly downloaded. What we can do is replace the DLL from another game or from the folder “System 32” of your operating system. Now there are two cases; one where the replaced DLL from System32 works as expected and the other where only the DLL copied from another game will make the game work. We will see both options.

1. Press Windows + E to start File Explorer. Type »openal32.dll» in the search bar in the upper right corner of your screen. Now Windows will start looking for the package after going through all the entries. Be patient and let the process finish.

1. If you find the library, copy it to the location we discussed in the solution 1 (inside the folder »_CommonRedist» of the game. What's more, run the executable found inside the library after copying it to the right place.

2. Restart your computer after implementing the changes and see if the problem is resolved.

If you can't find a file on your local drive C (where your operating system is installed), you should look for it in other Steam games you have installed. You can easily find it in the same way as in the solution 1. Replace them in the folder of the game that is causing the problem and restart your computer before running the game. Don't forget to run the executable file present inside the library after copying it.

Solution 3: reinstall the game

If you can't fix the problem after following the solutions above, we must reinstall the game / app and check if this fixes something. We continue to download the DLL file as a last resort, as there is no guarantee that it comes from a valid source.

If you have a game installed through Steam, follow the instructions below.

1. Start the Steam client by right clicking and selecting »Run as administrator«.

2. Click »Library» near the top to see a list of all games, right-click on the game and select »Uninstall«.

3. After uninstalling it, go to the location where it was installed and make sure all files are removed.

4. Now you can re-download the files and install the game.

If the game does not install through Steam, follow the steps below.

1. Press Windows + R, type »appwiz. cpl »and hit Enter.

2. All applications / games will be listed here. Examine all of them until you find the one causing the problem. Right-click and select »Uninstall«.

1. Restart your computer and make sure all files have been removed before reinstalling the game.

Solution 4: get the dll and copy it

If all other solutions are exhausted, we have no choice but to get the DLL from the internet. There are not many websites through which the DLL can be obtained without containing viruses. The internet is full of scams and within these packages is malware that infects your computer as soon as you run it. What we can do is go to the official OpenAL website and download the necessary files. After downloading them, we must replace them inside the main folder of the application / game to make them accessible.

The website contains two files (OpenAL Core SDK y OpenAL Windows Installer). You must download and use the ones you need.

1. Download the files and open them using a utility similar to WinZip.

2. Extract them to the destination location (the location where the application is located / play). DO NOT just copy the .zip file into the folder. It is useless until the executable is extracted and run.

1. Once the extraction is done in the game folder / app, run the executable and restart your computer (don't delete the executable file after running it. Let it stay in the folder where we just extracted it).

2. Now check if the problem has been solved.

Note: Appuals is not responsible in case your computer is infected with malware or viruses. Proceed with this solution at your own risk. We have listed the website for reader information only.