Recently, some Windows users have reported an error “binkw32.dll is missing on Windows 11/10. It has been observed that the user encounters this error if he or she attempts to open a file encoded with the Bink engine. Due to the relative age of the software, this error usually occurs in older games when they attempt to run them on a fairly new computer.
What is binkw32.dll and why is it missing?
The Bink Video player encodes both audio and video with the Binkw32.dll dynamic link library. During Windows 98 and Windows XP, game developers greatly favored it. It was used for cutscenes in a number of classic games released in this period of time, including StarCraft, Diablo, and many others. Listed below are some of the most popular games that have been known to cause binkw32.dll errors:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Star Wars: Battlefront Age of Empires III Hitman: Blood Money Demon Stone Tomb Raider: Legend Dungeon Siege II Empire Earth II BioShock Civilization III
If you want a specific game to run on your computer, you don’t always have to install the Bink Video codec. It comes packaged with every application and game that needs it.
How to Fix binkw32.dll is missing error on Windows 11/10
To Fix binkw32.dll is missing error on Windows 11/10, you can try the below solutions:
1] Update the Program
It is possible that your game or program has some defects that caused Binkw32.dll to not be found. Developers are always updating the software to improve the user experience and fix bugs. Accordingly, it is advisable to update your program or game regularly. So, before trying anything else, you should update your game or program to the latest version and see if it helps.
2] Reinstall the application
In case the problem persists even after updating your game/program, it seems that you have a bad installation. If this is the case, you must uninstall the game, as well as all associated software that was included with the installation package.
- At first, open the Control Panel.
- Now scroll down to the program you have to remove.
- Then right-click on it and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
- Once you uninstall the program, install it again and see if it resolves the issue.
3] Copy the missing Binkw32.dll file
A missing file named binkw32.dll prevents the program from starting. To fix the problem, copy the missing file from your game’s system directory into the root directory of your game.
- In most games, the system directory can be found in a subdirectory of the game’s root directory.
- So, if you have installed your game in C:\Programs Files\Game, you must copy the binkw32.dll file from C:\Programs Files\Game\System folder to C:\Program Files\Game folder.
4] Install the Bink Video Codec
If none of these fixes resolves the binkw32.dll missing error, there may not be a DLL file included in the installation package for the Bink Video codec. If this is your case, you will need to install the Bink Video codec to restore binkw32.dll.
- Go to the official website of Blink Video Downloads.
- To download the codec, click The RAD Video Tools.
- Follow the instructions on the app’s screen to install the setup file.
- When you have installed the Bink Video codec, open the problematic game or application again and check if the issue is resolved.
Is this error specific to any particular Windows version?
It should be noted that this error is not specific to a particular version of Windows. The problem is directly related to the game or application you’ve tried to run and has nothing to do with the Windows versions you’re using.
The error “missing Bink32.dll” is not the only instance of this error, several other variations have also been reported. They are:
“Binkw32.dll was not Found” “Cannot find bink32.dll” “An attempt to delay-load a .dll or get a function address in a delay-loaded .dll failed. DLL: bink32.dll” “This program can’t start because bink32.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.” “This application failed to start because Binkw32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.”
This is important: Cracked versions of games often generate this error due to altered installation processes. If this is happening when running a pirated game, then you should buy the original game.
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