The msxml6.dll error message could apply to any program or system that might utilize the file on any of Microsoft's operating systems including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

How to Fix Msxml6.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

Don't download msxml6.dll from a DLL download website. There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file like that is a bad idea. If you need a copy of msxml6.dll, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.

1. Restore msxml6.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" msxml6.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

   If you suspect this, but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover msxml6.dll with a free file recovery program.

   Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete any of these steps if you're unable to access Windows normally.

2. Scan your entire computer for viruses and other malware. Some msxml6.dll errors could be related to some kind of malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file. It's even possible the error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

3. Install any available Windows updates. Many service packs and other patches replace or update some of the hundreds of Microsoft distributed DLL files on your computer. The msxml6.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

4. Download and install Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 to replace the msxml6.dll file.

   If using Windows Update doesn't fix the DLL error, try downloading the msxml6.dll file through the link above.

5. Reinstall the program that uses the msxml6.dll file. If the DLL error occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.
   

   This step is most useful for replacing DLL files that aren't supplied by Microsoft. It could help with your msxml6.dll problem if this program also provides a copy of the file and the previous troubleshooting ideas weren't successful.

6. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the msxml6.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, and System File Checker didn't help, System Restore should solve the problem.

7. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to msxml6.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file msxml6.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

   The msxml6.dll file may or may not be related to video cards-this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

8. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if msxml6.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

9. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a Refresh, Startup Repair, or Repair Installation (depending on your version of Windows) should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

10. Use a free registry cleaner to repair msxml6.dll related issues in the registry. A registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid msxml6.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

11. Test your memory and then test your hard drive. We've left the majority of hardware troubleshooting to the last step, but your computer's memory and hard drive are relatively easy to test and are the most likely components to cause msxml6.dll errors as they fail.

    If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.

12. Perform a clean install of Windows. This will erase everything and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the msxml6.dll error, this should be your next course of action.

    To be clear, all the data on the drive you have Windows installed on will be deleted during this step, so be sure to back up important files if you're able to. However, first, make every attempt possible to fix the error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one before you take on a clean installation.

13. Troubleshoot for an unknown hardware problem if any msxml6.dll errors persist. A clean install of Windows is a fresh start on the software-side of the troubleshooting. Unfortunately, if that didn't work, your DLL problem must be hardware related.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.

Causes of Msxml6.dll Errors

Msxml6.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the msxml6 DLL file.

In some cases, msxml6.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a malware issue, like a virus infection, or even a hardware failure.

There are several ways msxml6.dll error messages might be phrased, depending on the cause of the problem:

• Msxml6.dll Not Found
• The file msxml6.dll is missing
• This application failed to start because msxml6.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
• Cannot find [PATH]\msxml6.dll
• Cannot open type library file: 'msxml6.dll': No such file or directory
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: msxml6.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again
• Error: "C:\Windows\System32\msxml6.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again"

These error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, or when Windows starts or shuts down.

Noting at what point your msxml6.dll error shows up is an important piece of information that will be helpful during troubleshooting.