How to Fix the Physx3_x86.dll Not Found Error?

Many of our readers have reported getting the physx3_x86.dll not found issue while trying to play games on their PC. If you are one of them, this guide can help!

What is physx3_x86.dll?

The physx3_x86.dll file is a part of NVIDIA’s PhysX software, which is important for rendering physical effects in video games.

If the physx3_x86.dll file is missing, then it could be due to damaged system files, missing installation files of the affected app, or corrupted or accidentally deleted DLL file. To fix the issue, first restart your PC and install all the pending Windows updates. Next, check the Recycle Bin to ensure the file is not in the trash, then run a malware scan using a reliable third-party antivirus tool.

How can I fix the physx3_x86.dll missing error?

1. Download a DLL fixer tool

Being a part of NVIDIA PhysX software, physx3_x86.dll is responsible for handling physics calculations related to objects’ movement, enviornmental effects, collision detection. If this DLL is missing or corrupted, the games or applications relying on it will crash or not perform well.

If it is only affected more than one app, you can reinstall it to fix the problem. However, if multiple apps are misbehaving due to the issue, we recommend you get a third-party DLL fixer tool instead. You can download & install any of the suitable DLL fixers from the list, then and run it to fix the issue.

2. Reinstall the affected app

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select Apps from the left pane and click Installed apps.
3. Look for the affected app, locate the three-dot icon, and choose Uninstall from the context menu.
4. Click Uninstall again to confirm.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
6. Go to the NVIDIA website and download the latest PhysX installer.

3. Reregistering the DLL file

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd in the search box, and select Run as administrator from the list of options to launch Command Prompt with elevated rights
2. To re-register the physx3_x86.dll file, type the following command and press Enter: regsvr32 physx3_x86.dll
3. When prompted, click OK to confirm, then reboot your PC to save the changes.

Remember, you can only use this method if the file is available on your computer, so first check the System 32 folder or NVIDIA folder in system drive to ensure the DLL file is present.

4. Update the graphics driver

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager app.
3. Locate Display adapters from the list, expand it, and right-click the NVIDIA driver and choose Update driver from the context menu.
4. Click Search automatically for drivers.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Windows will try to find the best suitable driver version for your device, but if it fails to do so, you can go to the device’s manufacturer’s website and install the latest version manually. Alternatively, you can also download & install a third-party driver updater tool to ensure all the device drivers are up to date.

5. Restore your PC to an older version

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type sysdm.cpl and click OK to open System Properties.
3. Go to the System Protection tab, and click the System Restore button.
4. The System Restore wizard will open, select Choose a different restore point and click Next.
5. From the list of available restore points, select either the oldest or the one that was created before you encountered the physx3_x86.dll missing error, then click Next to proceed.
6. Click Finish.

Your Windows will restart and try to restore your system settings to the selected point. If it fails and you see System Restore did not Complete Successfully after restart, then it could be due to missing system files or conflicting drivers, check out this guide to learn more.

6. Download the DLL file manually

NOTE

If none of the above steps worked for you and you are not sure about the DLL fixer tool, then we suggest you to download the DLL file from a reliable third-party website like DLL-ME, which is verified and tested by WR experts.

1. Go to this DLL-ME website link to open the physx3_x86.dll page. Click the Download button.
2. You will be redirected to another page wherein you can see different versions of the DLL file. Then Go through the list and click the Select button for the version you want to download.
3. On the following page, click Start Download.
4. A zip file will be downloaded; double-click the folder to open and locate the DLL file, then copy it.
5. Head to this path after replacing C with your system drive letter, if it is not C for you: C:\WINDOWS\System32
6. Paste the DLL file and restart your PC to save the changes.

In conclusion, to fix the physx3_x86.dll missing error or not found error, you can reinstall the affected app, re-register the DLL file, download a DLL fixer tool, update the graphics driver, download the DLL file manually or restore system settings to a previous point.

Do you often encounter missing DLL files issue in Windows 10 and want to avoid it? Check out this guide to learn the reasons and ways to fix it.

Before you go, don’t forget to read our detailed guide on steps to take if you encounter the WLXPhotoBase.dll missing error. We have also covered the Qt5quick.dll missing issue in a separate guide.

If you have suggestions or questions about this DLL error, feel free to mention them in the comments section below. We will be happy to interact.