How to fix missing COMDLG32.OCX on Windows

The COMDLG32.OCX file is not located on your computer by default but is used by a variety of applications.

You may be wondering what is causing the COMDLG32.OCX missing error. In fact, this error usually occurs when the file in question is missing, damaged or unregistered. UAC (User Account Control) problems can also lead to similar results.

COMDLG32.OCX Missing Error

If you are facing the same problem, you should try the following methods to fix the error.

Method 1: Run the program in Compatibility Mode

Many users running the program in Compatibility Mode have reported being able to fix the COMDLG32.OCX missing error. During this process, you can also allow the program to run with admin rights.

Here's how.

Step 1: Right-click the program's shortcut on the desktop and select Properties.

Step 2: Switch to Compatibility. In the Compatibility mode section, select Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 7 or 8 from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: In the Settings section, select Run this program as an administrator.

Step 4: Click Apply and OK button to save the changes you made.

You can then relaunch the program and check if the problem is fixed. If the error still persists, try the next method.

Method 2: Re-register the file

As the message says, the error occurs because COMDLG32.OCX is missing or corrupted. Therefore, you can try re-registering the file to solve the problem. Please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Download the file COMDLG32.OCX.

Step 2: Copy the downloaded COMDLG32.OCX file and press Win + E to open File Explorer.

Step 3: Navigate to the following location on your computer and paste the copied file into the following folder according to your system version.

1. C:WindowsSystem32 (for Windows 32-bit)
2. C:WindowsSysWOW64 (for Windows 64-bit)

Tip: You may need to provide admin rights during the copy and paste process. Simply confirm any prompts to end the activity.

Step 4: Press Win + S to open Search. Then type cmd in the search box. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 5: Type the following commands and press Enter after each command to execute them.

1. regsvr32 /u Comdlg32.ocx
2. regsvr32 /i Comdlg32.ocx

After completing all the above steps, you can try to launch the target program and check if the missing COMDLG32.OCX error goes away.

Method 3: Turn off UAC

Another way to fix missing COMDLG32.OCX on Windows 10/8/7 is to disable UAC. UAC is not a primary security solution because it only prompts when you are about to make significant changes to your computer. Some users have fixed problems with this method and you can try too.

Micah Soto

Update 28 March 2022