Is it safe to delete .dll files?

Software place DLL (dynamic-link library) files in one or more folders during the installation. These files contain code that tells programs how to operate.

Safest to not delete

If you are thinking about deleting an unknown DLL file, it is likely best to leave it alone. The reasoning behind this logic is that some programs share these files, so deleting a certain DLL file may unintentionally cause issues. That is to say, deleting a DLL file could cause one or more other programs to stop functioning correctly, if at all.

Hard to find

Some programs may also install DLL files into multiple folders outside the Program Files folder (where most programs are installed). Finding these DLL files can be quite difficult and deleting them can be hazardous.

If you must delete, copy first

As mentioned previously, if you are unsure if a DLL file is used by another program, we recommend leaving it alone. However, if you must delete the DLL file, we suggest you make a copy of it first. Then, if you encounter a problem with another program that requires using the DLL file you recently deleted, you can restore the file from the backup.