DLL file format description

Many people share .dll files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .dll file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .dll files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.dll - Windows Dynamic Linked Llibrary

The DLL file is a Windows Dynamic Linked Library. A DLL is a file of code containing functions that can be called from other executable code (either an application or another DLL). Programmers use DLLs to provide code that they can reuse and to parcel out distinct jobs. Unlike an executable (EXE) file, a DLL cannot be directly run. DLLs must be called from other code that is already executing.

Application:

Category:

Application files

Mime-type:

application/x-msdownload

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

Windows Dynamic Linked Llibrary related extensions:

.pnd: Pandora Executable
.sprg: Synclavier Program
.rpg: Lego Mindstorms NXT 5-Steps Program
.qbc: qDos Batch File
.bat: MS-DOS Batch File
.qde: qDos Executable

Naturally, other applications may also use the .dll file extension. Even harmful programs can create .dll files. Be especially cautious with .dll files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .dll file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.dll

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .dll file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

cll, dil, dkl, dl, dli, dlk, dlm, dlo, dlp, dml, dol, dpl, ell, fll, ldl

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.dlk: XProtect Device Licence Key
.dlp: Commodore 64 Drazlace Image
.dlm: Akamai Download Manager File
.dlp: Microsoft DirectMusic Producer Audio
.ldl: Paradox Delivered Library
.dml: PowerDynamo Dynascript Script

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-dll-files

If you have useful information about the .dll file format, then write to us!