Regsvr32 Explained

regsvr32
Developer:	Microsoft, ReactOS Contributors
Operating System:	Windows, ReactOS
Platform:	32-bit and 64-bit
Genre:	Command
License:	Windows: Proprietary commercial software ReactOS: GNU General Public License

In computing, regsvr32 (Register Server) is a command-line utility in Microsoft Windows and ReactOS^[1] for registering and unregistering DLLs and ActiveX controls in the operating system Registry.^[2] Despite the suffix "32" in the name of the file, there are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of this utility (with identical names, but in different directories).^[3] regsvr32 requires elevated privileges.^[4]

To be used with regsvr32, a DLL must export the functions DllRegisterServer and DllUnregisterServer.^[5]

The regsvr32 command is comparable to [[ldconfig]] in Linux.

Example usage

regsvr32 shmedia.dll for registering a file

regsvr32 shmedia.dll /s for registering a file without the dialog box (silent)

regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll for unregistering a file

regsvr32 shmedia.dll /u /s for unregistering a file without the dialog box (silent)

If another copy of shmedia.dll exists in the system search path, regsvr32 may choose that copy instead of the one in the current directory. This problem can usually be solved by specifying a full path (e.g., c:\windows\system32\shmedia.dll) or using the following syntax:

regsvr32 .\shmedia.dll

Further reading

• Book: John Paul Mueller. 2007. Windows Administration at the Command Line for Windows Vista, Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0470165799.
• Book: Stanek, William R.. 2008. Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant, 2nd Edition. Microsoft Press. 978-0735622623.

External links

• Microsoft TechNet Regsvr32 article
• Explanation of Regsvr32 Usage and Error Messages
• C# Frequently Asked Questions: What is the equivalent to regsvr32 in .NET?
• A free graphical user interface for regsvr32.exe

Notes and References

1. Web site: Reactos/Reactos. GitHub. 3 November 2021.
2. Web site: Regsvr32. TechNet. Microsoft.
3. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/249873/how-to-use-the-regsvr32-tool-and-troubleshoot-regsvr32-error-messages How to use the Regsvr32 tool and troubleshoot Regsvr32 error messages:
4. https://ss64.com/nt/regsvr32.html Regsvr32 - Register a DLL - Windows CMD - SS64.com
5. Web site: INFO: How Regsvr32.exe Registers and Unregisters COM DLLs. March 24, 2009. Support. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150313171941/http://support.microsoft.com:80/en-us/kb/207132 . 2015-03-13 . dead.