If this error appears while trying to run a certain game, you can also find the DirectX setup file in the game’s installation directory.
Just search for DirectX folder, and you should find the required setup file there.
4. Update Sound Driver
- Press Windows Key + X, and choose Device Manager from the list.
- Under Sound, video and game controllers, right-click on your audio driver, and go to Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If there are any updates available, let the wizard finish the process.
After doing that, Windows 10 will download the latest drivers for your audio device.
Although XAudio2_6.dll is a DirectX-related file, some users also reported that updating the sound driver solved the issue.
So, if you reinstalled DirectX, and you’re still facing the same error, head to the Device Manager, and check if there are any updates for your audio driver.
Although this method is quite simple, it won’t always download the latest drivers, so it might not fix your problem.
If you want to completely fix the problem, it’s advised to download your drivers directly from the motherboard or sound card manufacturer.
Simply visit the manufacturer’s website, enter the model of your sound card or motherboard and download the latest audio drivers for it.
This method might be a bit more complicated than the previous one, but by using it you can download the latest audio drivers for your PC.
If both these methods are ineffective, you might want to try a third-party tool that will automatically update all your drivers with a single click.
Driverfix is such a tool, and by using it, you can update your drivers automatically in a matter of minutes.
5. Install the drivers in Safe Mode
- Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to System & Security section.
- Choose Recovery from the left pane.
- In the right pane, in the Advanced startup section, click Restart now.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click the Restart button.
- When your system restarts you’ll be presented with a list of options. Select Safe Mode with Networking by pressing the corresponding key.
Once you enter Safe Mode, try to install the AMD driver once again. If you manage to install it successfully the issue should be completely resolved.
According to users, problems with missing XAudio2_6.dll can occur due to your graphics card drivers.
Some users reported that this issue occurs while installing AMD drivers, and in order to fix the issue, it’s required that you enter Safe Mode and try to install the drivers from there.
In case you’re not familiar, Safe Mode is a special segment of Windows that runs with default drivers and applications, so it’s perfect for troubleshooting.
6. Clean your registry
Few users reported that they managed to fix the problem with XAudio2_6.dll simply by cleaning their registry.
In some cases, your registry entries can become corrupted, and that can cause this and many other errors to appear.
To fix the problem, some users recommend cleaning your registry. The simplest way to do that is to use a registry cleaner software.
We covered many registry cleaners in the past, and if you’re looking for a good software to clean your registry, we recommend you to try Advanced SystemCare.
Advanced SystemCare
Advanced SystemCare helps you clean up your registry to improve your maximum PC performance.
7. Remove overclock settings
Sometimes the problem with XAudio2_6.dll error can occur while trying to run certain games.
According to users, the issue was caused by their overclock settings, and after removing the overclock settings, the problem was completely resolved.
If your system is overclocked, lower your overclock settings or disable them completely and check if that solves the problem. This isn’t the most reliable solution, but it might work for you, so be sure to try it out.
8 Install the missing updates
If the problem with XAudio2_6.dll appears, the issue might be missing Windows updates. Sometimes if you don’t have the latest updates installed, you might encounter certain issues.
However, you can easily solve these issues by installing the missing updates.
Windows 10 usually installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might skip an update or two due to certain issues.
However, you can always check for updates manually by doing the following:
- Open the Settings app, and go to the Update & Security section.
- Now click Check for updates button.
If any updates are available, they will be downloaded in the background and installed as soon as you restart your PC. Once your system is up to date, check if the problem is still there.
That’s it, we hope at least one of these solutions helped you to solve this issue, if you have any comments, or questions, just reach for the comment section below.
FAQ: Learn more about DLL problems
- How do I fix a missing dll file?
First, try to run a System File Checker scan. If that doesn’t solve the problem, don’t download the file from unchecked sources, read our expert guide on how to fix missing DLL files in Windows 10.
- How can I fix XAudio2_6.dll is missing?
As this problem is connected to DirectX, the first solution would be to reinstall DirectX. If that doesn’t solve the problem, follow our awesome guide to fix the xAudio2_6.dll missing error.
- How do you know which DLL files are missing?
Usually, when you start a software, an error message will appear on the screen telling you that aspecific.dll is missing or corrupt. You can also use the Windows system file checker. Here’s an excellent guide on how to run a SFC scan.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2015 and was revamped and updated in February 2021 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
This post was written by Ivan Jenic and was first posted to WindowsReport