What is Widevinecdm.dll and How to Fix Its Errors?

Widevinecdm.dll stands for Widevine Content Decryption Module. This Dynamic Link Library (DLL) is provided by Google and falls under Digital Rights Management (DRM). It is aimed at safeguarding copyrighted content you enjoy on streaming services, such as Netflix.

Widevinecdm.dll comes with browsers and primarily encrypts and decrypts video and audio data streamed over the Internet, preventing unauthorized duplication or sharing of copyrighted content. Importantly, this file is not a virus or malware; it is an official and legitimate Google file designed to protect copyrighted material.

Should you encounter problems with widevinecdm.dll, here are some potential workarounds you can use to try to resolve the issue.

1. Reinstall the Browser

Reinstalling your browser will trigger it to re-download the widevinecdm.dll file. This is often the simplest way to ensure you get the latest version of widevinecdm.dll.

Note: Please backup your Google Chrome’s profile data before proceeding with this step.

1. Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK to open the Control Panel’s Programs & Features.
3. Locate and double-click your regular browser in the list to initiate the uninstall process.
4. After uninstallation, download and reinstall the browser.

2. Manually Download the DLL File

In some cases—such as corruption, loss, or deletion of the DLL file—you can choose to manually download it, though this is generally not recommended.

1. Download the widevinecdm.dll file by clicking the provided link.
2. Before downloading, check your Windows system type to ensure compatibility. Press Win, enter About in the search bar, and press Enter to access the Settings App.
3. You will find the system type of your Windows here. Choose the corresponding version of the widevinecdm.dll file.
4. After downloading, extract the file using a program like WinRar or 7zip.
5. Copy the DLL file from the extracted folder.
6. Paste it into the browser application directory.
7. Restart your computer and verify whether the problem has been solved.

3. Scan for Malware

Though widevinecdm.dll is typically legitimate, if you suspect it to be a malicious file, run a scan with a trusted antivirus program to eliminate any infections. A full scan using Windows Defender should suffice.

1. Press the Win key and type in Windows Security.
2. Press the Enter key to open the Windows Security Settings.
3. Select Virus & Threat Protection and click on Scan Options.
4. Choose Full Scan and initiate the scan by clicking Scan Now.
5. After the scan, check to see if the widevinecdm.dll issue is resolved.

If none of the solutions work, you have two alternatives to restore the DLL file: using a system restore utility to revert Windows to a previous state before the issue occurred or resetting your Windows without data loss. Both options can resolve the problem.