cnbp_338.dll is missing because a Canon printer-driver component is absent, damaged, mismatched, or unable to load one of its dependencies. The safest fix is to reinstall the complete Canon driver package for the exact printer model instead of downloading the DLL by itself.
Public file records describe cnbp_338.dll as part of the Canon Inkjet Printer Driver and associate it with CANON INC. The exact Canon printer models and current packages that use this filename are not publicly confirmed, so identify the printer installed on the affected computer before choosing a driver.
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Fix 1: Reinstall the exact Canon printer driver
Time needed: 10–20 minutes
This is the most likely solution, especially if the error began after removing a printer, upgrading Windows, updating a driver, or uninstalling Canon software.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIdentify the printer model
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Note the exact Canon model shown in the list.
- If the printer is not listed, check its label, the original packaging, or the Canon software still installed on the computer.
Do not choose a similar-looking model. Canon packages can contain different driver files and dependencies.
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Remove the damaged printer installation
- In Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, select the affected Canon printer.
- Select Remove.
- Confirm the removal.
- Restart Windows.
If several Canon printers are installed, remove only the one associated with the error unless you know that multiple installations are damaged.
Download and install the official package
- Open Canon’s official Support website.
- Search for the exact printer model.
- Select the installed Windows version and system architecture when the site asks.
- Download the complete printer driver or MP Drivers package.
- Run the installer as an administrator.
- Connect or turn on the printer only when the installer requests it.
- Complete setup and restart Windows.
Canon describes its IJ printer driver and model-specific MP Drivers as the software used to print through the printer. The installer should place the DLL with its required INF, catalog, configuration, and dependency files. It should not require you to copy cnbp_338.dll into System32.
After restarting, print a test page:
- Open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the Canon printer.
- Choose Printer properties.
- Select Print Test Page.
If the error disappears and the test page prints, the driver package was the problem.
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Fix 2: Check whether antivirus quarantined the file
Time needed: 5–10 minutes
A security product may remove or quarantine a legitimate driver component. Do not restore a file merely because its name matches the error. Confirm that it came from the genuine Canon installation.
- Open Start and search for Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review recent items for
cnbp_338.dll, Canon software, or a printer-driver package. - Open the detection to view its details.
If you can confirm that the detection came from the Canon driver package, use the available Restore action. If the detection is uncertain, leave the file quarantined and reinstall the driver from Canon Support instead.
After restoring or reinstalling:
- Restart Windows.
- Open the Canon printer software.
- Print a Windows test page and a document from another application.
If Defender quarantines the file again, do not repeatedly restore it. Run a full security scan and contact Canon Support with the detection name and driver package details.
Fix 3: Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC
Time needed: 15–30 minutes
Use these commands when the error appeared after a Windows upgrade, failed update, disk problem, system restore, or broader file corruption. They are secondary checks for this issue because cnbp_338.dll is associated with a Canon driver, not normally a standard Windows runtime.
- Open Start.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait for DISM to finish. It may appear to pause for a while. Then run:
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sfc /scannow
Restart Windows when both commands finish.
Microsoft recommends DISM for repairing the Windows component store and SFC for scanning protected system files. If SFC reports that it repaired files, test the Canon software again. If it reports that no integrity violations were found, reinstall the Canon driver rather than repeating SFC.
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Time needed: 5–15 minutes, plus driver installation time
A cataloged record identifies at least one cnbp_338.dll build as 32-bit, but that metadata is not confirmed by Canon and does not define every package. The filename alone cannot tell you which architecture your installed driver requires.
To check Windows architecture:
- Press Windows + I.
- Select System.
- Select About.
- Look at System type.
You may see a 64-bit operating system, a 32-bit operating system, or an ARM-based entry. A 32-bit Canon component can work on 64-bit Windows when installed through a compatible driver package and loaded by a compatible process. Do not copy a 32-bit DLL into a 64-bit application folder, or mix files from different Canon packages.
Download the package selected for your exact printer and Windows installation. If Canon provides more than one driver, use the complete model-specific driver or MP Drivers package rather than a generic file.
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- “The procedure entry point could not be located”
- “The file is either not designed to run on Windows”
- An application that closes immediately after starting
If the error changes from “missing” to “entry point not found” after a partial installation, remove the old Canon package and install one complete package without mixing versions.
Fix 5: Remove stale Canon printer software
Time needed: 10–20 minutes
If the error appears at logon or on a computer that no longer uses a Canon printer, Windows may be trying to start leftover Canon software.
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- Open Settings.
- Select Apps → Installed apps.
- Search for Canon.
- Uninstall the Canon printer utility or driver-related software associated with the old printer.
- Restart Windows.
- Return to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Remove obsolete Canon printer entries.
Do not manually delete random folders under C:WindowsSystem32DriverStore. Windows protects the driver store, and deleting files directly can damage other devices.
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If you still need the printer, install its current Canon package after removing the stale entry. If you do not use any Canon printer and the message no longer appears after removal, the error was caused by an orphaned startup component.
Fix 6: Test whether a dependency is missing
Time needed: 5–15 minutes
The message “The specified module could not be found” does not always mean that cnbp_338.dll itself is absent. Windows may be unable to find a dependency required by that DLL.
Use this test:
- Try printing from Windows Notepad.
- Try the printer’s Windows test page.
- Try printing from the application that originally showed the error.
If Windows printing works but one Canon utility fails, the utility or its supporting package may be damaged. Reinstall the complete Canon software package, not just the printer driver.
If every application fails, focus on the printer package, its dependencies, and the Windows print system. Restart the Print Spooler service:
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
services.msc. - Press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
- Test printing again.
A dependency problem is another reason manual DLL copying is unreliable. The missing component may be another driver file, a configuration entry, a catalog, or a package-installed runtime.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not use regsvr32 for this file
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose a self-registration entry point, typically certain COM or OLE components. A printer-driver payload DLL is normally installed by its INF and setup package.
Do not run:
regsvr32 cnbp_338.dll
unless Canon specifically instructs you to do so for your exact package. A registration error does not repair a missing printer driver, and registering the wrong architecture can create additional problems.
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Do not download cnbp_338.dll separately
Random DLL download pages can provide malware, the wrong build, the wrong architecture, or a file with incomplete dependencies. Even a clean file may not fix the driver because the installation also needs its INF, catalog signature, configuration, registry state, and related files.
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Use Canon Support for the printer package. Use Microsoft repair tools for Windows component corruption. Never copy an unverified DLL into System32, SysWOW64, an application folder, or the DriverStore.
Fix 7: Use System Restore after a recent driver change
Time needed: 20–45 minutes
Use System Restore when the error started immediately after a Canon driver update, Windows update, failed removal, or system change and a suitable restore point exists.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type:
rstrui.exe
- Press Enter.
- Select a restore point dated before the error began.
- Review the affected programs and drivers.
- Select Next, then Finish.
- Allow Windows to restart.
System Restore rolls back monitored system files, drivers, settings, and registry state. It is not a replacement for installing the current Canon package, so reinstall the correct driver afterward if the printer still fails.
Likely causes of the error
| Likely cause | What usually resolves it |
|---|---|
| Canon driver was removed or partially updated | Reinstall the complete model-specific package |
| Antivirus quarantined the file | Verify the detection, restore only trusted files, or reinstall Canon software |
| Windows upgrade damaged driver-related files | Run DISM, then SFC, then reinstall the Canon package |
| Wrong architecture or mixed driver versions | Remove the old package and install one compatible package |
| Missing dependency | Reinstall the complete Canon software and driver package |
| Stale printer software | Remove obsolete Canon applications and printer entries |
| Disk, malware, or restore damage | Scan the system, verify package provenance, and consider System Restore |
FAQ
Is cnbp_338.dll a Windows system file?
It appears to be a Canon printer-driver component, not a general Windows system library. Public catalog records describe it as a Canon Inkjet Printer Driver file. The exact metadata in those catalogs is not authoritative Canon documentation.
Which Canon printer uses it?
The exact printer models are not verified. Multiple Canon packages may use related components, so identify the printer that triggers the error and install its exact package.
Should I put the file in System32?
No. Install the complete Canon driver through its official setup program. The relevant file may belong in a driver-store path or package-specific directory, not System32.
Will SFC fix it?
SFC can repair protected Windows files, but it usually cannot recreate a missing third-party Canon driver. Run DISM followed by SFC when Windows corruption is plausible, then reinstall Canon software if the error remains.
What if I have no Canon printer?
Remove stale Canon applications and printer entries, then restart. If the message still appears at logon, record the exact program named in the error and inspect installed applications and startup entries before reinstalling anything.
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Record the exact error text, Windows version and architecture, Canon printer model, driver package name, file path, when the problem began, and whether antivirus quarantined the file. Give those details to Canon Support or Microsoft Support.
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