“The program can’t start because cnhw370s.dll is missing from your computer.” “Error loading cnhw370s.dll. The specified module could not be found.”
The 60-second answer
cnhw370s.dll is associated with Canon Inkjet WIA Driver software. WIA means Windows Image Acquisition, the Windows architecture used by scanners, multifunction printers, and imaging applications. Canon supplies this component inside model-specific driver packages, not as a general Windows download.
The safest fix is to identify the Canon printer or scanner that installed the file, remove the damaged Canon software, restart Windows, and reinstall the complete driver package for that exact model. Do not download cnhw370s.dll from a DLL website, copy it into System32 or SysWOW64, or run regsvr32 as a generic repair.
Microsoft describes WIA vendor drivers as minidrivers that operate through the Windows WIA service. That makes this a Canon hardware-driver problem, not a missing Visual C++, DirectX, .NET, or core Windows runtime file. See Microsoft’s WIA components documentation for the architecture.
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What causes the cnhw370s.dll error
The message can appear when launching a Canon utility, opening a scanning application, or attempting to use a printer’s scan function. Common triggers include:
- Canon software was partially uninstalled.
- A Canon driver installation failed or was interrupted.
- A Windows update left an old Canon device entry behind.
- Antivirus software quarantined a Canon component.
- Disk cleanup removed files while Canon startup entries remained.
- A 32-bit Canon application is looking for its matching driver files.
- The Canon device is no longer connected, but an obsolete utility still starts with Windows.
- The DLL exists, but another dependency required by it is missing.
A message saying “The specified module could not be found” does not always mean the named DLL itself is absent. Windows may be unable to load a dependency, or the file may be incompatible with the application calling it.
The exact Canon model cannot be safely determined from the filename alone. Public file listings report historical Canon builds, but their version, size, architecture, and timestamp should not be treated as universal details.
Fix 1: Identify the Canon device and reinstall its complete package
This is the primary repair because cnhw370s.dll belongs to the Canon WIA driver installation.
Find the model
Check the label on the printer or multifunction device. You can also use Windows:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Open Printers & scanners.
- Select the Canon device.
- Record the exact model name.
If it is not listed:
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Printers, Imaging devices, Cameras, and Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Look for a Canon entry, an unknown device, or a device with a warning icon.
- Open Properties and check the Details tab for identifying information.
The Canon model is essential. Do not mix packages from similar-looking models or install a driver simply because it mentions inkjet printing. A scanning problem normally requires the package containing Canon’s scanning and WIA components.
Reinstall Canon software
- Open Settings with Windows + I.
- Select Apps.
- Choose Installed apps on Windows 11, or Apps & features on Windows 10.
- Search for Canon software.
- Remove the Canon printer, scanner, scanning utility, and related driver entries associated with the affected device.
- Restart Windows.
- Obtain the driver and software package from the official Canon Support portal by searching for the exact model and Windows version.
- Download the complete package, not an isolated DLL.
- If the installer says to disconnect the USB cable, do so.
- Run the installer as an administrator.
- Reconnect or re-add the device only when the installer requests it.
- Restart again if Canon’s setup program asks you to.
A successful repair should allow the Canon utility to open without the loader message. Test both printing and scanning if the device supports both. Also test scanning from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your Canon device, if Windows exposes a scanner option.
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If the Canon model is not listed for your Windows release, check Canon’s compatibility information. An older WIA package may not work reliably on a newer Windows installation.
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Fix 2: Remove the old device entry in Device Manager
Use this when reinstalling the package fails because Windows keeps reusing a broken driver.
- Disconnect the Canon device.
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Printers, Imaging devices, Cameras, and Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click the old Canon or unknown device.
- Select Uninstall device.
- If Windows offers Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select it only when you are sure the entry belongs to the obsolete Canon installation.
- Select Uninstall.
- Restart Windows.
- Install the current model-specific Canon package.
- Reconnect the device when prompted.
Microsoft also documents this general Device Manager driver reinstallation process.
If the Canon entry returns immediately with a warning icon, open Properties and read the device status code. That information, together with the exact Canon model, will help distinguish a driver mismatch from a USB, permission, or hardware problem.
When several devices have outdated packages, manually hunting through model pages and matching architectures can be repetitive. Outbyte Driver Updater can scan for driver problems and show what needs attention; its repair or driver installation is handled by the full version, and it is not required for a Canon-specific reinstall.
Fix 3: Check Windows Security quarantine
Antivirus removal is a possible cause, but the filename alone does not prove that a file is safe.
- Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Choose Protection history.
- Review recent detections involving Canon software or
cnhw370s.dll. - Expand a detection to view its original path and details.
Microsoft explains Protection History in its Windows Security guidance.
Restore a quarantined file only if all of the following are true:
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- It came from the original Canon installation.
- Its path belongs to the Canon driver or application directory.
- The Canon package was obtained from Canon.
- The file’s digital signature and publisher information are consistent with Canon.
If the file came from a random DLL download site, do not restore or whitelist it. Remove it and reinstall the official Canon package instead. A known filename can still be attached to a modified or malicious file.
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A disabled WIA service can prevent scanning, although restarting the service will not recreate a deleted Canon DLL.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
services.msc. - Press Enter.
- Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
- Double-click it.
- Set Startup type to Automatic or Automatic (Delayed Start) if that is the existing system configuration.
- If the service is stopped, select Start.
- Select Apply, then OK.
- Restart the Canon scanning application.
If WIA will not start, record the error shown in the service properties. Repair the Canon package first if the DLL message appears only in Canon software.
There is normally no Windows Optional Feature that installs cnhw370s.dll. Do not search Turn Windows features on or off for this file. WIA is provided through Windows services and Canon’s device package rather than through a standalone feature checkbox.
Fix 5: Repair broader Windows component corruption
SFC and DISM are useful when Windows itself has broader problems, such as multiple built-in applications failing, update errors, or installers refusing to run. They do not normally restore cnhw370s.dll, because it is a third-party Canon driver file rather than a protected Windows system file.
First run DISM, then SFC:
- Open Start.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for the command to finish.
- Then run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart Windows after both commands complete.
- Retry the Canon installer and scanning application.
Microsoft gives this SFC and DISM repair order.
Running repeated repairs without knowing whether Windows or Canon is at fault can waste time. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for Windows component and configuration problems; its repair is performed by the full version, and it is optional rather than a substitute for reinstalling the correct Canon package.
Fix 6: Roll back a recent change
If the error began immediately after a driver update, software installation, or Windows change, System Restore may reverse that change while leaving personal files in place.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
rstrui.exe. - Press Enter.
- Select Next.
- Choose a restore point created before the error began.
- Select Scan for affected programs if available.
- Review the changes.
- Select Next, then Finish.
Microsoft describes this process in its System Restore guidance.
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Use System Restore only after saving important work. If the problem is caused by an unsupported Canon driver, restoring Windows may provide temporary relief but will not create a compatible driver package.
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Why copying the DLL does not solve the problem
Do not copy cnhw370s.dll into:
C:WindowsSystem32C:WindowsSysWOW64- the folder of an unrelated application
Those locations do not determine whether the Canon WIA driver is correctly installed. Manual copying can introduce a wrong-version file, a 32-bit/64-bit mismatch, missing dependencies, incorrect permissions, or broken Canon registration.
A 32-bit Canon application can legitimately use 32-bit driver components on 64-bit Windows. That does not mean every reported copy of the file is interchangeable. Choose the package for the exact Canon model and Windows installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you run regsvr32?
Usually, no.
regsvr32 cnhw370s.dll
is not a general missing-DLL repair. regsvr32 works with DLLs that provide the appropriate registration entry point, commonly DllRegisterServer. The exact exports of cnhw370s.dll have not been independently verified, so manual registration should not be assumed to work.
For Canon WIA software, registration is normally performed by Canon’s installer and setup files. Microsoft explains the purpose and limitations of Regsvr32.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesShould you install Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET?
Not as the first fix. There is no reliable evidence that cnhw370s.dll belongs to those Microsoft runtimes. Installing Visual C++ because a DLL website labels the file that way is unlikely to restore a missing Canon WIA component and can leave the original driver problem unresolved.
If another application separately reports a missing runtime file, use Microsoft’s official Visual C++ Redistributable information and follow that application’s requirements. Do not use it as a replacement for the Canon driver.
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If you no longer own the Canon device
Do not replace the DLL merely to silence an obsolete startup entry.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Remove the unused Canon utilities and driver software.
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Select Startup apps.
- Disable an obsolete Canon startup item if it remains.
- Restart Windows.
If a specific program still requests the file, uninstall that program or remove its Canon integration properly. A missing driver for hardware you no longer use does not need to be restored.
When the error persists
Collect these details before seeking further help:
- Exact Canon model.
- Windows 10 or Windows 11 edition and architecture.
- The complete error message.
- The program that displays it.
- Whether printing, scanning, or both are affected.
- The full path shown for
cnhw370s.dll. - Whether Windows Security quarantined it.
- The Canon package version and installation result.
- Any Device Manager error code.
- Whether the file is digitally signed and identifies Canon as its publisher.
If the file exists but still will not load, investigate the application’s architecture, dependent files, permissions, and location rather than downloading another copy. If the device is unsupported, Windows may still offer limited scanner functionality through Microsoft’s scanner installation guidance, but a legacy Canon utility may remain incompatible.
FAQ
Is cnhw370s.dll a Windows system file?
No. It is associated with Canon Inkjet WIA Driver software and should be treated as a third-party hardware-driver component.
Which Canon printer installed it?
The filename does not identify a verified universal Canon model. Use the device label, Windows device entries, the original installation folder, or Canon’s model-specific support search.
Is cnhw370s.dll malware?
The name alone cannot establish that. Verify its original path, digital signature, and Canon installation source. A file downloaded from an unverified DLL site should not be trusted simply because the filename matches.
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Normally, no. SFC repairs protected Windows files. Reinstall the Canon package to restore a missing Canon DLL.
Does this apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11?
The repair sequence applies to both, but driver compatibility depends on the exact Canon model and package. Do not assume an old Canon WIA driver is supported on Windows 11.
What is the correct fix if only scanning fails?
Reinstall the Canon scanning or WIA package, confirm that Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is running, and test the scanner through Windows. A printer-only package may not contain the needed scanning components.
Can I register the file manually?
Do not use regsvr32 unless Canon’s documented installer instructions specifically require it. The Canon setup program should handle driver registration.
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