“patchmatch.dll” errors on Windows
You may see one of these messages when starting Photoshop or Photoshop Elements:
The program can’t start because PatchMatch.dll is missing from your computer.
The code execution cannot proceed because PatchMatch.dll was not found.
Photoshop.exe – Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point could not be located in the dynamic link library PatchMatch.dll.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
Windows may also report that PatchMatch.dll is “not designed to run on Windows” or “contains an error.”
The 60-second answer
patchmatch.dll is an Adobe application component associated with older Windows versions of Adobe Photoshop CC and Photoshop Elements. It is not a Windows system DLL, Windows Update file, graphics-driver component, or Visual C++ Redistributable file.
The safest fix is to identify the Adobe product that is failing, then repair, update, or reinstall that exact product using Adobe’s Creative Cloud app or the original Photoshop Elements installer. Do not download patchmatch.dll from a random DLL website, copy it into System32, or run regsvr32 against it.
A newer Photoshop installation may use AdbePM.dll for the same PatchMatch component. That means a file from an older Photoshop release, Photoshop Elements, or a different architecture is not a safe replacement for the file expected by your current executable.
What installed patchmatch.dll
Historical Adobe diagnostic reports list PatchMatch.dll inside Photoshop CC and Photoshop Elements installation folders. Examples include Photoshop CC 14.x and Photoshop Elements 13.x.
Adobe’s PatchMatch technology is an image-patch matching algorithm used for interactive image editing. It is related to features such as Content-Aware Patch and Fill, although Adobe does not publish a universal description of every DLL’s role in every Photoshop release.
The filename alone cannot identify the exact Photoshop version that installed it. Public reports also show that later releases commonly refer to the component as AdbePM.dll, described as PatchMatch.
This distinction matters. An entry-point error usually means Photoshop has found a DLL, but the DLL does not contain the function expected by that particular Photoshop.exe. That commonly happens after an incomplete update or when files from different Adobe releases have been mixed.
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Likely causes
| What happened | Likely explanation | Correct response |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop stopped launching after an update | Incomplete or mixed-version installation | Repair or reinstall Photoshop |
| The file disappeared after a security alert | Antivirus quarantine or deletion | Check Protection History, then verify or reinstall |
| You copied a DLL from another computer | Wrong build or architecture | Remove the mixed files and reinstall |
A dialog names MSVCP100.dll or VCRUNTIME140.dll too |
Separate runtime dependency problem | Install the matching Microsoft runtime |
| Photoshop launches, then crashes | Preferences, plug-ins, GPU, or driver issue | Reset preferences and troubleshoot the application |
| Windows has broader file errors | Possible Windows component corruption | Run DISM and SFC, but do not expect them to restore PatchMatch |
Fix 1: Reinstall the affected Adobe product
This is the most reliable fix for a missing, corrupt, incompatible, or mismatched patchmatch.dll.
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Creative Cloud Photoshop
- Save open work and close Photoshop.
- Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
- Select Apps, then All Apps.
- Find Photoshop.
- Select the three-dot More actions menu beside it.
- Choose Uninstall.
- Choose whether to keep or remove preferences and plug-ins.
- Restart Windows.
- Open Creative Cloud again.
- Select Install beside Photoshop.
Keeping preferences can preserve settings, but damaged preferences or plug-ins may also contribute to startup problems. If the error returns, uninstall again and remove the preferences and plug-ins associated with the damaged installation.
After reinstalling, start Photoshop from the Start menu or Creative Cloud. If it opens without the missing-file or entry-point message, the Adobe installation was the problem.
Photoshop Elements or older perpetual Adobe software
Use the original installer or the registered-products download connected to the Adobe account that owns the product.
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If an old installer is unavailable, Adobe may not provide every unsupported release through Creative Cloud. Check the account associated with the product or contact Adobe support rather than using an unverified installer.
Fix 2: Repair a failed or incomplete Creative Cloud installation
If uninstalling and reinstalling does not work, the installation may have left behind inconsistent Adobe files.
First, restart Windows and try the normal Creative Cloud uninstall and install process again. If Creative Cloud is stuck, repeatedly fails, or reports that files cannot be removed, back up your Adobe presets, plug-ins, workspaces, and any unsynchronised Creative Cloud files.
Then use Adobe’s official Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:
- Close Photoshop and Creative Cloud.
- Back up presets, plug-ins, workspaces, and unsynchronised files.
- Download the Cleaner Tool only from Adobe.
- Run it according to Adobe’s instructions.
- Select the affected Creative Cloud or Photoshop entries.
- Restart Windows.
- Reinstall Creative Cloud and Photoshop.
The Cleaner Tool is an advanced cleanup method, not a substitute for the Photoshop installer. It is appropriate when the ordinary installation is corrupted or an update repeatedly fails.
Fix 3: Check Windows Security quarantine
Antivirus software can quarantine an Adobe component after an update or scan.
- Open Start.
- Search for Windows Security and open it.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Look for an event involving Photoshop, Adobe, or
PatchMatch.dll. - Review the file location and detection details before taking action.
Restore or allow the file only if you can confirm that it came from the genuine Adobe installation and the system is clean. If the file came from an unknown location, or the detection remains suspicious, do not restore it. Remove the damaged installation and reinstall Photoshop from Adobe.
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Fix 4: Resolve an entry-point or architecture mismatch
An “Entry Point Not Found” error is different from a simple missing-file error. It means Windows loaded a DLL but could not find the function that the executable requested.
Common causes include:
- A failed Photoshop update left an old
PatchMatch.dllbeside a newer executable. - A 32-bit DLL was placed beside a 64-bit Photoshop installation.
- A Photoshop Elements file was copied into Photoshop CC.
- Files were restored manually from another Adobe release.
- A partial reinstall left old Adobe files in the application folder.
The fix is not to search for the missing function online. Uninstall the affected Adobe product, restart Windows, and install one matching release from Adobe.
Do not rely on a generic “32-bit” or “64-bit” label from a DLL download page. The correct architecture must match the application, and the correct build must match the Adobe product. Microsoft’s Visual C++ architecture guidance explains why application and runtime architectures must correspond.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix 5: Install Visual C++ only when Windows names it
Visual C++ is usually not the fix for PatchMatch.dll itself. Install or repair a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable only when the error separately names a runtime such as:
MSVCP100.dllMSVCR100.dllVCRUNTIME140.dllMSVCP140.dll
Use Microsoft’s official latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads. Select the package architecture required by the failing Adobe application, such as vc_redist.x86.exe or vc_redist.x64.exe.
After installation, restart Windows and launch Photoshop again. If the dialog still names PatchMatch.dll, repair Photoshop rather than repeatedly reinstalling Visual C++.
Fix 6: Check for broader Windows corruption
PatchMatch.dll is an Adobe application file, not a protected Windows component. System File Checker normally will not restore it. Use Windows repair commands when other Windows files are also failing, Windows Update is damaged, or multiple applications show system-file errors.
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- Search for Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Run this command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for it to finish.
- Run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart Windows.
Microsoft documents this DISM and SFC repair process. If these commands report repaired system files but Photoshop still shows the same error, reinstall Photoshop. These commands do not replace Adobe application files.
Repeating SFC and DISM while guessing which Windows component changed can be tedious. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for broader Windows problems and show what it identifies; its full version performs repairs, but reinstalling the affected Adobe program remains the definitive fix for a missing application DLL.
Fix 7: Reset Photoshop preferences
If Photoshop starts after the DLL repair but crashes, freezes, or closes during launch, damaged preferences may be involved.
From Photoshop:
- Select Edit.
- Choose Preferences.
- Select General.
- Enable Reset Preferences On Quit.
- Close Photoshop and start it again.
You can also launch Photoshop while holding Alt+Ctrl+Shift, then confirm the preference reset when prompted.
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Resetting preferences can remove custom settings. If Photoshop opens afterward, restore settings gradually and test plug-ins individually.
Fix 8: Update the graphics driver only for launch crashes
A graphics driver is not the primary repair for a missing patchmatch.dll message. Driver troubleshooting is relevant when Photoshop launches and then crashes, displays a blank window, or fails while using GPU features.
To check the driver:
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the graphics device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows if a driver is installed.
For a clean, application-specific driver update, use the graphics manufacturer’s official support channel. Do not replace PatchMatch.dll with a graphics-driver file.
Finding the correct driver manually can mean checking hardware identifiers, architecture, and compatibility across several packages. Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and identify outdated drivers; the free scan shows what it finds, while driver installation is handled by the full version. This remains a secondary step when Photoshop’s actual error is a missing Adobe DLL.
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Fix 9: Use System Restore as a last resort
If Photoshop worked before a recent installation or update and reinstalling is not possible, System Restore may roll Windows back to an earlier state.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
rstrui.exe
- Press Enter.
- Select a restore point from before the Adobe problem.
- Select Scan for affected programs.
- Review the changes.
- Select Finish to begin the restore.
System Restore does not replace a correct Adobe installation in every case. If the restore completes but Photoshop still reports the same error, reinstall the affected Adobe product.
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What not to do
Do not download a standalone DLL
Random DLL download sites may provide a malicious file, an incompatible build, or the wrong architecture. A copied file may also hide the real cause, such as an incomplete Photoshop update or damaged installation.
Use Adobe’s official installer, the original Photoshop Elements media, or a verified backup from the same Adobe installation and matching build.
Do not copy it to System32 or SysWOW64
Ordinary desktop applications search their own application directory before system directories. Placing an Adobe DLL in System32 or SysWOW64 does not repair the Adobe installation and can create version conflicts or unsafe DLL-loading behavior. Microsoft documents the Windows DLL search order.
Do not run regsvr32
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose registration functions such as DllRegisterServer. PatchMatch.dll is an Adobe application module, not a verified ActiveX or COM server. There is no normal repair reason to register it.
FAQ
Is patchmatch.dll a Windows file?
No. It is associated with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements installations. There is no verified basis for treating it as a Windows component that belongs in System32.
Which Adobe product installed my copy?
The filename alone cannot identify the exact release. Older Photoshop CC and Photoshop Elements builds used PatchMatch.dll; later Photoshop reports commonly use AdbePM.dll for the PatchMatch component.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWill installing Visual C++ fix it?
Usually not. Install a Visual C++ package only when the error separately names a missing Microsoft runtime DLL.
Can I copy the file from another computer?
Only from a verified backup of the same Adobe product, release, build, and architecture. Reinstalling from Adobe is safer.
Why does the entry-point error appear after an update?
A failed or partial update can leave a newer Photoshop.exe beside an older PatchMatch module. Reinstalling one consistent Adobe build normally resolves that mismatch.
Should I run SFC for this error?
Run SFC only when there are broader Windows corruption symptoms. It is not a direct replacement for an Adobe DLL.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat if Photoshop launches after reinstalling but then crashes?
Reset Photoshop preferences, test without third-party plug-ins, and investigate graphics-driver or GPU issues. That is a different problem from a missing application DLL.
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