diff --git a/native_bridge/src/RenderFxJob.cpp b/native_bridge/src/RenderFxJob.cpp
index 5b6bef6..e54272e 100644
--- a/native_bridge/src/RenderFxJob.cpp
+++ b/native_bridge/src/RenderFxJob.cpp
@@ -400,22 +400,33 @@ bool pickFxClass(const VST3::Hosting::PluginFactory& factory,
 // the DLL search path at the plugin directory before Module::create.
 #ifdef _WIN32
 static void setPluginSearchPath(const std::string& path) {
+    if (path.empty()) return;
     std::string dir;
-    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
-    try {
-        fs::path p(path);
-        // Folder bundle (.vst3 dir): deps live in Contents\<arch>\
-        if (fs::is_directory(p)) {
-            dir = (p / "Contents" / "x86_64-win").string();
-            if (!fs::is_directory(dir)) dir = (p / "Contents").string();
+    // Folder bundle (.vst3 dir): deps live in Contents\<arch>\
+    // Single file (.vst3/.dll): deps live next to it.
+    size_t baseSlash = path.find_last_of("/\\");
+    std::string base = baseSlash == std::string::npos ? "" : path.substr(baseSlash + 1);
+    std::string parent = baseSlash == std::string::npos ? "" : path.substr(0, baseSlash);
+    if (!base.empty() && base.size() > 4 &&
+        base.substr(base.size() - 4) == ".vst3") {
+        // Could be a folder bundle OR a single .vst3 file. Check folder first.
+        DWORD attr = GetFileAttributesA(path.c_str());
+        if (attr != INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES && (attr & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)) {
+            dir = path + "\\Contents\\x86_64-win";
+            DWORD dAttr = GetFileAttributesA(dir.c_str());
+            if (dAttr == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES)
+                dir = path + "\\Contents";
         } else {
-            dir = p.parent_path().string();  // single-file .vst3 / .dll
+            dir = parent;
         }
-    } catch (...) { return; }
+    } else {
+        dir = parent;
+    }
     if (dir.empty()) return;
     // SetDllDirectoryW is process-global, fine here: bridge loads one plugin
     // at a time (render slots serial; realtime chain loads on its own thread).
-    SetDllDirectoryW(std::wstring(dir.begin(), dir.end()).c_str());
+    std::wstring wdir(dir.begin(), dir.end());
+    SetDllDirectoryW(wdir.c_str());
     std::cerr << "[RenderFx] dll search dir: " << dir << std::endl;
 }
 #endif