Apps & runtime · medium

How to fix VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll was not found

Error code: VCRUNTIME140-DLL-MISSING

What this error means

A program or game will not start and Windows says that VCRUNTIME140.dll, VCRUNTIME140_1.dll or MSVCP140.dll was not found or is missing. These files belong to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, a free package of shared libraries that many programs need. The fix is almost always to install or repair that package from Microsoft. Downloading the single DLL file from a "DLL download" website is not a fix and can be dangerous.

Updated

Applies to
Windows 11 and Windows 10; applies to programs and games built with Visual Studio 2015 or later
Difficulty
Beginner
Before changes
Low; installing the Redistributable does not affect your files

Reviewed by Matyáš Rada · Documentation checked: 2026-10-30 · Checked against Microsoft's Visual C++ Redistributable download documentation.

Before you begin

Note the program that shows the error and copy the exact message. If Windows cannot start, see the startup guide.

Work through these checks

0 of 6 complete
01Check the exact file name in the message

VCRUNTIME140.dll, VCRUNTIME140_1.dll and MSVCP140.dll all come from the same Visual C++ v14 package, so one fix covers all three. Other names, such as MSVCR100.dll or MSVCP120.dll, need an older package.

  1. Read the error: "The code execution cannot proceed because VCRUNTIME140.dll was not found" or "The program can't start because MSVCP140.dll is missing from your computer".
  2. Note the number in the file name: 140 means the current v14 package. 120 is Visual Studio 2013, 110 is 2012 and 100 is 2010.
What to expect

You know which package version the program needs.

If it does not help

For 140 files continue with step 2. For older numbers, download the matching older version from the same Microsoft page.

Browse related errors
02Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable

Installing the package puts the missing files where every program can find them.

  1. Open Microsoft's "Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads" page (linked in the sources below).
  2. On 64-bit Windows, download and install both the X64 and the X86 versions. Many games and programs are 32-bit and need X86 even on 64-bit Windows. On a PC with an ARM processor, also install the ARM64 version.
  3. Restart the PC.
What to expect

The program starts without the error.

If it does not help

If the installer says a newer version is already installed, go to step 3.

Browse related errors
03Repair the existing installation

If the package is installed but damaged, a repair restores its files.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and search for Visual C++.
  2. For each "Microsoft Visual C++ … Redistributable" entry for 2015 or later (both x64 and x86), choose the menu (…) > Modify > Repair.
  3. If Repair is not offered or fails, uninstall those entries and install them again as in step 2. Restart afterwards.
What to expect

The repair finishes and the program starts.

If it does not help

If the installer itself fails, Microsoft's download page links to a troubleshooting guide for installation errors.

Browse related errors
04Restart and reinstall or verify the program

Some programs and games ship their own copy of the DLL in their folder, or install the Redistributable during their own setup.

  1. In Steam, Epic Games, EA app or other launchers, use the Verify or Repair files option for the game.
  2. For other programs, uninstall and reinstall them from the official source.
  3. Install the program's prerequisites if its setup offers them.
What to expect

The program's files are complete again.

If it does not help

If only one program fails and others work, contact that program's support with the exact message.

Browse related errors
05Check your antivirus quarantine

Antivirus can remove a program's copy of the DLL by mistake, especially with modified or cracked software.

  1. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history, or the quarantine in your antivirus.
  2. If a file from the program's folder was removed and the program came from a trusted official source, restore it or reinstall the program.
What to expect

You know whether antivirus removed a file.

If it does not help

If the program came from an unofficial source, do not restore the file; get the program from its official publisher instead.

Browse related errors
06Never download single DLL files

"DLL download" websites offer files of unknown origin and version. They often do not fix the error, can cause new crashes and are a common way to spread malware.

  1. Do not copy VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll into System32 or a program folder by hand.
  2. Always install the complete Redistributable from Microsoft as in step 2.

DLL files from unofficial websites can contain malware.

What to expect

The libraries come from Microsoft's signed installer and are kept up to date by it.

If it does not help

If you already copied DLL files manually, delete them, run a Microsoft Defender scan and install the Redistributable properly.

Browse related errors

Possible causes

  • The Visual C++ Redistributable is not installed
  • Only the 64-bit or only the 32-bit version is installed, but the program needs the other
  • A damaged Redistributable installation
  • The program's own copy of the file was removed by antivirus or a failed update

Useful Windows tools

These commands open Windows tools. Review changes before applying them.

control
msinfo32

Sources & further reading