📑 Table of Contents
🔍 Why msvcp140.dll goes missing
🛠️ How to fix it, step by step
🖥️ Quick fix (TL;DR)
In a hurry? Nine times out of ten this error is solved by installing one small, official Microsoft package. Here's the short version before the detailed walkthrough:
- Download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (2015–2022) — both the x64 and x86 versions.
- Install both, then restart your PC.
- Launch the game or program again — the error should be gone.
If it's still there, don't panic. The rest of this guide covers repairing, reinstalling, and system-file checks that clear up the stubborn cases.
⚠️ What the error looks like
The message pops up the moment you try to open an app or game, and it comes in a few near-identical flavors:
- "The code execution cannot proceed because msvcp140.dll was not found."
- "This application failed to start because msvcp140.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
- "MSVCP140.dll is missing from your computer."
You may also see its close cousins — vcruntime140.dll or msvcp140_1.dll — in the same box. The cause and the fix are the same for all of them, so if you're seeing one of those instead, keep reading. The key detail: the error appears at launch, not while the program is running, which is a strong hint that a shared runtime file is missing rather than the app itself being damaged.
🔍 Why msvcp140.dll goes missing
msvcp140.dll is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015–2022. A huge number of programs and games are built with Visual Studio, and instead of each one bundling its own copy of these runtime files, they share this single system-wide package. That's efficient — until the package isn't there.
The file typically goes missing for one of these reasons: the redistributable was never installed on a fresh Windows setup; it got corrupted by an unexpected shutdown; a "PC cleaner" or fake DLL-fixer tool deleted it; or a botched app uninstall took shared files with it. Notice that every cause points to the same solution — restore the redistributable, rather than chasing down one lonely DLL file from the internet.
🛠️ How to fix it, step by step
Method 1 — Install the Visual C++ Redistributable (the real fix)
This is the one that solves it for most people. Download the latest package straight from Microsoft — never from a random mirror.
⬇️ Visual C++ Redistributable x64 — Microsoft official aka.ms · free · for 64-bit Windows 10/11 · downloads vc_redist.x64.exe directly from Microsoft ⬇️ Visual C++ Redistributable x86 — Microsoft official aka.ms · free · the 32-bit version · downloads vc_redist.x86.exe — install this one tooInstall both files — yes, even on a 64-bit PC, because many games and apps are still 32-bit and need the x86 runtime. Run each installer, accept the license, click Install, then restart your computer and try the program again.
Method 2 — Repair the redistributable
Already have it installed but still stuck? Repair it. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps (Windows 11) or Control Panel → Programs and Features (Windows 10), find each Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable entry, choose Modify, then Repair. Restart afterward.
Method 3 — Reinstall the app that throws the error
If only one specific program shows the message, its own files may be damaged. Uninstall it completely, then download a fresh copy from the official source (or verify game files in Steam via right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files).
Method 4 — Repair Windows system files
Corrupted system files can undo everything else. Open Command Prompt as administrator (Start → type "cmd" → Run as administrator) and run these two commands, one after the other:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Let each finish before starting the next, then reboot. This repairs the underlying Windows components the runtime depends on.
Method 5 — Install pending Windows Updates
Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and install everything offered. Updates sometimes restore or refresh the runtime components tied to this error.
msvcp140.dll from "free DLL" websites. You often get the wrong version — or malware bundled inside. The official Microsoft redistributable above is the safe, correct source.
🧩 Still not fixed? Extra checks
If you've done all five and the box keeps appearing, run through this short checklist:
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Both versions installed? | Confirm x64 and x86 both show in Installed apps. |
| Clean reinstall | Uninstall every "Visual C++ Redistributable" entry, reboot, install the 2015–2022 package fresh. |
| Malware scan | Run a full Windows Security scan — some malware deletes runtime DLLs. |
| New user profile | A corrupted profile can block access; test with a new Windows account. |
❓ FAQ
Q. Is it safe to download msvcp140.dll from a DLL website?
No. Stick to the official Microsoft redistributable. Third-party DLL sites are a common source of malware and mismatched versions.
Q. Do I need the x86 or x64 version?
Install both. The x64 covers 64-bit apps and x86 covers 32-bit ones — and you can't always tell which an app is.
Q. Will any of this delete my files or games?
No. Installing or repairing the redistributable and running SFC/DISM don't touch your personal files.
Q. I'm getting vcruntime140.dll instead — same fix?
Yes. vcruntime140.dll and msvcp140_1.dll ship in the same package, so Method 1 fixes them too.
✅ Wrap-up
sfc /scannow and DISM; (5) install Windows Updates. Nine times out of ten, step one is all you'll need.
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