How to Fix MSVCP140.dll or VCRUNTIME140.dll Missing Errors

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Ankit Kumar
Windows 11AppsFixTroubleshooting

The Problem

You double-click a program or game and instead of opening, you get an error like "The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found" or "VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing from your computer". The app then refuses to launch at all.

These DLL files belong to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable — a runtime package that thousands of Windows programs share. If it's missing, corrupted, or the wrong version, every app that depends on it fails with the same error. The good news: this is one of the easiest Windows errors to fix properly.

Important: Never download individual DLL files from random "DLL download" websites. Those files are frequently outdated, mismatched, or bundled with malware. The correct fix is always to reinstall the official Microsoft package.

Quick Checks Before You Start

  1. Note the exact DLL name in the error (MSVCP140.dll, VCRUNTIME140.dll, VCRUNTIME140_1.dll, MSVCP140_1.dll) — they all come from the same redistributable package, so the fix below covers all of them.
  2. Restart your PC once. If the error appeared right after installing something, a reboot occasionally clears a locked file.

Step 1: Reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable

This fixes the error in the vast majority of cases.

  1. Go to Microsoft's official download page: search for "Visual C++ Redistributable latest supported downloads" or go directly to learn.microsoft.com/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist.
  2. Download both installers under "Visual Studio 2015–2022":
    • vc_redist.x64.exe (64-bit)
    • vc_redist.x86.exe (32-bit)
  3. Run both installers, even on a 64-bit PC. Many games and older apps are 32-bit and need the x86 version.
  4. If the installer offers Repair instead of Install, choose Repair.
  5. Restart your computer and launch the app again.

Step 2: Repair the Specific App

If only one program shows the error, its own bundled runtime may be broken.

  1. Open Settings (Win + I) > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Find the affected program, click the three-dot menu, and choose Modify or Repair if available.
  3. If there's no repair option, uninstall the program and reinstall it fresh — most game and app installers include the correct Visual C++ runtime and will restore it during setup.
  4. For Steam games: right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.

Step 3: Repair Windows System Files

If DLL errors appear across multiple programs, system file corruption may be preventing the runtime from registering properly.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin).
  2. Run: 
    sfc /scannow
  3. When it finishes, run: 
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. Restart your PC, then repeat Step 1 (reinstall the redistributable).

Step 4: Check Windows Update

Some redistributable components ship through Windows Update, and a half-installed update can leave them broken.

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Click Check for updates and install everything pending.
  3. Restart and test the app again.

If the error persists after all four steps, the application itself may be damaged or incompatible with your Windows version — check the developer's site for a newer build.

App still crashes after the DLL error is gone? Follow the general guide to fix apps that crash or won't open. Seeing a different launch error code? Application error 0xc0000142 has its own fix path. If system file repair found unfixable corruption, see repair Windows 11 system files with SFC and DISM for the full recovery sequence.

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