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System Runtimes

How to Fix MSVCP140.dll Missing Error on Windows 10/11

Is your system throwing MSVCP140.dll is missing? Follow this quick, zero-fluff guide to resolve the issue completely using terminal commands and system configurations.

What Is the MSVCP140.dll Missing Error?

The error “The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found” means your application requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable runtime, which is either missing, corrupted, or the wrong architecture (x86 vs x64) is installed.

MSVCP140.dll is part of the C++ Runtime Library and is required by thousands of applications including Adobe Creative Suite, game engines (Unity, Unreal), Python, and many Steam games.

Common Triggers:

  • Clean Windows install without runtime packages
  • Antivirus quarantined the DLL
  • Corrupted Visual C++ installation
  • App requires x86 runtime but only x64 is installed (or vice versa)

---## Step 1: Install Both Visual C++ Redistributable Architectures

Download both the x86 and x64 versions from Microsoft’s official page:

Install both. Many 32-bit applications (including most games) require the x86 version even on 64-bit Windows.

---## Step 2: Repair Existing Installations

If Visual C++ is already installed but corrupted, repair it:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed Apps
  2. Search for “Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable”
  3. Click Modify → Repair for both x86 and x64 entries

Alternatively, force a repair via command line:

vc_redist.x64.exe /repair /quiet /norestart
vc_redist.x86.exe /repair /quiet /norestart

---## Step 3: Verify the DLL Exists in System32

Check that the DLL was properly deployed:

dir C:\Windows\System32\msvcp140.dll
dir C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcp140.dll
  • System32 should contain the x64 version
  • SysWOW64 should contain the x86 version

If either is missing after installation, run SFC to restore:

sfc /scannow

---## Step 4: Re-register the DLL

Force Windows to re-register the DLL in the component registry:

regsvr32 /u msvcp140.dll
regsvr32 msvcp140.dll

Note: regsvr32 may return “not a COM DLL” — this is expected for standard C++ runtime DLLs. The registration attempt still refreshes the file association cache.

---## Step 5: Check for Windows Update Dependencies

Some Visual C++ updates are delivered via Windows Update. Ensure your system is current:

wuauclt /detectnow /updatenow

Or via PowerShell:

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Get-WindowsUpdate -Install -AcceptAll

---## Step 6: Application-Specific Fix

If only one specific application throws the error:

  1. Navigate to the application’s install directory
  2. Check if it includes its own msvcp140.dll in a redist/ or _CommonRedist/ folder
  3. Run the bundled installer from there — it’s often version-matched to the application
cd "C:\Program Files\YourApp\_CommonRedist\vcredist\2022"
vc_redist.x64.exe /install /quiet

Pro Tip: Never download DLL files from third-party websites. They often contain malware or wrong versions. Always use the official Microsoft redistributable installer.