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The safest fix for an MSVCP140.dll was not found error is to install or repair the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable that matches the affected application’s architecture. Do not download a single DLL from a random website or copy one into System32. The redistributable installs the complete Microsoft C and C++ runtime and preserves its normal registration and servicing.
This error usually appears when a game or another Windows program cannot load a required Microsoft C++ runtime library. Follow the architecture check first, then install the current package, repair an existing installation if necessary, and work through the failure branches below.
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What “MSVCP140.dll was not found” means
MSVCP140.dll is one of the runtime libraries used by applications built with Microsoft C++ tools. It is supplied through the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. When Windows cannot load that runtime dependency, the application may stop before its window appears.
The wording can vary. Windows may show a message such as “This application has failed to start because library.dll was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.” In this case, reinstalling the entire game or program is not always the first or best step: the missing dependency is normally repaired by installing the appropriate Visual C++ package.
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The cause is generally one of three things:
- The required runtime is not installed.
- The installed runtime is damaged or incomplete.
- The installed package does not match the application’s target architecture, such as using an x64 package for a 32-bit application.
The message alone does not establish that the game is infected or that Windows itself is permanently damaged. It identifies a failed runtime dependency.
Check the application architecture before installing anything
Microsoft’s requirement is explicit: the redistributable package architecture must match the application’s target architecture. Choose the package for the program that is failing, not simply the architecture of your Windows installation.
| Application target | Redistributable package | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 64-bit application | x64 | Use for a program built for 64-bit Windows. |
| 32-bit application | x86 | Use for a 32-bit game or program, including one running on 64-bit Windows. |
| Native ARM64 application | ARM64 | Use when the application is built natively for ARM64 Windows. |
If you are unsure, check the game’s official support page, installer notes, or publisher documentation for its target architecture. A launcher may be 64-bit while the game executable is 32-bit, so identify the executable that actually produces the error. If you regularly use applications built for different architectures, each application may require its corresponding package.
Install the official Visual C++ Redistributable
Microsoft’s current v14 Redistributable is intended for applications built with Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, or 2026. It is the supported starting point for a current game or desktop program that reports a missing MSVCP140.dll.
- Open Microsoft’s “Latest Supported Visual C++ Redistributable Downloads” page. Use Microsoft’s own download page rather than a third-party DLL repository.
- Select the package that matches the application. Choose x64 for a 64-bit application, x86 for a 32-bit application, or ARM64 for a native ARM64 application.
- Download the installer and run it. Windows may ask for administrator approval. Allow the elevation request only for the official Microsoft installer you intentionally downloaded.
- Complete setup. Let the installer finish without deleting or replacing individual runtime files.
- Start the affected game or application again. If the installer requests a restart, restart Windows before testing. Even when it does not require one, a full restart is reasonable if the program still reports the old error.
After a successful installation, reopen the program from its normal shortcut or launcher. If the program starts, the missing runtime dependency was the blocking issue. Do not remove other Visual C++ entries merely because the new package was added; different applications can rely on different runtime generations.
Repair the package when it is already installed
If a Visual C++ Redistributable entry is already present, the files or installer registration may be damaged. Microsoft supports repairing the existing installation.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps on current Windows versions.
- Find the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable entry. There may be separate entries for x86 and x64; check both if you run applications of both architectures.
- Open the entry’s menu and choose Modify when that option is available.
- In the installer window, choose Repair and allow the operation to complete.
- Launch the affected application again. Restart Windows if the installer asks for it or if the same message remains after repair.
On older Windows interfaces, use Control Panel > Programs and Features, select the Visual C++ Redistributable entry, and choose Change or Modify to reach the repair operation.
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A failed repair does not prove that the application is incompatible. Work through these branches in order so that each change has a clear purpose.
Reinstall the current package
Return to Microsoft’s latest supported v14 download page and run the correct installer again. A fresh installation can replace incomplete runtime files that a repair operation cannot restore. Match the package to the application, even if another architecture is already installed.
Install pending Windows updates
When the Visual C++ installer refuses to complete, install pending Windows updates and retry. Microsoft’s installer troubleshooting guidance specifically recommends Windows Update for setup and file-access failures. Reboot if Windows Update requires it before running the redistributable installer again.
Check security-software quarantine
If security software quarantined a runtime file, review its quarantine history rather than downloading a replacement DLL from the internet. Use the official Microsoft installer to restore the complete package. If your security product continues to block the installer, follow that product’s documented process for reviewing a detection before attempting another installation.
Use the application’s official prerequisite installer
Some games and programs ship their own prerequisite installer or require a particular runtime architecture. Check the application’s official installer, support page, or launcher repair options. Follow the publisher’s documented prerequisite order, but keep the Microsoft redistributable as the source for the runtime itself.
Consider an older toolset requirement
Visual Studio 2017 and later share the v14 Redistributable files, covering applications built with Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, or 2026. Older runtimes, including Visual C++ 2013 and earlier, remain side by side rather than being replaced by v14. If an older game’s official documentation specifies a legacy Visual C++ runtime, install that documented prerequisite in addition to—not instead of—the package needed by newer applications.
Why downloading a lone DLL is the wrong fix
Search results often offer individual files named MSVCP140.dll. Avoid those downloads, especially from unofficial DLL repositories. A lone file may be the wrong version, the wrong architecture, modified, incomplete, or missing other runtime components the application also needs.
Do not copy a downloaded DLL into System32, the game folder, or another Windows directory as a substitute for installation. Manual replacement bypasses the redistributable installer’s registration and servicing behavior and can create a second, harder-to-diagnose problem. The supported method is to install or repair the complete Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package.
If you already copied an unofficial file, remove that manually added copy only if you can identify it as the downloaded replacement and can do so without deleting a Windows-owned file. Then install the official package. When in doubt, leave system directories unchanged and use Microsoft’s installer or the application’s official support process.
Game-specific checks after the runtime is installed
Only one game fails
If other programs launch normally and only one game reports the missing library, check that game’s official installer or support page for prerequisites and architecture requirements. A game may bundle a prerequisite installer or expect the redistributable to be installed by its launcher. Reinstalling the game can help when its own installation is incomplete, but install or repair the runtime first so that the same dependency is not missing again.
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The launcher opens but the game does not
Determine which executable displays the error. The launcher and the game can target different architectures. Install the package that matches the executable that fails, then restart the launcher and test the game again.
The message changes after installation
A new missing-DLL message can indicate that the original runtime problem was resolved and that another prerequisite is now being reported. Record the exact filename and consult the application’s official support documentation rather than downloading that file separately. Different filenames can belong to different runtime generations or components.
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Confirm that you installed the package for the game’s architecture, not merely one that matches Windows. Check both the Installed apps list and the installer result, repair the matching entry, and restart Windows. If the error persists, use the game publisher’s official installer or support process to verify its prerequisites and installation state.
Architecture and toolset decisions at a glance
| Question | Decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Is the application 32-bit? | Install x86. | The package architecture must match the application’s target architecture. |
| Is the application 64-bit? | Install x64. | A 64-bit application requires the matching x64 runtime package. |
| Is it a native ARM64 application? | Install ARM64. | ARM64 applications use the ARM64 package. |
| Is v14 already listed but damaged? | Use Modify, then Repair. | Repair restores an existing installation without relying on a loose DLL. |
| Does the application document Visual C++ 2013 or earlier? | Keep the legacy runtime side by side with v14. | Older runtimes are not replaced by the shared v14 files. |
| Does setup fail? | Install pending Windows updates and retry. | Microsoft’s installer guidance recommends Windows Update for setup and file-access failures. |
What is safe to remove or change?
Do not delete Visual C++ Redistributable entries simply to reduce the number of installed programs. Multiple versions and architectures can be legitimate requirements for different applications. Removing one may cause another game or utility to fail.
Do not replace files in Windows system directories by hand, disable security software indiscriminately, or use a package from an unofficial mirror. The safest changes are limited to installing or repairing the official redistributable, applying Windows updates, and following the affected application’s documented prerequisite instructions.
Practical recovery checklist
- Read the exact filename in the error and confirm that it is
MSVCP140.dll. - Identify the executable that fails, especially when a launcher and game use different architectures.
- Determine whether that executable is x86, x64, or native ARM64 from its official documentation.
- Install the matching package from Microsoft’s latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable page.
- Approve administrator elevation when Windows requests it for the official installer.
- Restart the application, and restart Windows if setup requests it or the old message remains.
- If the package is already present, use Installed apps or Control Panel to choose Modify and Repair.
- If setup fails, install pending Windows updates and retry.
- Review security-software quarantine if a runtime file was removed.
- Check the game’s official prerequisite installer and support documentation for architecture or legacy-runtime requirements.
- Never download or manually copy a standalone DLL from an unofficial source.
Frequently asked questions
Should I install both x86 and x64 packages?
Install the architecture required by the application. If you use both 32-bit and 64-bit programs, each may need its matching package, so having both entries installed can be appropriate. The deciding factor is the application’s target architecture, not a preference for one package.
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Visual C++ 2013 and earlier runtimes remain side by side because older applications can still require them. The shared v14 files cover applications built with Visual Studio 2017 and later, but they do not replace every legacy runtime.
Does this error mean my game files are corrupted?
Not necessarily. The message identifies a runtime dependency Windows could not load. The game’s own installation may also be incomplete, but install or repair the matching Visual C++ Redistributable before assuming the entire game must be replaced.
Is restarting Windows mandatory?
Not in every case. Restart the affected application after installation. Perform a full Windows restart when the installer requests it or when the application continues to show the previous error after a completed install or repair.
What if Microsoft’s installer cannot access a file?
Install pending Windows updates, restart if required, and run the official redistributable installer again. If the problem continues, follow Microsoft’s installer troubleshooting guidance and the application publisher’s support instructions rather than substituting a downloaded DLL.
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Can I fix the problem by reinstalling only the game?
Sometimes a game’s installer supplies its prerequisites, but reinstalling the game alone is not a reliable substitute for the Visual C++ Redistributable. Install or repair the matching Microsoft package first, then use the game’s official installer or repair function if the program remains unable to start.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I install both x86 and x64 packages?
Install the architecture required by the application. If you use both 32-bit and 64-bit programs, each may need its matching package, so having both entries installed can be appropriate.
Why is an older Visual C++ entry still listed after installing v14?
Visual C++ 2013 and earlier runtimes remain side by side because older applications can still require them. The shared v14 files cover applications built with Visual Studio 2017 and later, but they do not replace every legacy runtime.
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Not necessarily. The message identifies a runtime dependency Windows could not load. Install or repair the matching Visual C++ Redistributable before assuming the entire game must be replaced.
Is restarting Windows mandatory?
Restart the affected application after installation. Perform a full Windows restart when the installer requests it or when the application continues to show the previous error after a completed install or repair.
What if Microsoft’s installer cannot access a file?
Install pending Windows updates, restart if required, and run the official redistributable installer again. If the problem continues, follow Microsoft’s installer troubleshooting guidance and the application publisher’s support instructions.
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