If Windows says “MSVCR110.dll is missing from your computer” or that code execution cannot proceed, install the official Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable Update 4 that matches the game’s architecture. A 32-bit game on 64-bit Windows needs the x86 package; a 64-bit game needs x64. Do not download an individual DLL from a third-party site.
After installing the runtime, relaunch the game. If the message remains, repair or reinstall the game, apply pending Windows updates, rerun the redistributable installer, and inspect its setup log for errors.
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What MSVCR110.dll is and why a game needs it
msvcr110.dll is a component of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 runtime, also called VC++ 11.0. Microsoft lists the file in both the x86 and x64 Microsoft.VC110.CRT redistributable folders. Games and other Windows programs built with Visual Studio 2012 use this runtime for C and C++ library functions. The redistributable lets those programs run on computers that do not have the full Visual Studio development environment installed.
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The error does not usually mean that Windows itself is missing a core operating-system file. It means the specific program cannot load the runtime version it was built against. The file may be absent, damaged, installed for the wrong architecture, or missing because the game’s installer did not deploy its dependency correctly.
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Visual Studio 2012 reached the end of extended support on January 10, 2023. That does not remove the legacy runtime: Microsoft continues to provide the latest available Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 redistributable packages through its Download Center.
Choose the correct redistributable: x86 or x64
Select the package according to the game executable, not simply according to whether Windows is 64-bit. Windows 64-bit can run both 32-bit and 64-bit programs, and each program loads the runtime architecture it was compiled for.
| Affected game | Package to install | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 32-bit (x86) game | Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 x86 redistributable | Required even on a 64-bit Windows PC. |
| 64-bit (x64) game | Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 x64 redistributable | Does not replace the x86 runtime for a 32-bit game. |
| Several games with different architectures | The package matching each game | Different applications can legitimately require different runtime architectures. |
Use the game publisher’s system requirements, installer choice, or executable information to identify the architecture. A folder name such as “Program Files (x86)” can be a clue, but the reliable decision is the architecture of the executable that reports the error. Windows’ own bitness is not enough to make that choice.
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Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Update 4
- Close the game and its launcher. Exit the program that displayed the message so the installer can update the runtime without the game holding files open.
- Open Microsoft’s Download Center. Find the official Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4. Use Microsoft’s package rather than a loose
msvcr110.dlldownload. - Choose the application architecture. Download x86 for a 32-bit game or x64 for a 64-bit game. If you maintain multiple games, check each game separately; one installer does not make the other architecture unnecessary.
- Run the redistributable installer. Follow its prompts and allow it to repair or install the runtime components. The package installs the complete, version-matched runtime rather than one isolated file.
- Relaunch the game. Start the game again after setup finishes. If the message has cleared, no manual DLL copying is needed.
- Use the game’s repair or reinstall option if necessary. A game installer may have omitted or damaged its own dependency. Run the launcher’s built-in repair command, or reinstall the game from its legitimate installer if repair is unavailable.
You do not need to install the full Visual Studio 2012 programming suite just to run a game. The redistributable is the runtime package intended for computers without Visual Studio.
Why downloading a standalone DLL is the wrong fix
Third-party DLL sites distribute individual files without guaranteeing that the file, build, architecture, or associated runtime libraries match the application. Replacing a file in a system directory can also create a second failure while leaving the underlying runtime installation incomplete.
The supported deployment models are the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable or a complete runtime bundled by the game’s publisher. Those packages install the related files together and preserve the version relationship expected by a Visual Studio 2012 application. Do not copy a downloaded DLL into System32, SysWOW64, or the game folder as a substitute for installing the runtime.
If the error remains after installation
Confirm that the architecture matches
The most common installation mistake is using x64 because Windows is 64-bit when the game is actually 32-bit. Recheck the game’s executable architecture and install the corresponding x86 or x64 Update 4 package. If another game works but this one does not, that does not prove that this game uses the same architecture.
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Repair the game’s own files
If the correct redistributable is present but only one title fails, the game installation may be damaged or incomplete. Use the application’s own repair option first. If repair does not restore the dependency, reinstall the game from its official installer and then test it again.
Apply pending Windows updates
Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance recommends installing pending Windows updates when redistributable installation or runtime problems continue. Restart Windows when the update process requires it, then rerun the Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 installer and test the game again.
Read the redistributable installer log
If setup reports failure, open the log produced by the redistributable installer and search for terms such as “Error” or “Failed.” The log can distinguish an installation problem from a game problem. Record the exact message before contacting the game publisher or Microsoft support.
Consider another missing dependency
A game can report msvcr110.dll while also needing another runtime or component. Installing the correct VC++ 2012 package fixes this particular dependency, but it cannot repair unrelated missing files, a broken launcher, incompatible game files, or a program-specific defect. If the error changes to name a different DLL, treat that as a separate dependency and follow the game vendor’s support instructions rather than downloading files individually.
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Common situations and the right response
| What you see | Likely explanation | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| “MSVCR110.dll is missing” immediately when starting a game | The Visual C++ 2012 runtime is absent or the game cannot see the required architecture. | Install the official Update 4 package matching the game, then relaunch it. |
| The game is 32-bit, but Windows is 64-bit | The operating system can run the game, but the game still needs the x86 runtime. | Install x86; Windows bitness does not change the game’s dependency. |
| The installer completes, but the same message returns | Wrong architecture, damaged game files, or another program-specific problem. | Verify architecture, run game repair or reinstall, and check the installer log. |
| The redistributable installer fails | Windows may be missing updates or setup may have recorded a specific error. | Apply Windows updates, rerun setup, inspect the log for “Error” or “Failed,” and contact the application vendor if needed. |
| A downloaded DLL seems to fix one launch but causes another error | The isolated file does not provide the complete, matched runtime. | Remove the unofficial file if it was added, then install the Microsoft redistributable or use the game’s bundled installer. |
How to avoid the problem when reinstalling a game
- Keep the game’s original installer or launcher available; many legitimate installers include the required Visual C++ package.
- When an installer offers optional prerequisites, allow the Visual C++ 2012 runtime to install instead of skipping it because a newer Visual C++ version is already present.
- For a library containing both 32-bit and 64-bit games, track each title’s architecture rather than assuming one runtime covers every game.
- Save the exact DLL name and full error wording.
msvcr110.dllidentifies VC++ 2012, while similarly named files belong to different runtime generations. - Use Microsoft’s redistributable source or the game publisher’s complete installer. Avoid sites offering individual DLL files, automated “DLL fixer” tools, or unexplained replacement packages.
What the error does—and does not—tell you
The message identifies a missing load-time dependency, not the cause of the failure. It does not establish that Windows is corrupt, that the game is incompatible with your PC, or that the file should be copied into a system folder. The practical diagnosis is narrower: the game expects the Visual C++ 2012 runtime and cannot load msvcr110.dll from the appropriate runtime installation.
Installing the official, architecture-matched Update 4 redistributable is therefore the first-line fix. If that does not work, the remaining investigation should focus on installation integrity, Windows servicing, setup-log errors, architecture mismatch, and the game vendor’s own requirements.
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