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If Windows 11 says “MSVCP140.dll is missing,” “MSVCP140.dll was not found,” or a game closes before opening, repair or reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable that the application needs. Choose the package architecture that matches the app (x86, x64, or ARM64), restart Windows, and then repair Windows components with DISM and System File Checker if the message persists. Do not download an isolated DLL from a random website; MSVCP140.dll is supplied as part of Microsoft’s runtime package.
What is MSVCP140.dll, and why does Windows 11 need it?
MSVCP140.dll is a Microsoft Visual C++ runtime library. Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable installs the C and C++ runtime libraries used by applications built with Microsoft Visual C++ tools. Games, launchers and other Windows programs can therefore stop before their first window appears when the runtime is missing, damaged or unusable.
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How do I fix the MSVCP140.dll error in Windows 11?
Work through these steps in order. The first four address the most common cause; the later steps handle a failed installer or corruption in Windows itself.
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1. Identify the application and its architecture
Note the exact program that displays the message. Microsoft requires the Redistributable architecture to match the application’s target architecture, not merely the architecture printed on your Windows installation.
- x86: required by a 32-bit application, including a 32-bit game running on 64-bit Windows.
- x64: required by a 64-bit application.
- ARM64: required by a native ARM64 application.
Windows 11 on a 64-bit PC can run 32-bit programs, so “my Windows is 64-bit” is not a reason to skip x86. If you cannot determine the program’s target architecture, install the package that matches the application’s published system requirements or ask its developer; do not guess based on the DLL name.
2. Check whether the Visual C++ package is already installed
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and search for Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. On some systems, the same entries are visible in Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Look for the architecture that corresponds to the affected application. A package can be present but damaged, so its presence does not prove that the runtime is working.
3. Repair the existing package or install Microsoft’s current package
If the relevant Redistributable entry has an available Modify button, select it and choose Repair. Follow the installer prompts to completion. This is the least disruptive option when the package is installed but its files or registration are damaged.
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If the package is absent, or the installed setup is itself corrupted, download the latest supported Microsoft Visual C++ v14 Redistributable and select the x86, x64 or ARM64 installer that matches the application. Microsoft recommends the latest supported v14 package for supported applications. Use Microsoft’s download page rather than a third-party DLL repository.
When more than one application is affected, check each application’s architecture. It is normal for a 64-bit Windows computer to have both x86 and x64 Visual C++ Redistributables because different programs require different runtimes.
4. Restart Windows and test the same application
Restart from Start > Power > Restart after a repair or installation. Then launch the program that produced the error, using the same shortcut or launcher as before. A restart allows pending runtime registration and file replacement operations to finish.
Which Visual C++ package should I choose?
Use the application’s target architecture and the newest supported runtime generation available from Microsoft. The following decision table keeps the choices separate.
| Question | Choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| What architecture is the app? | x86, x64 or ARM64 | The package architecture must match the app’s target architecture. A 32-bit app needs x86 even on 64-bit Windows. |
| Which runtime generation? | Current supported Visual C++ v14 package | The runtime should be at least as recent as the MSVC build tools used by the application; Microsoft recommends the latest supported v14 package for supported apps. |
| Is a matching package already installed? | Use Modify > Repair | Repair is appropriate when the package is present but damaged. |
| Is it missing or is setup corrupted? | Download a fresh installer from Microsoft | A new installer replaces missing or damaged setup files. |
| Could Windows itself be damaged? | Run DISM, then SFC | These tools repair the Windows component store and protected system files in the order Microsoft specifies. |
What if the Visual C++ installer fails?
An installer error does not mean the DLL should be copied manually. Try the following checks before running the installer again.
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Run the installer with administrator rights
Right-click the downloaded Redistributable installer and select Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt and let setup finish without closing the window. An administrator launch can resolve permission errors that prevent files or registry entries from being written.
Install pending Windows updates
Go to Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install all available updates, and restart if Windows requests it. Retry the current Microsoft Redistributable installer after the update cycle completes.
Temporarily test endpoint-protection interference
Microsoft’s installer guidance allows temporarily disabling antivirus or endpoint protection for a retry when security software is blocking setup. Do this only long enough to run the installer, disconnect from untrusted networks if appropriate, and immediately re-enable protection when the attempt ends. If your organization manages the device, follow its security policy or ask its administrator instead of changing protection yourself.
Collect the Visual C++ installation logs
If setup still fails, preserve the installer’s error details and Visual C++ Redistributable logs. Record the exact error code, the package architecture, the Windows edition and the time of the attempt. Those details let Microsoft Support or the application vendor distinguish a permission, update, servicing or architecture problem from a damaged download.
How do I repair Windows components when MSVCP140.dll is still missing?
Use Microsoft’s Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool first, then System File Checker (SFC). DISM repairs the component store that SFC relies on, which is why Microsoft specifically recommends this order.
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- Open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- At the elevated command prompt, enter
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthand press Enter. - Wait for DISM to reach completion. Do not close the window or power off the PC while it is working. DISM can use Windows Update as its repair source.
- After DISM completes, enter
sfc /scannowand press Enter. - Let SFC reach 100 percent, then read its result. Restart Windows and test the affected application again.
If Windows Update cannot provide the files DISM needs, Microsoft also documents using a known-good repair source with the /Source: and /LimitAccess options. The source must correspond to your Windows installation; using an unrelated image can produce another servicing error. Obtain the correct source and syntax from Microsoft’s Windows repair documentation or your administrator rather than improvising a path.
What should I do if the error appears after DISM and SFC?
Confirm that you repaired the package matching the application, restarted Windows, and tested the same executable. If the message remains after a successful runtime repair and completed DISM/SFC scans, the application may require support for a specific build or deployment configuration that general Windows steps cannot identify.
- Write down the full error text, the application name and version, and whether it is x86, x64 or ARM64.
- Keep the Visual C++ installer result and any DISM or SFC messages.
- Contact Microsoft Support for a Windows servicing problem or the application’s vendor for an application-specific runtime requirement.
Epic’s support guidance for this message likewise directs users to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, restart the PC and seek support from Microsoft or the application vendor when the error continues.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
Can I download MSVCP140.dll as a single file?
That is not the recommended repair. The DLL is one component of the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime, and a stand-alone file from an unverified site can be the wrong build or carry security and compatibility risks. Install or repair the complete Redistributable from Microsoft instead.
Will repairing Visual C++ delete my game saves or settings?
Repairing a Redistributable changes shared runtime files, not the game’s save directory. Nevertheless, back up important saves before making broad system changes, especially if the game stores progress outside a synchronized cloud service.
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Why does the message return after I installed the runtime?
The application may need a different architecture than the package you installed, or the installation may not have completed successfully. Check the app’s target architecture, review the installer result, restart Windows, and then use DISM followed by SFC if Windows component corruption is suspected.
Can I copy MSVCP140.dll from another Windows 11 computer?
Do not treat another computer as a parts source. Different application builds and runtime updates can require different files and registration, so copying one DLL can leave the underlying runtime incomplete. Repairing the matching Microsoft package is safer and easier to support.
Is this error proof that Windows 11 is infected?
No. The message indicates that an application could not use a required runtime library; it does not by itself identify malware. If you have separate security warnings or suspicious behavior, handle those through your normal antivirus and Windows security procedures while repairing the runtime through Microsoft’s installer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download MSVCP140.dll as a single file?
That is not the recommended repair. The DLL is one component of the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime, and a stand-alone file from an unverified site can be the wrong build or carry security and compatibility risks. Install or repair the complete Redistributable from Microsoft instead.
Will repairing Visual C++ delete my game saves or settings?
Repairing a Redistributable changes shared runtime files, not the game’s save directory. Nevertheless, back up important saves before making broad system changes, especially if the game stores progress outside a synchronized cloud service.
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The application may need a different architecture than the package you installed, or the installation may not have completed successfully. Check the app’s target architecture, review the installer result, restart Windows, and then use DISM followed by SFC if Windows component corruption is suspected.
Can I copy MSVCP140.dll from another Windows 11 computer?
Do not treat another computer as a parts source. Different application builds and runtime updates can require different files and registration, so copying one DLL can leave the underlying runtime incomplete. Repairing the matching Microsoft package is safer and easier to support.
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