msvcp120_clr0400.dll Errors: The Safe Windows Repair Path

If Windows reports that msvcp120_clr0400.dll is missing, not found, or could not be loaded, repair the related .NET Framework or application installation before looking for a replacement file. The file msvcp120_clr0400.dll is a Microsoft C Runtime Library component associated with Visual Studio 2013-era native code and the .NET Framework CLR.

Do not download a random copy from a DLL archive, put it in System32, or run regsvr32 against it. Those shortcuts often install the wrong architecture or version and can hide the real problem.

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What msvcp120_clr0400.dll is

The filename belongs to a Microsoft runtime component. Microsoft .NET Framework update file lists include msvcp120_clr0400.dll alongside msvcr120_clr0400.dll, CLR files, WPF components, and other framework files. Microsoft also documented compatibility failures involving this exact DLL after a .NET Framework update sequence.

The _clr0400 suffix matters. msvcp120_clr0400.dll is not simply another name for the ordinary msvcp120.dll installed by a typical Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable package.

The safest description is:

msvcp120_clr0400.dll is a Visual C++ 12-era native runtime component used by the .NET Framework CLR and delivered through Windows, .NET Framework, or an application installer on affected systems.

Some software installers classify this dependency under the Visual C++ Redistributable category, and an application may bundle the required runtime. However, Microsoft’s .NET Framework file lists and support documentation make .NET Framework repair the correct first step when the exact _clr0400 filename is missing from a Windows system directory.

Microsoft’s published .NET Framework file information confirms that this file is included in .NET Framework servicing packages.

Version and architecture identification

The following are examples of versions and sizes reported for this file. They are not a universal target version. The correct build depends on your Windows release, .NET Framework baseline, servicing updates, architecture, and language.

Architecture	Example file version	Example size
64-bit	12.0.52519.0	690,008 bytes
32-bit	12.0.52512.0	About 0.46 MB
64-bit	12.0.52512.0	About 0.66 MB
64-bit	12.0.51209.34209	About 0.65 MB
32-bit	12.0.20806.33440	About 0.51 MB
64-bit	12.0.52577.36577	679,200 bytes

On 64-bit Windows, the normal system locations are:

• 64-bit copy: %windir%\System32\msvcp120_clr0400.dll
• 32-bit copy: %windir%\SysWOW64\msvcp120_clr0400.dll

The names are counterintuitive. On 64-bit Windows, System32 normally contains 64-bit system files, while SysWOW64 contains files used by 32-bit applications through Windows redirection. Microsoft explains this behavior in its File System Redirector documentation.

A 32-bit program needs the 32-bit runtime path even when Windows itself is 64-bit. Do not copy the x86 file into System32, and do not copy the x64 file into SysWOW64.

You can inspect local copies without changing anything. Open PowerShell and run:

Get-Item "$env:windir\System32\msvcp120_clr0400.dll",
         "$env:windir\SysWOW64\msvcp120_clr0400.dll" `
  -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
  Select-Object FullName, Length,
    @{Name="Version";Expression={$_.VersionInfo.FileVersion}}

If the command returns no result, the file is absent from those locations. If it returns a file with an unexpected architecture, an old version, or a suspicious location, continue with the repair steps below rather than replacing it manually.

What each error message means

The wording gives useful clues about the type of failure.

Message	Likely meaning	Best first response
msvcp120_clr0400.dll is missing from your computer	The loader cannot find the requested file in the expected search locations	Repair .NET Framework, then repair the affected program
msvcp120_clr0400.dll was not found	Windows could not locate the DLL or the application’s required architecture	Check the application architecture and repair the runtime
The specified module could not be found	The named file may exist, but one of its dependencies may be missing	Repair the runtime and application; do not assume the named DLL itself is absent
The procedure entry point could not be located	A DLL with the wrong version or incompatible exports was loaded	Repair the complete runtime or application installation
The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)	Windows encountered an application, architecture, or dependency mismatch	Check x86 versus x64 dependencies and repair both the application and runtime
Not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error	The file may be corrupt, incompatible, incomplete, or replaced	Use Microsoft repair tools and a trusted installer

“Specified module could not be found” is especially misleading. Windows may have found msvcp120_clr0400.dll but failed while loading another library that it depends on. Microsoft describes the relevant lookup and dependency behavior in its documentation for DLL search order.

“Entry Point Not Found” usually indicates a version mismatch rather than a simple missing file. Microsoft documented a historical .NET Framework compatibility problem involving Msvcp120_clr0400.dll and Msvcr120_clr0400.dll in KB4488669.

Fix 1: Install pending Windows updates and restart

A damaged or partially serviced .NET Framework installation is the most likely cause when several applications fail or the issue began after Windows Update.

On Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Select Check for updates.
4. Install all available updates.
5. Restart the PC, even if Windows does not insist on restarting.
6. Open the affected program again.

On Windows 10:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Select Windows Update.
4. Click Check for updates.
5. Install the available updates.
6. Restart Windows and test the program.

If updates fail repeatedly, note the update error and move to the .NET Framework Repair Tool. Do not repeatedly uninstall security updates just because a DLL message appeared.

Fix 2: Run Microsoft’s .NET Framework Repair Tool

The .NET Framework Repair Tool is the safest automated repair for a damaged framework installation or broken update registration.

1. Download the tool from Microsoft’s official .NET Framework Repair Tool page.
2. Save NetFxRepairTool.exe.
3. Right-click the downloaded file and select Run as administrator.
4. Accept the license terms.
5. Allow the tool to inspect the installation.
6. Apply the recommended repairs.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Start the application that produced the DLL error.

A successful repair normally means that the application launches without the missing-file message. If the same error remains, do not copy a replacement DLL into a system folder. Install the compatible .NET Framework Runtime in the next step.

When you are repeating SFC and DISM repairs without knowing what changed, Outbyte PC Repair can scan for the underlying Windows problems and show what needs attention; its repair actions require the full version, and it is optional rather than a substitute for Microsoft’s repair tools.

Fix 3: Install or repair the compatible .NET Framework Runtime

For ordinary application use, install the Runtime, not the Developer Pack. The Developer Pack is intended for development environments and does not serve as the normal end-user repair package.

The official Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 download page provides web and offline installers. Use the offline installer when the affected PC has unreliable Windows Update access or when the program must be repaired without repeatedly downloading components.

To install the Runtime:

1. Open Microsoft’s .NET Framework download page.
2. Choose the Runtime or offline installer appropriate for the system.
3. Download the installer directly from Microsoft.
4. Close the affected applications.
5. Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator.
6. Accept the license terms.
7. Let setup complete.
8. Restart Windows.
9. Test the affected application.

Do not assume that installing .NET Framework 4.8 fixes every application. A program may have its own damaged files, an application-local dependency, or a separate Visual C++ requirement.

If the application specifically requires .NET Framework 4.7.2, use Microsoft’s official .NET Framework 4.7.2 offline installer instead of forcing an unrelated package.

Check Windows Features

Windows Features can confirm whether optional .NET components are enabled, but repeatedly toggling features is not a general repair for every .NET Framework 4.x problem.

1. Press Win+R.
2. Type optionalfeatures.
3. Press Enter.
4. Look for .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0).
5. Look for the available .NET Framework 4.x Advanced Services entry.
6. If the affected application explicitly requires .NET Framework 3.5, enable it and select OK.
7. Allow Windows to download and install the feature.
8. Restart the computer.

Do not enable .NET Framework 3.5 merely because the missing filename contains 120. That number relates to the Visual C++ 12-era runtime naming and does not prove that the application needs .NET 3.5.

Fix 4: Install the matching Visual C++ Redistributable when the application requires it

msvcp120_clr0400.dll is related to the Visual C++ 12-era runtime, and many application installers group this kind of dependency under vcredist. A program may also require the ordinary msvcp120.dll or msvcr120.dll.

The important distinction is that msvcp120.dll and msvcp120_clr0400.dll are not interchangeable. Installing the ordinary Visual C++ package does not prove that the CLR-specific file has been repaired.

Use Microsoft’s Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable page when the affected program requires the 2013 runtime. Microsoft also maintains a supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads page.

Choose the architecture based on the program, not just the operating system:

• A 64-bit application needs the x64 package.
• A 32-bit application needs the x86 package.
• Many 64-bit Windows PCs need both because they run both 64-bit and 32-bit software.

To repair it:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features on Windows 10.
2. Search for Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable.
3. Check whether both x86 and x64 entries are present.
4. Select the relevant entry.
5. Choose Modify if available.
6. Select Repair.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Test the application.

If the package is absent, download the correct Microsoft installer and install it. If only one architecture is installed, install the other when the computer runs software built for both architectures.

This step is particularly relevant when the error appeared after an interrupted game or application installation. It is not a reason to download msvcp120_clr0400.dll separately.

Multiple Visual C++ Redistributable versions can coexist. Do not uninstall unrelated versions to solve this filename. Microsoft documents the supported side-by-side behavior in its Visual C++ Redistributable guidance.

Fix 5: Repair the affected application or game

If only one program fails, the program’s own installation is often the real problem. Repair the application before making changes to Windows system folders.

For a Windows app on Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find the affected program.
4. Select the three-dot menu beside it.
5. Choose Advanced options.
6. Select Repair.
7. Start the program again.

If Repair is unavailable, select Reset only after confirming that the application’s local settings can be recreated. Resetting may remove application data.

For traditional desktop software:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Select the affected program.
4. Choose Repair or Change.
5. Follow the installer prompts.
6. Restart Windows if requested.

For games, open the official launcher and use its Repair, Verify, or Verify integrity function. The name differs between launchers, but the purpose is the same: compare the installed files with the vendor’s files and restore missing or damaged components.

If repair fails:

1. Back up saves, settings, or profiles if the program stores them outside the cloud.
2. Uninstall the affected program.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Download the installer from the original vendor or official launcher.
5. Install it again.
6. Start the program before adding modifications, unofficial patches, or third-party plugins.

If the program’s installer bundles a Visual C++ or .NET runtime, allow it to install that package. Reinstalling the program remains the definitive fix when the file belongs to that program’s private installation rather than the Windows component store.

Microsoft provides additional program repair and removal guidance.

Fix 6: Check antivirus quarantine and malware cleanup

Antivirus software may quarantine a runtime file after detecting corruption, suspicious replacement behavior, or a damaged installer. An interrupted game installation or aggressive cleanup can also leave the program incomplete.

To inspect Microsoft Defender’s records:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Privacy & security.
3. Select Windows Security.
4. Open Virus & threat protection.
5. Select Protection history.
6. Expand recent detections.
7. Check the file path, detection name, and action taken.

On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history.

Do not immediately choose Allow on device. First check:

• Whether the file was installed by Windows, .NET Framework, or the trusted application installer.
• Whether the file is located in a plausible Windows or application directory.
• Whether the detection concerns the file itself or an installer that was already compromised.
• Whether the system has signs of malware.
• Whether the file has a valid Microsoft or vendor signature.

In most cases, repairing or reinstalling the complete .NET Framework or application is safer than restoring one quarantined DLL. Microsoft explains quarantine and restore decisions in its Protection History documentation.

If several programs began failing after malware removal:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Select Virus & threat protection.
3. Run a full scan.
4. Open Scan options.
5. Run Microsoft Defender Offline scan when available.
6. Let Windows restart and complete the scan.
7. Afterward, run DISM and SFC as described below.

A Microsoft-branded filename is not automatically proof that a file is safe. Location, signature, file integrity, and the installation source all matter.

Fix 7: Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC

Use DISM before System File Checker. DISM repairs the Windows component store that SFC may need as a source for protected system files.

1. Open Start.
2. Type Command Prompt.
3. Right-click Command Prompt.
4. Select Run as administrator.
5. Run this command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

1. Wait for it to finish.
2. Run:

sfc /scannow

1. Wait until verification reaches 100 percent.
2. Restart Windows.
3. Test the affected program.

Do not close the window while either command is working. DISM can appear to pause for a long time.

Microsoft’s System File Checker and DISM guidance explains the supported repair sequence.

If Windows Update cannot provide a repair source, Microsoft documents this form:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

C:\RepairSource\Windows is only a placeholder. It must point to a matching Windows repair source. Do not paste that command unchanged unless you have a legitimate, matching source at that path.

If SFC reports that it found and repaired corrupt files, restart and test again. If it reports that some files could not be repaired, run DISM again, restart, and repeat SFC once. Persistent failures indicate a broader Windows servicing problem rather than a DLL that should be downloaded separately.

Fix 8: Update or reinstall a related driver utility

msvcp120_clr0400.dll is not identified as a general hardware-driver component. However, the error may appear inside a camera control panel, printer utility, OEM control center, or hardware configuration program.

In that situation, repair the complete vendor package:

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Expand the category for the affected hardware.
4. Right-click the device.
5. Select Update driver.
6. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Open the hardware utility again.

If the issue started after a driver update:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand the relevant hardware category.
3. Right-click the device.
4. Select Properties.
5. Open the Driver tab.
6. Choose Roll Back Driver if the option is available.
7. Restart and test the utility.

For a full reinstall:

1. Download the driver or control software from the hardware manufacturer.
2. Disconnect the device if the vendor’s instructions require it.
3. Open Device Manager.
4. Right-click the device.
5. Select Uninstall device.
6. Only select the option to remove the driver package if the manufacturer specifically instructs you to.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Install the vendor’s current package.
9. Test the application.

When the manual process means hunting through many hardware packages and guessing which driver is stale, Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and identify driver problems; the full version performs the driver installation, and it is optional, while the vendor’s own package remains the authoritative fix for a hardware utility.

Do not replace a Windows runtime DLL globally as a substitute for reinstalling the vendor’s application.

Fix 9: Investigate a historical .NET Framework update mismatch

Microsoft documented a specific historical issue in which applications failed with an “Entry Point Not Found” error for Msvcp120_clr0400.dll or Msvcr120_clr0400.dll. The problem involved a particular .NET Framework update and an upgrade sequence.

Only investigate update removal when the symptoms and installed update history match that documented scenario.

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Open Update history.
4. Review installed .NET Framework updates and their KB numbers.
5. Compare the situation with Microsoft’s KB4488669 documentation.
6. If the documented scenario matches, open Uninstall updates.
7. Remove only the confirmed affected update.
8. Install the intended .NET Framework version.
9. Apply the corrected or current servicing updates.
10. Restart Windows and test the application.

Do not routinely uninstall a security update because a DLL error appeared. Update removal is a targeted workaround for a documented version sequence, not a general repair step.

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Fix 10: Test with a new Windows user account

A per-user problem can look like a system DLL failure.

If the program fails only for one account:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Add a new local user account.
4. Sign out of the current account.
5. Sign in to the new account.
6. Start the affected program.

If it works in the new account, investigate the original profile’s permissions, environment variables, temporary folders, and application configuration. Do not replace system files merely because the program works under one account and not another.

Fix 11: Use System Restore after a clearly identifiable change

System Restore is appropriate when the problem began immediately after a Windows update, application installation, driver installation, or other system change and a suitable restore point exists.

To open it:

1. Press Win+R.
2. Type:

rstrui.exe

1. Press Enter.
2. Select Next.
3. Choose a restore point dated before the error began.
4. Select Scan for affected programs if available.
5. Confirm the restore point.
6. Select Finish.
7. Allow Windows to restart.

System Restore normally rolls back system files, registry settings, drivers, updates, and installed programs without removing personal documents. Microsoft describes the process in its System Restore guidance.

Do not use an old restore point without checking which applications and updates will be removed. If no restore point predates the problem, continue with runtime repair or application reinstallation instead.

Why regsvr32 normally does not fix this file

Do not run:

regsvr32 msvcp120_clr0400.dll

regsvr32 is not a general DLL repair command. It is intended for DLLs that expose the COM self-registration entry point DllRegisterServer. A C and C++ runtime library normally is not a self-registering COM server.

Running the command may produce another error, including a missing entry point or architecture mismatch. It does not install the runtime, restore missing dependencies, repair .NET Framework, or correct an application’s private files.

Microsoft documents the command’s purpose in its regsvr32 reference, and explains the COM self-registration requirement in its COM self-registration documentation.

Use regsvr32 only when the software vendor specifically tells you to register a genuine COM component and provides the correct architecture and path. That situation does not normally apply to msvcp120_clr0400.dll.

What not to do

Avoid these common repairs:

Do not download the DLL from a random website

Unofficial DLL archives can provide:

• Malware or tampered files.
• The wrong Windows architecture.
• An incompatible build.
• A file with a misleading name.
• A replacement that breaks another application.
• A file without a trustworthy signature.

Even a clean-looking copy may not match the dependencies expected by the application. It also does nothing to repair a damaged .NET Framework installation, application installer, or Windows component store.

Use Microsoft’s .NET Framework installers, Visual C++ Redistributable packages, Windows Update, SFC, DISM, or the original application installer.

Do not copy an x86 file into System32

System32 and SysWOW64 are not interchangeable. A 32-bit program on 64-bit Windows normally uses the 32-bit runtime path through SysWOW64.

Do not delete the other architecture

A 64-bit installation can legitimately contain both x86 and x64 copies. Deleting one because the other exists can break a different application.

Do not rename msvcp120.dll

The ordinary Visual C++ runtime and the CLR-specific file are different binaries. Renaming one to look like the other does not make their exports or dependencies compatible.

Do not uninstall every Visual C++ package

Different programs can require different Visual C++ versions and architectures. Multiple packages can coexist safely. Remove or repair only the package identified by the affected application or installer.

What to do when every repair fails

If Windows Update, the .NET Repair Tool, the Runtime installer, application repair, DISM, and SFC do not resolve the issue, identify the scope before taking more drastic action.

Check these points:

1. Does only one program fail, or do several .NET applications fail?
2. Does the error appear before the program window opens?
3. Is the failing program 32-bit or 64-bit?
4. Is the DLL missing from System32, SysWOW64, the application folder, or all locations?
5. Did the issue begin after an update, antivirus event, disk cleanup, driver installation, or program reinstall?
6. Does the program work under a new Windows user account?
7. Does Microsoft Defender report a quarantine or malware event?
8. Does the error name msvcp120_clr0400.dll, or does it identify a different dependency?

If only one program fails, contact that program’s vendor or reinstall it from the original source. If multiple programs fail after malware removal, run a full security scan and Microsoft Defender Offline scan before performing further repairs.

If the issue began after a specific system change and a restore point exists, System Restore may be justified. If Windows has broader component-store failures, repeated DLL replacement is unlikely to help; use the supported Windows recovery or repair path appropriate to the installation.

FAQ

Is msvcp120_clr0400.dll part of Windows or Visual C++?

It is a Microsoft runtime component associated with Visual C++ 12-era native code and the .NET Framework CLR. Microsoft .NET Framework update file lists include it, so the exact _clr0400 variant should not be treated as merely the ordinary msvcp120.dll from the Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable.

Should I install Visual C++ 2013?

Install or repair it when the affected application specifically requires the Visual C++ 2013 runtime or also reports msvcp120.dll or msvcr120.dll. For the exact msvcp120_clr0400.dll filename in a Windows system directory, repair .NET Framework first.

Do I need x86 or x64?

Use x86 for a 32-bit application and x64 for a 64-bit application. A 64-bit Windows computer can need both packages because it can run both types of programs.

Does installing .NET Framework 4.8 always fix the problem?

No. It is the correct repair path for a damaged or incomplete .NET Framework installation, but the application itself, an application-local dependency, a Visual C++ package, antivirus quarantine, or Windows corruption may be responsible.

Can I copy the file from another computer?

That is not a safe normal repair. The other computer may have a different Windows build, architecture, servicing level, or dependency set. Use an official installer or supported Windows repair tool.

Why does Windows say the specified module cannot be found when the file exists?

The named DLL may depend on another library that Windows cannot load. A dependency failure can produce the same wording. Repair the complete runtime and application rather than replacing only the named file.

Should I run regsvr32?

No. msvcp120_clr0400.dll is normally a runtime library, not a self-registering COM DLL. regsvr32 does not install or repair runtime dependencies.

Which programs use this DLL?

There is no reliable universal list. Microsoft documented a case involving vbc.exe, the Visual Basic Command Line Compiler, and a Dynamics-related installation scenario. Other applications may expose the same problem if they depend on the relevant .NET Framework or runtime components.

How can I tell whether the DLL is malicious?

Check its location, digital signature, detection history, and installation source. A Microsoft-looking filename alone is not proof of authenticity. Do not restore a quarantined file until you understand why it was detected.

What is the safest repair order?

Install pending Windows updates, run Microsoft’s .NET Framework Repair Tool, install the compatible .NET Runtime, repair the affected program, check the matching Visual C++ architecture when the application requires it, then run DISM followed by SFC. Use System Restore only when the problem clearly follows a recent system change.

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