How to Fix the MSVCP140.dll Missing Error

MSVCP140.dll is the C++ Standard Library component of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable. Developers build their applications against this shared runtime instead of bundling the same libraries into every program. That keeps apps smaller, but it means the redistributable must be present on your PC for those apps to run.

When you see the 'MSVCP140.dll was not found' error, it means an application needs this runtime and Windows cannot locate it. The file may never have been installed, or it may have been removed or corrupted by a botched uninstall, a cleanup tool, or a system issue.

The internet is full of sites offering to let you 'download MSVCP140.dll' as a standalone file. Avoid them. These sites frequently bundle malware, serve outdated or wrong-architecture files, and offer no guarantee that the DLL matches what your app expects. A single mismatched or infected DLL can cause more problems than the one you are trying to solve.

The correct file always comes inside Microsoft's official Visual C++ Redistributable installer, which places the right version in the right system location. That installer is free, signed by Microsoft, and is the only source you should use.

Download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft's official page. Most modern PCs need the x64 version, but if you run a 32-bit application or 32-bit Windows you may also need the x86 version. Many users install both to cover all their software. Run the installer, restart your PC, and the missing DLL error usually disappears.

If you already have the redistributable installed but still get the error, repair it. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the Microsoft Visual C++ entry, choose Modify, and select Repair. This replaces any damaged or missing files, including MSVCP140.dll, with fresh copies.

Occasionally the runtime install will not complete or repair cleanly. In that case, uninstall every Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable entry from Installed apps, restart, then install the latest version fresh from Microsoft. A clean reinstall clears out conflicting or partially removed versions that can keep the error alive.

It is also worth running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an elevated Command Prompt. These repair underlying Windows components that, if damaged, can prevent the redistributable from registering its DLLs correctly.

Keep Windows updated, since updates often refresh runtime components. Be cautious with aggressive 'PC cleaner' or registry-cleaning tools, which sometimes delete shared DLLs they wrongly judge to be unused - a common cause of this error appearing out of nowhere. And when you install games or large applications, let their bundled redistributable installers run rather than skipping them.

If a specific program keeps losing the DLL, reinstalling that program from its official source will also re-deploy the runtime it needs. Always download both the program and any runtimes from the vendor or Microsoft directly.