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'The program can't start because VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing from your computer.' If you have hit this message, an application is trying to start but cannot find a core runtime file it depends on. Like its sibling MSVCP140.dll, VCRUNTIME140.dll belongs to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, and its absence stops dependent programs dead.
You will sometimes see a closely related variant, VCRUNTIME140_1.dll, which is part of the same runtime package. The cause and the cure are the same in both cases: the Visual C++ Redistributable is missing, damaged, or out of date, and reinstalling it from Microsoft restores the file.
This guide covers what the DLL does, why it disappears, and the correct, safe way to bring it back. The most important rule: do not download VCRUNTIME140.dll from a standalone 'DLL download' site. Those sites are riddled with malware, and Microsoft's official runtime installer is free and the only safe source.
Helpful tools
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
Official package that installs the correct VCRUNTIME140.dll and VCRUNTIME140_1.dll
Visit official site ↗
Microsoft Update Catalog
Official Microsoft source for runtime and update packages
Visit official site ↗
Windows PowerShell
Runs sfc and DISM to repair the system files the runtime depends on
Visit official site ↗
Revo Uninstaller
Cleanly removes conflicting Visual C++ versions before reinstalling
Visit official site ↗
Step-by-step fix
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1
Do NOT download VCRUNTIME140.dll or VCRUNTIME140_1.dll from standalone DLL sites - they are a major malware risk.
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2
Download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64, plus x86 if you run 32-bit apps) from Microsoft's official page.
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3
Run the installer, then restart your PC and reopen the program.
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4
If already installed, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the Microsoft Visual C++ entry, choose Modify, and click Repair.
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5
If the error persists, uninstall all Visual C++ Redistributable versions, restart, and install the latest version fresh.
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Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an elevated Command Prompt to repair system files.
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Reinstall the affected program from its official source so it redeploys the runtime it needs.
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Avoid aggressive registry/PC cleaners and keep Windows updated to prevent the DLL from being removed again.
What VCRUNTIME140.dll does
VCRUNTIME140.dll is the core runtime library of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable. It provides low-level functions that applications built with Visual C++ depend on at startup. Because so many Windows programs and games are built this way, this runtime is one of the most widely required components on the platform.
When the DLL is missing, Windows cannot start any program that links to it. The file VCRUNTIME140_1.dll is a newer companion library from the same package, and a missing-file error for either one is fixed the same way - by installing or repairing the redistributable.
Never download the DLL from random sites
Searching for 'VCRUNTIME140.dll download' surfaces dozens of sites offering the file directly. Steer clear of all of them. These DLL repositories are a classic malware distribution channel; the file may be infected, the wrong architecture, or a mismatched version that introduces new crashes. There is simply no safe reason to obtain a system DLL this way.
The legitimate file ships inside Microsoft's signed Visual C++ Redistributable installer, which puts the correct version in the proper system folder. That official package is free and is the only source you should trust.
The proper fix: install or repair the redistributable
Go to Microsoft's official Visual C++ Redistributable download page and get the latest installer. Install the x64 version on a 64-bit system, and add the x86 version too if you run any 32-bit applications. After installing, restart your PC and try the program again - in most cases the error is gone.
If the redistributable is already installed but the error remains, repair it. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the Microsoft Visual C++ entry, choose Modify, and select Repair. This reinstalls the runtime's files, including VCRUNTIME140.dll and VCRUNTIME140_1.dll, replacing any that are missing or damaged.
When a repair is not enough
If repairing does not clear the error, do a clean reinstall. Uninstall all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable entries from Installed apps, restart the PC, and then install the latest version from Microsoft. Overlapping or partially removed versions sometimes prevent the runtime from registering correctly, and a clean slate resolves that.
Damaged Windows system files can also block the runtime from working. Run sfc /scannow and then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth from an elevated Command Prompt to repair the OS components the redistributable relies on.
Keeping it from recurring
The most frequent cause of this DLL vanishing is an aggressive system 'optimiser' or registry cleaner deleting a shared file it mistakenly flags as unused. Be cautious with such tools. Keeping Windows fully updated also helps, since updates and bundled redistributables keep the runtime current.
If a single application repeatedly triggers the error, reinstall that program from its official source. Most installers include the redistributable they need and will redeploy the missing runtime. Always get both the app and any runtimes from the vendor or Microsoft directly, never from unofficial mirrors.
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