Fix: MSVCP140.dll is Missing on Windows 10 and 11

The Error Scenario

You’re ready to get to work or start a game, but Windows has other plans. You click 'Launch' on an app like Valorant, Adobe Photoshop, or Docker, and a blunt system error stops you cold. The message claims that reinstalling the program might fix it, but that almost never works.

The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.

This happens because your system is missing a specific set of shared instructions. It is common on fresh Windows 11 installs or after a disk cleanup. The app itself isn't broken; it just can't find the "dictionary" it needs to read its own code.

Analysis: What is MSVCP140.dll?

Think of MSVCP140.dll as a shared library of C++ functions. The "140" refers to version 14.0 of the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, which arrived with Visual Studio 2015. Many modern apps rely on this file to handle basic tasks like memory management.

Microsoft now bundles the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 runtimes into a single 24MB installer. If this file is missing, your system either never had the Redistributable installed, or a 32-bit application is looking for the x86 version on a 64-bit system.

The Best Fix: Install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

The most reliable solution is to grab the official installers directly from Microsoft. Avoid "DLL downloader" websites at all costs. These sites often host outdated files or, worse, hide malware inside the DLLs.

Step 1: Know your architecture

Almost every PC sold in the last decade is 64-bit. However, many applications—especially older games or Steam titles—are still 32-bit. To prevent future errors, install both the x86 and x64 versions.

Step 2: Download and Install

• Visit the Official Microsoft Download Page.

• Look for the "Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022" section.

• Download these two specific files:

  • x86: vc_redist.x86.exe (For 32-bit apps)
  • x64: vc_redist.x64.exe (For 64-bit apps)

• Run both installers, agree to the terms, and restart your PC.

The Pro Way: Using Winget

If you prefer the command line, you can fix this in seconds. Winget is the built-in Windows Package Manager. It pulls the latest verified installers directly from Microsoft servers, saving you a trip to the browser.

Right-click the Start button, open Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell, and run:

# This command installs the 64-bit and 32-bit versions at once
winget install Microsoft.VCRedist.2015+.x64
winget install Microsoft.VCRedist.2015+.x86

Already have them installed? Use the --force flag to repair a corrupted installation:

winget install Microsoft.VCRedist.2015+.x64 --force

Alternative: Repair System Files

If the error persists after installing the redistributables, your Windows Component Store might be out of sync. Use the System File Checker to verify your core system files. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to finish.

• Open PowerShell as Administrator.
• Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

If the tool reports that it "found corrupt files and successfully repaired them," restart your computer. Your app should now launch without issues.

Verification: Where does the file live?

To be 100% sure the fix worked, you can check the folders where Windows stores these libraries. It sounds counter-intuitive, but here is the logic:

• 64-bit DLLs live in C:\Windows\System32
• 32-bit DLLs live in C:\Windows\SysWOW64

You can also check the file version via PowerShell. A healthy msvcp140.dll is usually around 630 KB for the 64-bit version. Run this command to see the version details:

Get-Item C:\Windows\System32\msvcp140.dll | Select-Object -ExpandProperty VersionInfo

If the file exists but the app still fails, try copying msvcp140.dll from System32 directly into the folder where your application's .exe is located. This forces the app to see the library immediately.