MSVCP140.dll Not Found — Download, Install, and Repair Guide

MSVCP140.dll Not Found — Download, Install, and Repair Guide

MSVCP140.dll is a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable component used by many Windows applications and games. If Windows reports “MSVCP140.dll not found” or similar, follow the steps below to restore the file and get your program working.

1. Quick checklist (try in order)

1. Restart your PC.
2. Run the affected app as Administrator.
3. Reinstall the app that shows the error (often fixes missing or corrupted bundled files).
   If those don’t work, continue with the steps below.

2. Install or repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (recommended)

Most MSVCP140.dll errors are resolved by installing or repairing the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015–2019/2022.

1. Download the official installer from Microsoft:
   • Search for “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015 2017 2019 2022” and choose the Microsoft download page.
2. On the Microsoft page, download the appropriate architecture:
   • x64 for 64-bit Windows, x86 for 32-bit apps on 32-bit Windows (or 32-bit apps on 64-bit Windows).
3. Run the downloaded installer:
   • If you already have it installed, choose Repair.
   • If not, complete the install, then restart your PC.

3. Re-register the DLL

If the Redistributable is installed but the error persists, re-registering can help.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Press Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator.
2. Run:

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   regsvr32 /u MSVCP140.dll regsvr32 MSVCP140.dll 

   Note: regsvr32 may not work for MSVCP140.dll because it’s a C++ runtime library, not an in-process COM DLL. If you get an error, proceed to the next steps.

4. Scan for system file corruption

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run System File Checker:

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   sfc /scannow 

   • Wait for completion. If corrupt system files are found and repaired, restart and test the app.
3. If issues persist, run DISM (for Windows 8/10/11):

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   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth 

   Then run sfc /scannow again.

5. Manually download MSVCP140.dll (use with caution)

Only use this if official redistributable and repair tools fail. Downloading DLLs from third-party sites carries risk.

• Prefer downloading from an official source (Microsoft). Microsoft does not provide individual DLL downloads, so the safe route is the Visual C++ Redistributable.
• If you must use a third-party DLL:
  1. Use a reputable site (research site reputation).
  2. Scan the downloaded file with antivirus before use.
  3. Place the DLL in:
     • The application folder that throws the error, or
     • C:\Windows\System32 (for 64-bit Windows with 64-bit DLL) or C:\Windows\SysWOW64 (for 32-bit DLL on 64-bit Windows).
  4. Reboot and test the app.
• If the app still fails, remove the manual DLL and undo changes.

6. Update Windows and drivers

• Run Windows Update and install pending updates.
• Update GPU and other device drivers (especially if error occurs during games).

7. Check for malware

Some malware replaces or removes DLLs. Run a full antivirus scan with Windows Defender or a trusted AV scanner and remove any threats, then try reinstall/repair steps again.

8. Restore from backup or System Restore

• If the problem started recently, use System Restore to revert to a point when apps worked.
• Alternatively, restore the file from a known good backup.

9. Reinstall the application or Windows (last resort)

• Uninstall and reinstall the problem application.
• If many apps show DLL errors and other repairs fail, consider a Windows reset or clean reinstall after backing up data.

10. When to seek further help

• If error persists after Redistributable repair, SFC/DISM, and malware checks, contact the app’s support (they may require a specific runtime version) or a technician.

Helpful commands summary (run as Administrator):

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sfc /scannow DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth regsvr32 /u MSVCP140.dll regsvr32 MSVCP140.dll 

Follow the steps above in order: install/repair the Visual C++ Redistributable, run SFC/DISM, scan for malware, and only use manual DLL downloads as a last resort.