What is MSVCP140.dll? Fix Missing DLL Errors in Windows Quickly

Windows can be a little dramatic sometimes. You click a game or app. You expect fun. Instead, a box pops up and says MSVCP140.dll is missing. Rude, right? Do not panic. This is a common Windows problem, and it is usually easy to fix.

What is MSVCP140.dll?

MSVCP140.dll is a file that belongs to Microsoft Visual C++. That sounds fancy. But the idea is simple.

Many apps are built using Microsoft tools. These apps need extra helper files to run. MSVCP140.dll is one of those helper files. It is like a tiny engine part. You may never see it. But if it is gone, the engine coughs and stops.

The letters and numbers mean something too:

• MS means Microsoft.
• VCP means Visual C++.
• 140 points to a certain Visual C++ version family.
• .dll means Dynamic Link Library.

A DLL file is a shared file. Many programs can use it at the same time. This saves space. It also keeps apps from carrying the same helper code over and over again.

Think of it like a public toolbox in a workshop. Every worker can borrow the same screwdriver. If that screwdriver disappears, several workers suddenly get stuck.

Why do you see an MSVCP140.dll missing error?

The error can appear in different ways. You might see messages like these:

• “The program can’t start because MSVCP140.dll is missing from your computer.”
• “MSVCP140.dll was not found.”
• “Error loading MSVCP140.dll.”
• “The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found.”

These all mean the same basic thing. An app looked for the file. It could not find it. Or it found a damaged version.

This may happen for several reasons:

• The Visual C++ Redistributable is not installed.
• The file was deleted by mistake.
• An app install failed halfway.
• A Windows update changed something.
• Malware damaged system files.
• Your antivirus quarantined the file by accident.
• You installed the wrong 32 bit or 64 bit package.

The good news is simple. This problem is not usually a sign that your PC is doomed. It is more like losing a sock in the laundry. Annoying? Yes. Fixable? Also yes.

Important warning: Do not download random DLL files

This part matters. If a website says, “Download MSVCP140.dll here!” be careful. Very careful.

Random DLL download sites are risky. Some are old. Some are broken. Some may include malware. Even if the file is real, it may be the wrong version. That can create more errors. It can also make Windows grumpier than before.

The safe way is to install the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. That package puts the right files in the right places. It also registers them correctly. Windows likes that.

So yes, downloading just one little DLL file sounds fast. But it is like fixing a leaky roof with chewing gum. It may work for one minute. Then the rain comes back.

Fast fix: Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

This is the main fix. It works for most people.

MSVCP140.dll is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022. Microsoft combined these versions into one modern package family.

Here is what to do:

1. Go to the official Microsoft website.
2. Search for Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads.
3. Download the correct installers.
4. Install both x64 and x86 versions if you use 64 bit Windows.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Open the app again.

Why install both x64 and x86? Easy. A 64 bit Windows PC can run 64 bit apps and 32 bit apps. Some older games and tools are still 32 bit. They may need the x86 package. Newer apps may need x64. Installing both is normal.

If the installer gives you options like Repair, choose it. That can fix broken files without removing everything.

Restart your PC

Yes, the classic move. Turn it off and on again.

It sounds boring. But it works more often than people want to admit. Some files are locked while Windows is running. A restart lets Windows finish updates. It also helps apps find newly installed DLL files.

So after installing Visual C++, restart. Do not skip it. Your computer may need that tiny nap.

Update Windows

If the error still appears, update Windows. Updates can fix broken system parts. They can also install needed support files.

Try this:

1. Click Start.
2. Open Settings.
3. Go to Windows Update.
4. Click Check for updates.
5. Install available updates.
6. Restart your computer.

Windows Update is not always exciting. It is like eating vegetables. You may not cheer. But your PC is healthier after.

Repair or reinstall the app

Sometimes the missing DLL is not really the main problem. The app itself may be damaged. Maybe the install failed. Maybe files were moved. Maybe a launcher ate its homework.

Try repairing the app first. Many programs have a repair option.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Find the problem app.
4. Click Modify or Advanced options, if available.
5. Choose Repair.

If that does not work, uninstall and reinstall the app. Use the app’s official website or trusted store. For games, use your game launcher, such as Steam, Epic Games, or another official platform.

Many launchers also have a file repair feature. It may be called Verify files, Scan and repair, or Check integrity. Use it. It can replace missing files without downloading the whole game again.

Run the System File Checker

Windows has built in repair tools. One of them is called System File Checker, or SFC. It scans protected Windows files. Then it tries to fix problems.

Here is how to run it:

1. Click Start.
2. Type cmd.
3. Right click Command Prompt.
4. Choose Run as administrator.
5. Type this command: sfc /scannow
6. Press Enter.
7. Wait for the scan to finish.

This may take a while. Get a snack. Pet a cat. Stare at the progress bar like it owes you money.

If SFC finds and fixes problems, restart your PC. Then try the app again.

Use DISM if Windows still acts weird

If SFC cannot fix everything, use another tool called DISM. That stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. Big name. Useful tool.

Open Command Prompt as administrator again. Then run this command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait until it finishes. It can take several minutes. After that, run sfc /scannow again. Then restart.

DISM checks the Windows image itself. If Windows is using a damaged toolbox, DISM helps repair the toolbox.

Check your antivirus quarantine

Sometimes antivirus software gets too excited. It may quarantine a safe file. This is rare, but it happens.

Open your antivirus program. Look for a section called:

• Quarantine
• Protection history
• Blocked items
• Threat history

If you see MSVCP140.dll there, do not restore it blindly. First, make sure the file came from a trusted app or Microsoft. If you are unsure, run a full system scan. Malware can pretend to be normal files. Sneaky little gremlins.

After the scan, reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft. That is still the cleaner fix.

Make sure you are using the right version

Windows versions matter. App versions matter too.

If you have a 64 bit version of Windows, install both packages:

• vc_redist.x64.exe for 64 bit apps.
• vc_redist.x86.exe for 32 bit apps.

If you have 32 bit Windows, install only the x86 version. Most modern PCs are 64 bit. But it is still worth checking.

To check your Windows type:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Click About.
4. Look for System type.

This tells you if your system is 32 bit or 64 bit.

Scan for malware

If DLL errors keep coming back, malware may be involved. Malware can delete files. It can damage programs. It can also create fake DLL files with familiar names.

Run a full scan with Windows Security or your trusted antivirus.

In Windows Security:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows Security.
3. Click Virus and threat protection.
4. Choose Scan options.
5. Select Full scan.
6. Click Scan now.

A full scan may take time. Let it finish. If malware is found, remove it. Then reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable.

What if the error happens with a game?

Games love Visual C++ files. They use them all the time. If a game will not launch because MSVCP140.dll is missing, try these fixes:

• Install both Visual C++ x64 and x86 packages.
• Restart your PC.
• Verify game files in the launcher.
• Update your graphics driver.
• Reinstall the game if needed.

For Steam, right click the game. Open Properties. Go to Installed Files. Click Verify integrity of game files.

For other launchers, look for similar words. Launchers like to rename the same feature. It is their hobby.

What if the error happens with work software?

Some work apps also need MSVCP140.dll. This includes design tools, accounting apps, coding tools, printer tools, and business software.

If it is a company computer, check with your IT team first. They may have rules about installing packages. They might also manage updates for you.

If it is your own PC, install the official Visual C++ Redistributable. Then repair the app. Then update Windows.

Can you copy MSVCP140.dll from another computer?

You can, but you usually should not. It may be the wrong version. It may come from a different Windows setup. It may not be registered correctly. It may even be infected.

Instead, use the official installer. It is safer. It is cleaner. It is less likely to turn one problem into five new ones.

Quick checklist

Here is the simple battle plan. Follow it in order:

1. Restart your PC.
2. Install or repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
3. Install both x64 and x86 versions on 64 bit Windows.
4. Update Windows.
5. Repair or reinstall the problem app.
6. Run sfc /scannow.
7. Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
8. Scan for malware.
9. Avoid random DLL download websites.

Final thoughts

The MSVCP140.dll error looks scary. But it is usually just Windows saying, “Hey, I need a helper file.” Most of the time, the fix is simple. Install the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. Restart. Try the app again.

If that does not work, repair the app, update Windows, and run system scans. Take it step by step. Do not grab random DLL files from the internet. That is a shortcut through a swamp.

With a little patience, your app should be back. Your game should launch. Your PC should calm down. And MSVCP140.dll can go back to doing its tiny, invisible, very important job.