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You will see an error message when opening a program or game on a Windows computer:
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- “The program cannot start because MSVCP140.dll is missing from your computer. Reinstalling the program may fix the issue.”
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- “The program cannot run because MSVCP140.dll is missing. Installing the app again may fix the issue.”
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The “MSVCP140.dll is missing” error is widespread. The good news is that you can fix it fast and efficiently.
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Follow These Steps
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You don’t need to try all the fixes. Go through them one by one until you find the one that works.
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- Manually install the MSVCP140.dll file
- Reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package
- Perform a clean installation of the program
- Copy the file from a trusted computer
- Run a virus scan on your system
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The screenshots in this guide are from Windows 11. The interface may look different if you use Windows 10 or an earlier version, but the steps remain the same.
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Fix 1: Manually Add the MSVCP140.dll File
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If your computer does not have MSVCP140.dll, you can restore it using DLL-files.com. Follow these steps:
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- Open DLL-files.com.
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- Enter MSVCP140.dll in the search bar and press Search for DLL file.
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- Select MSVCP140.dll from the search results.
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- Scroll down, choose the latest version for your operating system, and click Download.
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- After downloading, unzip the file and move it to any folder. Copy MSVCP140.dll from that folder.
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- Paste the copied file into C:\Windows\System32 and the application’s install folder.
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- Check whether the system fixed the MSVCP140.dll error.
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Fix 2: Reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
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The MSVCP140.dll file belongs to the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 package.
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The operating system installs the package automatically. Your system might have the file, but it could be damaged.
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You can fix the issue by downloading the package again from Microsoft and reinstalling it.
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Important: Always download from Microsoft’s official website. Unofficial sources may offer the MSVCP140.dll file instead of the complete package.
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These files may contain viruses. To stay safe, only download from trusted sources.
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Visit the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 download page. Choose your language and click Download.
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Select the correct file for your Windows version:
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- x64 for 64-bit Windows
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- x86 for 32-bit Windows
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Which version do you have?
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Type system information in the search box and open System Information. Check the System Type field to determine if your system is 32-bit or 64-bit.
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If your system is 64-bit, download vc_redist.x64.exe. Click Next to start the download.
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Once the download is complete, double-click the file and follow the installation instructions.
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Restart your computer and try rerunning the program
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If it works, great! If not, don’t worry—there are still other fixes.
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Fix 3: Reinstall the Program
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Reinstalling the program may fix the ‘MSVCP140.dll is missing’ error.
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Why?
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The program’s files might contain the correct MSVCP140.dll version.
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Steps:
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- Press the Windows logo key and R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
- Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter to see installed programs.
- Find the program causing the error, right-click it, and select Uninstall.
- Click Yes to confirm.
- Restart your computer.
- Install the program again and open it.
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If no errors appear, the fix works. If errors show up, try another solution.
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Fix 4: Copy the File from Another Computer
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You can fix the error by copying the file from another computer and pasting it into yours. Follow these steps:
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- Find a computer with the same operating system as yours.
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- The version (Windows 11/10/8/7) and architecture (32-bit/64-bit) must match.
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- On that computer, open File Explorer by pressing the Windows logo key + E.
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- Go to This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32.
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- Locate msvcp140.dll and copy it to an external device, such as a USB drive.
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- Paste the file into the exact location (This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32) on your computer.
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- Open the program again and check if it works.
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Still not working? There’s one more solution to try…
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Fix 5: Run a Virus Scan on Your Computer
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A virus may prevent your system from detecting the MSVCP140.dll file or even cause an error.
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Run a full virus scan on your Windows system. The process may take some time, but it is necessary.
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Windows Defender might not detect all threats, so consider using other antivirus software like Avira or Panda.
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If the scan finds malware, follow the antivirus instructions to remove it.
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Restart the computer, then check if opening the program fixes the problem.
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