What is msvcp140.dll?
MSVCP140.dll contains part of the Microsoft C++ standard library used by applications compiled with Visual Studio 2015 and later toolsets. Games, creative software, launchers, developer utilities, and desktop applications may load it when they start.
The file is not a complete application and is not meant to be chosen by version name alone. It works with other runtime components, including VCRUNTIME140.dll and Universal CRT files. A program can report MSVCP140.dll missing when the redistributable was never installed, was damaged, or has the wrong architecture for that program.
Which source should provide a msvcp140.dll download?
Use Microsoft's current Visual C++ Redistributable package. The evergreen Microsoft link above was checked on July 16, 2026 and resolved to Microsoft's download infrastructure. We do not claim a fixed runtime version because Microsoft updates the package in place.
On 64-bit Windows, install the x64 package for 64-bit applications and the x86 package for 32-bit applications. Many 64-bit PCs need both. The Windows architecture does not tell you the architecture of every installed program.
Check the evidence before a msvcp140.dll download
Start with the full download error and the path of the program that displayed it. A DLL error raised from a game folder usually points to that game's prerequisites or installation, while an error from an unrelated desktop program may point to a separate runtime. Search results for the filename cannot see that local context.
If a copy already exists, do not replace it with the first download listing you find. Open its file properties and review the location, digital-signature tab, product name, and modified date. Compare those details with the application installer or publisher documentation. A valid signature can support an origin check, but an unsigned file is not automatically malicious and a familiar filename is not automatically trustworthy.
Create a restore point or back up important application data before system-level repairs. Avoid registry cleaners and one-click download fixer programs that do not disclose exactly what they change. A controlled package repair is easier to reverse and easier to diagnose than several simultaneous replacements.
msvcp140.dll download and safe repair checklist
Use this msvcp140.dll download and safe repair checklist to choose a recovery method based on evidence, not urgency. The goal is to restore the component expected by the affected application while preserving its related files, update path, and architecture.
| Situation | Recommended decision |
|---|---|
| The error appeared on the first launch | Install or repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and then repair the application that displayed the message. |
| The error began after an update | Verify the affected product first because an interrupted update can leave a mixed set of executable and DLL versions. |
| The file exists but an entry point is missing | Remove manual replacement copies and restore the build selected by Microsoft or the original software package. |
| Security software quarantined the file | Review the detection, file path, signature, and original installer before deciding whether any restoration is appropriate. |
A responsible msvcp140.dll download and safe repair process also records what changed. Keep the installer name, source domain, architecture, and time of repair. If the problem returns, those details help distinguish a damaged package from an application update, security action, or unsupported modification.
How to fix msvcp140.dll download and missing-file errors
- 1
Close the affected application
Exit the app and its launcher so the installer can replace runtime files that may be in use.
- 2
Install the Microsoft x64 package
Open the verified Microsoft source, run VC_redist.x64.exe, and choose Install or Repair.
- 3
Install the x86 package when needed
If the affected app is 32-bit, also obtain VC_redist.x86.exe from Microsoft. This is common even on 64-bit Windows.
- 4
Restart Windows
Restart to release locked modules and let the repaired runtime load cleanly.
- 5
Repair the original application
If the message remains, use the app installer or game launcher's verify function because the app itself may be incomplete.
Common msvcp140.dll download and repair scenarios
The safest msvcp140.dll download and safe repair path depends on when the failure started. Work through the scenario that matches your system instead of applying every possible fix at once.
After installing or moving an application
Portable copies, restored backups, and manually moved game folders can omit prerequisites that a normal installer would add. Return to the original setup or launcher, install its dependencies, and keep the application in a supported location. Copying only the executable and a few DLL files rarely reproduces a complete installation.
After Windows or software maintenance
An update can expose an older local DLL that previously loaded by accident. Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, then verify the affected application so its executable and supporting files come from the same release. Avoid rolling back unrelated Windows updates unless the publisher documents a confirmed compatibility issue.
After a security alert or modification
Do not treat an antivirus block as a routine missing-file problem. Record the detection, scan the system, and remove unofficial loaders, wrappers, or copied libraries. If the software is legitimate, recover it from its original publisher or store instead of searching for a replacement with the same filename.
This msvcp140.dll download and safe repair guidance is intentionally source-first: the correct outcome is a working, maintainable application, not merely a folder that contains a file named msvcp140.dll.
Common msvcp140.dll download error messages
The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found.MSVCP140.dll is missing from your computer.Error loading MSVCP140.dll.
If the error started after an update, rerun both the redistributable installer and the affected application's repair process. Do not register this C++ runtime DLL manually with regsvr32.
msvcp140.dll download compatibility for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
The Visual C++ 2015-2022 runtime supports current Windows releases covered by Microsoft. The application determines whether x86 or x64 is required. ARM64 systems may also run x64 or x86 applications through Windows compatibility layers.
Do not place the file manually in System32 or SysWOW64. Microsoft installers choose the correct locations and service the runtime as a coordinated set.
How to confirm the msvcp140.dll download repair worked
Restart the affected application from its normal launcher and repeat the action that previously produced the download error. A successful launch is stronger evidence than finding a file with the expected name. Check that the original missing-file or entry-point message is gone and that no new dependency error has replaced it.
If another DLL download is now requested, return to the owning package rather than downloading files one by one. A sequence of missing components usually means a redistributable, DirectX prerequisite, game depot, or application installation is incomplete. Record each installer used so you can undo changes or provide accurate details to the software publisher's support team.
Do not choose a msvcp140.dll download by name alone
A file named MSVCP140.dll from a mirror may be an outdated build, the wrong architecture, or modified code. A matching filename is not evidence that the binary belongs to Microsoft.
Reject any download that hides its publisher, package context, architecture, or update path.
msvcp140.dll download FAQ
Is MSVCP140.dll a Windows system file?
It is a Microsoft runtime component, but it is normally delivered by the Visual C++ Redistributable rather than as a core Windows file.
Do I need the x86 package on 64-bit Windows?
Yes, when the application showing the error is 32-bit. Installing both x86 and x64 packages is common.
Should I copy MSVCP140.dll into the game folder?
Repair the Microsoft runtime and verify the game first. Manual copying can hide a damaged or incomplete installation.
Can I use regsvr32 for MSVCP140.dll?
No. It is not normally repaired by registering it with regsvr32; use the redistributable installer.