How to Resolve ‘VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing’ Error on Your PC

If you’re a Windows PC user, you might come across this weird error when opening a program:

“The program can’t start because VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing from your computer.”

This error happens when the program requires VCRUNTIME140.dll to run, but the file is either corrupted or missing. While the error might sound strange, it only requires a simple fix that we will cover in this article.

What is the VCRUNTIME140.dll file?

DLL files, also known as Dynamic Link Libraries, are external library files that contain resources which help other Windows programs to execute properly. They are a vital part of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable pack for Visual Studios on your computer, and often required for programs developed with Visual C++.

In short, some programs load these files to properly function, and if VCRUNTIME140.dll file is corrupted or missing, the system displays an error prompting you to fix the issue.

It usually looks like this:

Fixing the “VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing” error is simple, and you don’t have to rely on computer technicians. There are six known fixes that work, and they are covered in this guide.

Fix #1: Use the Advanced System Repair Tool

Advanced System Repair Tool is a program available on Windows that can help you to fix these issues. ASR scans the system, looking for problems, and automatically fixes them without your assistance. It works as a system scanner, junk cleaner, malware removal tool, and system optimizer, all in one.

It’s also a tool that can help you resolve .dll issues such as the “VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing” error.

Step #1

Download and Install Advanced Repair System Tool for free.

Once downloaded, click and run the file to begin the installation process.

Step #2

Accept the license agreement by checking the “I Accept the EULA and Privacy Policy” option and finally click on the big green “Install and Scan Now” button.

Step #3

Once installed, the program will automatically begin to scan and check your computer for errors.

Once the scan is complete, click on the green “Clean Now” button.

Step #4

Advanced System Repair Tool will first create a restore point in Windows for safety reasons.

Once it’s done, the program will attempt to fix found errors on your system, including the “VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing” error.

Step #5 

Advanced System Repair should have fixed your VCRUNTIME140.dll error by now.

Reboot your PC and check if the problem still persists.

Fix #2: Run a System File Check

To combat file corruption, Windows has a nice featured called System File Checker. It lets you scan your system for corrupted files, and if any issues are found, it will repair them on its own, automatically.

Follow these steps to employ a System File Check.

Step #1

In your search bar, type “Cmd” and run the file as administrator.

Step #2

After the command prompt is open, enter the following command:

sfc /scannow

Press the [Enter] key

Step #3

Wait a few minutes for the process to finish. After the verification is 100% complete, the system will attempt to fix any found issues.

Restart your computer and run the program to check if your VCRUNTIME140.dll error is fixed.

Fix #3: Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributed

As mentioned earlier, VCRUNTIME140.dll file is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributed pack for Visual Studios.

Faulty installation or file corruption could cause errors with it, which is why it can’t problem load the .dll file. You can try repairing the file to fix the issues, and if that doesn’t work you can always just reinstall it (fix #4).

Step #1

Go to your Control Panel, and select the Programs & Features option.

Step #2

Select the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, right click on it and select “Change”.

You have two programs to choose from, (x64) for 64-bit operating systems and (x86) for 32-bit systems. If you’re not sure how your OS runs, check the Bonus Tip below to find out.

 

Step #3

Select the “Repair” option to repair your Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable pack.

note: some computers may use C++ 2013 versions or lower, but the process is similar.

Step #4

Reboot your PC and check if the issue is fixed.

Bonus Tip 

If you’re not sure whether your computer runs on 32-bit or 64-bit systems, feel free to check.

Go to your command prompt (cmd) and type in “systeminfo” to find this information.

It will tell you whether you if your computer is x64-based PC or x32-based PC.

Fix #4: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++

If the program repair didn’t fix the issue, you can always choose the option to reinstall it.

The easiest way to resolve your Microsoft Visual C++  issues is to reinstall it from the official Microsoft website.

Step #1

Follow this link to the official Microsoft website and click “Download”.

Step #2

Choose the file which fits your operating system (x64 for 64bit) and press “Next”.

Step #3

Once the download is complete, run the file and follow the installation process.

Reboot your computer and check if the program that was causing you VCRUNTIME140.dll error is now working.

Fix #5: Re-register VCRUNTIME140.dll File

If your VCRUNTIME140.dll is present on your computer but the error still remains, you may have to simply re-register the mentioned .dll file for it to work. This process is very simple.

Step #1

In the search box, type “cmd” and run the Command Prompt as administrator once again.

Step #2

Type in the following command to re-register your .dll file:

regsvr32 /u VCRUNTIME140.dll

… followed by:

regsvr32 VCRUNTIME140.dll

Step #3

Reboot your PC, open the program that was causing errors and check if the problem is resolved.

Fix #6: Manually Replace the File

If you don’t want to tweak the entire programs just to fix one single file issue (in this case VCRUNTIME140.dll), you can always replace the file manually to remove any issues or file corruption.

Replacing the file manually is risky because you have to use a third-party website to find the correct file.

You could, however, copy the file from a trusted Windows computer onto yours.

Conclusion

If you followed any or all of these methods — your VCRUNTIME140.dll error will be fixed!

All of the methods above are proven to resolve the VCRUNTIME140.dll error, and you can use them to get rid of this frustrating issue so you can finally enjoy your game or program. We suggest you start from fix #1 but feel free to try any of them in case your issue persists.