Missing DLLs & runtimes
"DLL is missing" and side-by-side errors, and the official runtime packages that provide those files.
- "The program can't start because a DLL is missing from your computer": which fix to useWindows could not find a DLL file the program needs, so the program refused to start. The file name in the message tells you the fix: most often it is a missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, which you install from Microsoft.
- "The program can't start because a DLL is missing": how to fix it on Windows"DLL is missing" is a general Windows message, not one error. The fix depends on the file name in the message: most often a Visual C++ runtime, a legacy DirectX file, or the app's own file. Start by reinstalling the app, then install the matching Microsoft runtime.
- msvcp140.dll is missing or not found: how to fix itmsvcp140.dll belongs to the Microsoft Visual C++ v14 Redistributable. Windows reports it missing when that package is absent, damaged, outdated or the wrong architecture. Installing the latest redistributable from Microsoft, both x86 and x64, fixes it in most cases.
- VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll was not found: how to fix itThese DLLs belong to the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime, which many programs and games need but do not always install. Installing or repairing the latest Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft, both the x64 and the x86 package on 64-bit Windows, fixes the error in almost every case.