Missing DLL Error When Opening a Program — How to Fix It
A "missing DLL" error when launching a program is confusing but almost always fixable without reinstalling Windows. Here's what a DLL error means and how to resolve it.
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A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) is a shared file that multiple programs can use at the same time. When a program tries to start and its required DLL is missing or corrupted, you get an error message like "vcruntime140.dll was not found" or "msvcp140.dll is missing."
Do Not Download DLLs From Random Websites
A word of caution first: searching for a DLL name and downloading it from a random site is risky. Many "DLL download" sites bundle malware. The fixes below use only legitimate, trusted sources.
Common DLL Types and Their Fixes
Visual C++ Runtime DLLs (msvcp*.dll, vcruntime*.dll, mfc*.dll)
These come from Microsoft's Visual C++ Redistributable packages. They're frequently missing after a new Windows installation or after reinstalling Windows.
- Go to Settings > Apps and search for Microsoft Visual C++.
- If you see old or multiple versions, that's fine — leave them. If none are present, download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft's official download page (search: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest on Microsoft.com). Install both the x64 and x86 versions.
.NET Runtime DLLs
If the error mentions something like mscoree.dll or references .NET, go to Settings > Apps and check whether the required .NET Runtime version is installed. Download the correct version from Microsoft's .NET download page.
DirectX DLLs (d3dx*.dll, xinput*.dll)
These are used by games and multimedia software. Run the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Microsoft (search for it on Microsoft.com) to restore missing DirectX files.
Reinstall the Affected Program
If the DLL error is specific to one application, uninstall that application fully via Settings > Apps, then reinstall it fresh. Modern installers typically include their required DLLs or install them as part of setup.
Run System File Checker
For DLLs that are part of Windows itself, SFC can restore them:
sfc /scannowRun this in an elevated Command Prompt and restart when it finishes.
Frequently asked questions
The DLL error says the file is missing but I can see the file in System32. What's going on?
This usually means the DLL exists but is the wrong version or is corrupted. Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to have Windows validate and replace corrupted system files. Also make sure you're installing 64-bit software on a 64-bit system — a 32-bit program needs the 32-bit version of the DLL, which lives in C:\Windows\SysWOW64, not System32.
I got a DLL error for a game I just bought. Who's responsible for fixing it?
It depends on the DLL. If it's a DirectX or Visual C++ runtime DLL, the game's installer should have included those — try running the game's installer again or look in the game's installation folder for a _Redist or _CommonRedist folder with installers inside. If reinstalling doesn't help, the game's support team can point you to the specific runtime package you need.
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