You’ve just downloaded a game you’ve been waiting weeks for, hit launch — and instead of the title screen, you get a cold error dialog: “DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error” or “The program can’t start because MSVCP140.dll is missing.” Both are maddening, and both are fixable without reinstalling Windows or spending a dime.
These two libraries — DirectX and the Visual C++ Redistributables — underpin nearly every game released in the last two decades. When they break or go missing, nothing runs. The good news is that the root causes are predictable, and once you understand them, the fixes are straightforward.
What DirectX and Visual C++ Actually Do
DirectX is Microsoft’s collection of application programming interfaces that lets games talk directly to your GPU, audio hardware, and input devices. The most relevant component today is Direct3D, which handles all 3D rendering. When a game ships, it targets a specific DirectX feature level — commonly DirectX 11 or DirectX 12. If your system reports an older version or a corrupted runtime, the game won’t even initialize the graphics pipeline.
Visual C++ Redistributables are runtime libraries that developers compile their code against. When a programmer writes a game in C++, the resulting executable expects certain DLL files to already exist on your machine — things like vcruntime140.dll, msvcp120.dll, or msvcp160.dll. Each version of Visual Studio ships a different redistributable package, and games often require very specific ones. Microsoft has released at least a dozen distinct versions since 2005, and a single missing or corrupted package is enough to block a launch.
Understanding this distinction matters because the fixes are different. A DirectX error usually points at a driver or runtime installation problem. A Visual C++ error almost always points at a missing or outdated redistributable package — and knowing which one is half the battle.
It is also worth knowing that these libraries are not mutually exclusive in how they fail. Some games bundle their own DirectX setup alongside their Visual C++ installer, meaning a single bad installation pass can corrupt both simultaneously. If you see two different error dialogs on successive launch attempts — one mentioning a DLL from each category — that is a strong signal that the game’s initial setup routine did not complete cleanly, and both libraries should be addressed together rather than one at a time.
Diagnosing the Exact Error Before You Fix Anything
The worst mistake people make is jumping straight to reinstalling everything. Spend two minutes reading the error message carefully. Windows is more descriptive than most users give it credit for.
If the error mentions a specific DLL file name — such as d3dx9_43.dll, xinput1_3.dll, or msvcp140.dll — write it down. The prefix tells you the source: files starting with d3d or xinput belong to DirectX legacy packages, while files starting with msvc, vccorlib, or vcruntime belong to Visual C++ Redistributables.
For DirectX issues, use the built-in diagnostic tool. Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and hit Enter. The tool opens a four-tab panel covering System, Display, Sound, and Input. Under the Display tab, check the DirectX version listed — if it reads below 11 on a modern Windows machine, your runtime installation is genuinely broken. Also scan the Notes field at the bottom of each tab; Windows will flag known driver problems there directly.
For Visual C++ issues, open Settings → Apps → Installed Apps and search “Visual C++”. You’ll see a list of every redistributable version installed. Compare that against what the game requires — usually documented on the game’s Steam page or in its system requirements section. A version gap here is your culprit.
If the error message is vague and does not name a specific file, check the Windows Event Viewer. Press Win + R, type eventvwr, and navigate to Windows Logs → Application. Look for Error entries timestamped at the moment the game crashed. The detailed log entry almost always includes the full path and name of the problematic module, giving you a much more precise starting point than the generic dialog box the game surfaces to the user.
Fixing DirectX Errors Step by Step
Most modern DirectX errors on Windows 10 and Windows 11 fall into two buckets: outdated GPU drivers or a missing legacy DirectX runtime.
Update or Reinstall Your GPU Driver
DirectX feature support is baked into your graphics driver. An outdated driver can report DirectX 11 support while lacking updated shader model capabilities that newer games depend on. Go to your GPU manufacturer’s site directly — NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, or Intel Arc Control — and download the latest stable release. Avoid beta drivers for gaming unless you’re troubleshooting a specific known bug.
After installing, restart fully (not just signing out) and retest the game. In my experience, this single step resolves about 60% of DirectX-related launch failures, particularly on machines that haven’t had a driver update in over six months.
Install the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
Windows Update keeps the core DirectX runtime current, but it does not install the legacy D3DX libraries from DirectX 9. Many games — including titles from the early 2010s that remain widely played — depend on d3dx9_XX.dll files that Windows no longer ships by default. Microsoft still offers the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer as a free download from its official site. Run it, let it complete, restart, and the missing D3DX errors typically vanish.
Run the Windows DirectX Diagnostic Repair
Open an elevated Command Prompt (search “cmd”, right-click, Run as administrator) and run sfc /scannow. This scans all protected Windows files — including DirectX components — and replaces corrupted ones automatically. Follow that with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the Windows image itself. Both commands together cover the vast majority of runtime corruption cases.
Fixing Visual C++ Redistributable Errors Step by Step
Visual C++ errors are almost always solved by installing or repairing the correct redistributable package. The challenge is identifying which version you need.
Install All Major Redistributable Versions
Rather than hunting for one specific version, the fastest real-world solution is installing all of them. Microsoft distributes packages for 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015-2022 (the last one covers multiple studio versions in a single installer). Download both the x64 and x86 variants for each — even on a 64-bit system, many 32-bit games still require the x86 redistributable. This approach takes about 15 minutes and permanently eliminates the vast majority of DLL-missing errors across your entire game library.
Repair Existing Installations
Sometimes the redistributable is listed as installed but internally corrupted. Go to Settings → Apps, find the specific Visual C++ version, click Modify, and choose Repair. Windows will verify and restore the package files without requiring a full reinstall. This is especially effective after a Windows Update that may have overwritten certain shared DLLs with incompatible versions.
Use the Game’s Own Installer
Well-packaged games — particularly those distributed via Steam — include their own redistributable installers inside the game folder, typically in a _CommonRedistvcredist subfolder. Navigate there in File Explorer and run the installers manually. These are guaranteed to be the exact versions the developer tested against, which eliminates any version mismatch uncertainty.
Common Mistakes That Make Things Worse
There’s a persistent myth circulating in gaming forums that you should download missing DLL files from third-party websites and drop them into the game folder. This is genuinely dangerous. Those sites frequently bundle malware inside fake DLL files, and even clean ones may be mismatched versions that cause subtler crashes later. Microsoft’s own redistributable packages and Windows Update are the only trustworthy sources for these files.
Another mistake is uninstalling Visual C++ Redistributables to “start fresh” without immediately reinstalling them. Other installed software — not just games — depends on those libraries. Removing them without a reinstall can cascade into broken desktop applications and Windows components. Always have the installers ready before removing anything.
Finally, avoid running multiple antivirus tools simultaneously when applying these fixes. Overly aggressive real-time scanning has been known to quarantine legitimate Visual C++ DLL files mid-installation, leaving packages in a half-installed state that’s harder to diagnose than the original error.
A less obvious but equally damaging mistake is applying fixes in the wrong order and then assuming they failed before they had a chance to take effect. For example, running sfc /scannow while the GPU driver installation is still pending a restart means the scan runs against a partially updated system. Always restart between major fix steps — driver installation, SFC scan, and redistributable installation should each be followed by a full reboot before you draw any conclusions about whether the error has been resolved.
When the Problem Is the Game, Not Your System
If you’ve installed all redistributables, updated your drivers, run SFC and DISM, and the error persists — the problem may be on the developer’s side. Corrupted game files are more common than most players realize, particularly after interrupted downloads or forced updates.
On Steam, right-click the game, go to Properties → Local Files → Verify Integrity of Game Files. Steam compares every file against its manifest and re-downloads anything corrupted or missing. On Epic Games Launcher, the equivalent is Manage → Verify. This process catches a surprising number of cases where the game’s own bundled DirectX or Visual C++ installer was corrupted at download time.
For games outside these platforms, try a complete uninstall and fresh reinstall — but this time, disable your antivirus temporarily during installation to prevent false quarantines. Re-enable it immediately after.
Conclusion
Most DirectX and Visual C++ launch failures come down to three fixable things: outdated GPU drivers, missing legacy runtime packages, and absent or corrupted redistributable libraries. Start with the diagnostic tools Windows already gives you, then work through the targeted fixes before reaching for nuclear options like OS reinstalls. If you make a habit of updating drivers every few months and keeping a folder of the official Microsoft redistributable installers, you’ll prevent roughly 80% of these errors before they happen. The next time that error dialog appears, you’ll know exactly which three files to check first.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to fix a missing MSVCP140.dll error?
Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable — both x64 and x86 versions — directly from Microsoft’s official download page. That single package covers MSVCP140.dll, VCRUNTIME140.dll, and related files. Restart your PC after installation.
Do I need DirectX 12 to play modern games?
Not necessarily. Many games support both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 render paths. DirectX 12 offers better multi-core CPU utilization and lower driver overhead, but DirectX 11 remains fully supported on Windows 10 and 11. Check the game’s graphics settings — most let you choose the API manually.
Is it safe to have multiple Visual C++ versions installed at the same time?
Yes, completely. Each version installs independently and does not conflict with others. Having 2013, 2015-2022, and older packages installed simultaneously is normal and expected on any active gaming PC.
Why does my game crash with a DirectX error even after I update my drivers?
Driver updates alone don’t restore legacy D3DX libraries from DirectX 9. Run the Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer, then run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt. Also verify the game’s own files through its launcher — a corrupted game-side DirectX installer is a common overlooked cause.
Can antivirus software cause Visual C++ installation failures?
Yes. Some security tools flag DLL registration steps as suspicious behavior and block or quarantine files mid-installation. Temporarily disable real-time protection during the installation process, complete the install, restart, then re-enable your antivirus immediately.
How do I know which Visual C++ Redistributable version a specific game needs?
The most reliable sources are the game’s official system requirements page and its store listing — Steam, GOG, and Epic all display required runtimes under the technical specifications section. Alternatively, open the game’s installation folder and look for a _CommonRedist or Redist subfolder; the redistributable installers included there identify the exact versions the developer bundled. If neither source is available, tools like Dependency Walker or the free application Dependencies can scan the game’s main executable and list every DLL it expects to find on the system.
