If you have ever tried to launch a modern PC game (like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Cyberpunk 2077), run a complex engineering tool (AutoCAD, SolidWorks), or even install a new piece of creative software (Adobe Creative Cloud), you have likely run into a frustrating error:
The solution to almost all of these problems is the same: The Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable Package (x64).
In this guide, we will explain exactly what this package is, why you need it, and — most importantly — provide you with the official, safe, and direct download link for the x64 version (64-bit systems).
After installation, you can check that the package is correctly registered on your system.
Method 1 – Control Panel:
Method 2 – System32 Check:
If those DLLs exist, your system can now run any application built with Visual C++ 2015, 2017, 2019, or 2022.
Yes, in many cases, you do.
Even on a 64-bit Windows, some older or poorly coded 32-bit applications will look for the x86 redistributable. For complete compatibility, download and install both:
Many modern PC games install both automatically. If you are a gamer, download both to avoid missing DLL errors.
Official x86 link: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x86.exe If you have ever tried to launch a
After running the x64 installer, these key files land in C:\Windows\System32\:
| DLL File | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| vcruntime140.dll | Core C runtime (CRT) for VS 2015+ |
| vcruntime140_1.dll | Additional C++ exception handling |
| msvcp140.dll | C++ Standard Library |
| vccorlib140.dll | C++/CX for UWP apps |
| concrt140.dll | Concurrency Runtime |
Older apps built with VS 2015 will use the same DLLs as an app built with VS 2022—because Microsoft guaranteed binary compatibility across those versions.
There is one catch with this software: Where you download it matters.
While the package itself is safe, "download sites" often bundle legitimate Microsoft files with adware or misleading "download managers." The solution to almost all of these problems
The process takes less than one minute. You will see a green progress bar.
Before downloading, it is helpful to understand what you are installing. Microsoft Visual C++ is a code compiler and library used by developers to create Windows applications. When a developer writes a program in C++, they rely on standard “runtime libraries” to handle basic functions (memory management, input/output, math operations).
Instead of embedding those libraries into every single program (which would waste space and cause conflicts), Microsoft provides Redistributable packages – a shared set of .dll files that any program can use.
Because of this, Microsoft unified all versions from 2015 through 2022 into a single redistributable package – named VC_redist.x64.exe. This means that installing the 2015-2022 package covers all apps built with any of those compiler versions.
Key takeaway: One installation solves DLL errors for nearly six years of software releases. After installation, you can check that the package