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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The dependable fix for a “msvcp120.dll was not found” or “code execution cannot proceed” message on Windows 11 is to install or repair the official Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 (VC++ 12.0) Redistributable. Install vcredist_x86.exe for a 32-bit program, vcredist_x64.exe for a 64-bit program, or both when the program’s architecture is unclear. Restart Windows and test the application again.
Do not download an individual DLL from a random website. The DLL is one component of a runtime package, and a loose file can have the wrong architecture, version, or companion dependencies. The steps below restore the complete runtime using Microsoft’s installer.
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What the msvcp120.dll error means
msvcp120.dll is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 runtime, also called VC++ 12.0. Applications compiled with Visual Studio 2013 can require this runtime even when they run on a fully updated Windows 11 installation. Windows 11 does not automatically include every older Visual C++ runtime that an application might need.
The missing-file message usually appears when the required VC++ 2013 files are absent, damaged, or installed for the wrong processor architecture. A program can also show the error after an incomplete application installation, a cleanup operation, or removal of a runtime that another program still uses.
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Why installing a newer Visual C++ package may not work
Microsoft keeps the 2013 and earlier redistributables installed side by side with newer releases. The 2015–2022 package, often identified as v14, is not a substitute for the VC++ 2013 package. Installing a newer package alone therefore may leave an application that needs msvcp120.dll unable to start.
Is msvcp120.dll itself safe?
The file is a legitimate Microsoft runtime component when it comes from the Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable. The risk comes from obtaining a replacement DLL from an untrusted download site. Such a file may be modified, may belong to another release, may be built for x86 instead of x64 (or the reverse), or may omit other runtime files that the program needs. Use the complete redistributable installer rather than copying a single file into a Windows folder.
Before repairing anything
Record the exact message and affected program
Write down the full dialog text, including whether it says “msvcp120.dll was not found,” “the code execution cannot proceed,” or names another missing module as well. Note the application or game that fails and whether the failure began after an update, reinstall, or system cleanup. This information helps distinguish a runtime problem from an application-specific prerequisite issue.
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Determine whether the program is 32-bit or 64-bit
A 32-bit application needs the x86 redistributable. A 64-bit application needs the x64 redistributable. The bitness of Windows and the bitness of the application are separate: 64-bit Windows commonly runs both types of software. If you cannot establish the application type, installing both Microsoft packages is a practical approach supported in Microsoft Q&A guidance.
When the program’s documentation or launcher does not identify its architecture, do not guess based only on the computer’s Windows edition. Many older applications are 32-bit even on a 64-bit PC.
Install the official Visual C++ 2013 redistributable
1. Open Microsoft’s download page
Open Microsoft’s Latest Supported Visual C++ Redistributable Downloads page and find the section for Visual Studio 2013 (VC++ 12.0). Select the Update 5 redistributable installers listed there. Microsoft identifies the current installer version in that section as 12.0.40664.0.
The package is download-only. Microsoft states that the Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 Redistributable is not distributed through Windows Update, so waiting for Windows Update will not install this runtime for you.
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2. Select the correct installer
| Application situation | Installer to download | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The affected program is 32-bit | vcredist_x86.exe |
32-bit applications load the x86 VC++ 2013 runtime. |
| The affected program is 64-bit | vcredist_x64.exe |
64-bit applications load the x64 VC++ 2013 runtime. |
| The program type is unknown, or the PC runs both 32-bit and 64-bit software | Download both files | Installing both covers applications of either architecture. |
If you are installing both, Microsoft Q&A guidance recommends installing the x86 package first and the x64 package second. Save both installers locally before starting so you can repair either package without returning to the download page.
3. Run the x86 installer
- Open the downloaded
vcredist_x86.exe. - Read and accept the license terms.
- Select Install when the runtime is not present. If the setup program reports that the runtime is already installed, choose Repair instead.
- Allow setup to finish. The installer places the VC++ 2013 runtime files, including
msvcp120.dll, in the locations Windows uses for 32-bit components.
Do not cancel the process merely because another Visual C++ version is already listed in Windows. The 2013 runtime is a separate side-by-side package.
4. Run the x64 installer when needed
- Open
vcredist_x64.exe. - Accept the license terms.
- Choose Install, or choose Repair if setup detects an existing VC++ 2013 x64 installation.
- Wait for the completion message before closing the installer.
Installing x86 and x64 does not merge them into one package. Each installer supplies the architecture-specific runtime required by applications built for that architecture.
5. Restart Windows and test the application
Restart Windows after the installer completes, then launch the affected program from its normal shortcut or launcher. A restart ensures that processes holding old runtime information are closed and that the application starts against the repaired installation.
Where the files belong
Microsoft’s Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 file table lists msvcp120.dll as version 12.0.40664.0. The documented file sizes differ by architecture:
| Runtime architecture | Documented file size | Documented location on Windows |
|---|---|---|
| x86 | 445 KB | On x86 Windows, %WinDir%System32; on x64 Windows, %WinDir%SysWow64 |
| x64 | 645 KB | On x64 Windows, %WinDir%System32 |
These locations explain why placing an x86 file into the x64 system location, or an x64 file where a 32-bit process expects its runtime, does not solve the problem. The installer selects the correct path and registers the package as a unit.
If the error remains after installation
Repair the redistributable from Windows
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable entry, open its menu, and choose the available modify or repair option. Run repair for the architecture the application needs. If both x86 and x64 entries are present and you are unsure which one is damaged, repair both separately, then restart.
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If the entry cannot be repaired, uninstall that VC++ 2013 entry, restart Windows, and run the corresponding official installer again. Removing and reinstalling the package is preferable to replacing a system DLL by hand because setup restores the complete dependency set.
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An application can still fail when the runtime is correct if its own files are incomplete. Use the application’s installer or launcher to select Repair, if offered. If no repair option exists, uninstall the application, restart Windows, and reinstall it from the publisher’s installer. Test the program before adding optional extensions or modifications.
For a game or other complex application, check its requirements for additional prerequisites. Some programs need DirectX components or a vendor-specific runtime in addition to VC++ 2013. Installing those requirements through the application’s official setup process avoids mixing unrelated DLL versions.
Check whether another module is also missing
Read the complete error dialog after each attempt. If the message changes from msvcp120.dll to another file, the VC++ 2013 package may now be present while a separate prerequisite remains absent. Treat the newly named module as a separate diagnosis rather than repeatedly copying msvcp120.dll.
Confirm that you installed the package the program actually needs
A 32-bit program on 64-bit Windows still requires x86 runtime files. Conversely, a native 64-bit program requires x64 files. When an application’s architecture is unknown, install both packages and repair both. This is safer than repeatedly reinstalling only the package that matches the Windows edition.
When the installer itself fails
Write down the installer’s error code and the stage at which it stops. Restart Windows and run the official installer again. If setup continues to fail, contact Microsoft support or the application vendor with the exact code, Windows 11 edition, installer architecture, and application name. Do not bypass the failed setup by downloading a standalone DLL; that leaves the underlying installation problem unresolved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why copying a loose DLL is a poor repair
A DLL download page may advertise the exact filename, but the filename alone does not prove that the file matches the VC++ 2013 Update 5 build. A wrong architecture can produce a new “bad image” or entry-point error. A wrong version can leave the application looking for functions that the replacement does not contain. The program may also depend on companion runtime files such as the C runtime, which a single-file download does not reliably provide.
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Manual copying can also make later diagnosis harder: Windows may contain one file in a system directory while the installed-program record still says the redistributable is absent or damaged. The official installer is more reversible because it can be repaired or uninstalled through Windows, and it keeps the runtime’s files together.
Repair choices compared
| Choice | Source trust | Architecture coverage | Dependency completeness | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Microsoft VC++ 2013 installer | Microsoft-distributed package | Choose x86, x64, or install both | Installs the runtime files as a package | Can be repaired or uninstalled through Windows |
| Repair or reinstall the affected application | The application publisher’s installer | Depends on the application’s bundled prerequisites | Restores application files and any prerequisites it supplies | Can normally be repaired or uninstalled through the application or Windows |
| Standalone DLL from a third-party download site | File origin and integrity may be difficult to verify | May be the wrong x86 or x64 build | Provides one file rather than the complete runtime | Manual replacement can leave an inconsistent installation |
Use the official redistributable first because it directly addresses the component named in the error and supplies the architecture-specific runtime. Use application repair when the redistributable is present but the program’s own installation is incomplete. Reserve vendor support for installer errors, persistent failures, or applications with additional prerequisites.
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Questions that commonly arise
Do I need both Visual C++ 2013 x86 and x64?
Install x86 for a 32-bit application and x64 for a 64-bit application. If you use both kinds of software or cannot determine the affected program’s architecture, installing both is a practical solution. Install x86 first and x64 second, then restart Windows.
Will Windows Update install msvcp120.dll?
No. Microsoft describes the Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 redistributable as a download-only update rather than a package delivered through Windows Update. Download it from Microsoft’s Visual C++ redistributable page.
Can the 2015–2022 redistributable replace VC++ 2013?
No. Microsoft maintains the 2013 and earlier redistributables side by side with newer releases. Install the VC++ 2013 package required by the application even when a newer Visual C++ entry is already installed.
Should I delete an existing Visual C++ entry before installing?
Usually no. Run the matching installer and select Repair if it reports that the package is already installed. Uninstall and reinstall only when repair fails or the installed entry is damaged.
What if the application still will not start after both packages are repaired?
Repair or reinstall the application, check its documented prerequisites, and read any new error message for another missing module. If the VC++ installer reports an error, record that code and seek Microsoft or application-vendor support rather than replacing files manually.
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