Fix MSVCR120.dll Missing Error

Understanding MSVCR120.dll

What is MSVCR120.dll?

MSVCR120.dll stands for MicroSoft Visual C++ Redistributable version 120 Dynamic Link Library.

• Purpose: Provides C runtime library functions (memory allocation, string handling, math operations)
• Version: Part of Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (version 12.0)
• Location: Typically in C:\Windows\System32\ (64-bit) or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ (32-bit on 64-bit Windows)
• Size: Approximately 940 KB
• Required by: Applications compiled with Visual Studio 2013

Related DLL Files (Often Missing Together):

• MSVCP120.dll: Microsoft C++ Standard Library (C++ runtime)
• MSVCR120_CLR0400.dll: .NET integration components
• VCCORLIB120.dll: Core runtime library

If one of these is missing, others from the same package may also be absent.

Common Programs Requiring MSVCR120.dll:

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
• Autodesk products (AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Maya)
• Games (Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, many Steam games)
• Wamp Server, XAMPP (PHP development stacks)
• Microsoft Office 2013/2016 (some components)
• Skype for Business
• Python packages and development tools

Method 1: Install Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (Official Solution)

This is Microsoft's official fix and resolves 98% of MSVCR120.dll errors. The Redistributable package installs all necessary runtime DLLs.

Download Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable:

1. Visit Microsoft's official download page: Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable
2. Or direct download links:
   • 64-bit Windows: Download BOTH x64 AND x86 versions
   • 32-bit Windows: Download x86 version only
3. Click Download
4. Select appropriate version:
   • vcredist_x64.exe (for 64-bit programs)
   • vcredist_x86.exe (for 32-bit programs)
5. Click Next to download

Install Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable:

1. Run vcredist_x86.exe as Administrator (right-click → Run as administrator)
2. Accept license agreement
3. Click Install
4. Wait for installation to complete (1-2 minutes)
5. If you have 64-bit Windows, also run vcredist_x64.exe as Administrator
6. Accept license and install
7. Click Close when finished
8. Restart your computer
9. Try launching the program that gave the error

If Installation Says "Already Installed":

1. Repair the existing installation:
   • In the installer, choose Repair option
   • Click Repair button
   • Wait for repair to complete
2. If Repair doesn't work, uninstall and reinstall:
   • Press Windows + I → Apps → Installed apps
   • Search for "Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable"
   • Click three dots → Uninstall
   • Restart computer
   • Run vcredist installer again

Why this works: Visual C++ Redistributable contains MSVCR120.dll and all related runtime libraries. Installing it places these DLLs in correct system folders with proper registration, ensuring programs can find and use them.

Method 2: Manually Download and Place MSVCR120.dll

If you can't install the Redistributable (due to permissions or installation errors), manually placing the DLL can work as temporary solution.

⚠️ Important Safety Warning:

Only download DLLs from trusted sources! Many DLL download sites bundle malware. Safest sources:

• Best: Extract from Microsoft's official Redistributable .exe (see below)
• Acceptable: dll-files.com (reputable, virus-scanned)
• NEVER: Random search results, suspicious download sites

Safe Method: Extract from Official Redistributable:

1. Download vcredist_x64.exe and vcredist_x86.exe (Method 1)
2. Use 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract .exe files:
   • Right-click vcredist_x86.exe → 7-Zip → Extract to "vcredist_x86\"
   • Open extracted folder
   • Find msvcr120.dll (may be in nested CAB files—extract those too)
3. Alternative: Run vcredist installer, check C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Temp\ during installation for extracted DLLs

Manual DLL Placement:

1. Obtain MSVCR120.dll file (via extraction above)
2. Determine if you need 32-bit or 64-bit version:
   • Right-click program's .exe → Properties → Compatibility
   • Or check program's installation folder (Program Files = 64-bit, Program Files (x86) = 32-bit)
3. For 64-bit programs:
   • Copy MSVCR120.dll to C:\Windows\System32\
4. For 32-bit programs on 64-bit Windows:
   • Copy MSVCR120.dll to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
5. For 32-bit Windows:
   • Copy MSVCR120.dll to C:\Windows\System32\
6. Also copy MSVCR120.dll to the program's installation folder (same folder as .exe)
7. Register the DLL:
8. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
9. Run: regsvr32 msvcr120.dll
10. If successful: "DllRegisterServer in msvcr120.dll succeeded"
11. Restart computer
12. Try launching program

Note: Manual placement is a workaround. Method 1 (official Redistributable) is strongly preferred for proper installation and updates.

Method 3: Reinstall the Program Showing the Error

Sometimes the program's installation itself is corrupted, and its bundled Visual C++ runtime didn't install correctly. Reinstalling ensures clean installation.

1. Uninstall the problematic program:
   • Press Windows + I → Apps → Installed apps
   • Find the program showing MSVCR120.dll error
   • Click three dots → Uninstall
   • Follow uninstallation wizard
2. Delete leftover files:
   • Navigate to C:\Program Files\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\
   • Delete program's folder if it still exists
3. Restart computer
4. Download fresh installer from official website
5. Run installer as Administrator
6. During installation, watch for prompts about Visual C++ Redistributables:
   • Some installers include VC++ runtime installation
   • If prompted, allow installation of prerequisites
7. Complete installation
8. Launch program—error should be resolved

For Steam Games:

1. In Steam Library, right-click game → Properties
2. Go to Local Files tab
3. Click Verify integrity of game files
4. Steam checks and redownloads missing/corrupted files
5. After verification completes, check game's installation folder:
   • Right-click game → Manage → Browse local files
   • Look for _CommonRedist folder
   • Inside, find vcredist folder and run all installers

Method 4: Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

System file corruption can damage or delete MSVCR120.dll. SFC and DISM repair Windows system files including runtime libraries.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run DISM first (repairs component store):
3. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. Press Enter
5. Wait 10-30 minutes for completion
6. Run SFC (repairs system files):
7. sfc /scannow
8. Press Enter
9. Wait 20-45 minutes for 100% completion
10. Look for:
    • "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them" → Good
    • "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations" → No corruption found
    • "found corrupt files but was unable to fix some" → Try Method 1 to reinstall Redistributable
11. Restart computer
12. Run Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable installer (Method 1) to ensure proper registration
13. Test program

Why this helps: Windows updates or malware can corrupt system DLLs. SFC restores official Microsoft versions from the Windows component store. However, Visual C++ Redistributables aren't always part of Windows base install, so you may still need Method 1 after SFC.

Method 5: Check for Malware and Restore from Quarantine

Antivirus software sometimes false-positively flags MSVCR120.dll as malware and deletes it. Or actual malware infected the DLL, leading to deletion.

Check Antivirus Quarantine:

1. Windows Defender:
   • Press Windows + I → Privacy & security → Windows Security
   • Click Virus & threat protection
   • Click Protection history
   • Look for "MSVCR120.dll" in quarantined items
   • If found, click Restore (only if you're confident it's false positive)
2. Third-party antivirus (Norton, McAfee, Avast, etc.):
   • Open antivirus program
   • Navigate to Quarantine or Vault section
   • Search for MSVCR120.dll
   • Restore file if false positive
3. Add exception to prevent future deletion:
   • Windows Defender: Settings → Add exclusion → C:\Windows\System32\MSVCR120.dll
   • For third-party: Add file/folder to whitelist in antivirus settings

Scan for Malware:

1. If DLL was legitimately infected, scan system:
2. Run Windows Defender full scan:
   • Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options
   • Select Full scan
   • Click Scan now
   • Wait for completion (30+ minutes)
3. Run Malwarebytes scan (download from malwarebytes.com):
   • Install and update Malwarebytes
   • Run Threat Scan
   • Quarantine any threats found
4. After cleaning malware, reinstall Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (Method 1)

Additional Fixes

Fix: DLL File Appears But Error Persists

If MSVCR120.dll exists in System32 but error still shows:

1. DLL may be wrong version or corrupted
2. Delete existing MSVCR120.dll:
   • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\
   • Find MSVCR120.dll
   • Right-click → Delete (requires admin rights)
   • Also delete from C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ if exists
3. Run Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable installer (Method 1)
4. Installer will place fresh, uncorrupted version

Fix: "regsvr32" Command Fails

If registering DLL gives error:

• Error "module failed to load": DLL file is wrong architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit mismatch)
• Error "entry point not found": MSVCR120.dll doesn't need registration—it's a runtime library, not COM component. This error is harmless; just install Redistributable properly.
• Error "access denied": Run Command Prompt as Administrator

Update Windows

Ensure Windows is updated, as updates sometimes include Visual C++ runtime updates:

1. Press Windows + I → Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Install all available updates
4. Restart computer

Prevention Tips

• Install all Visual C++ Redistributables proactively (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015-2022) to avoid future DLL errors
• Keep Windows updated for latest runtime versions
• Don't use "registry cleaner" or "DLL fixer" tools—they often damage system files
• Create System Restore point before major software uninstalls
• Don't manually delete files from System32 or SysWOW64
• Whitelist legitimate software folders in antivirus to prevent false positives
• Download software only from official sources to avoid bundled malware

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I installed Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable but still get MSVCR120.dll error. Why?

A: Several possibilities: (1) Installed wrong architecture—if program is 32-bit, install vcredist_x86.exe even on 64-bit Windows; both x86 and x64 versions should be installed on 64-bit systems, (2) Existing installation corrupted—uninstall all Visual C++ 2013 Redistributables via Control Panel, restart, reinstall from Microsoft, (3) Antivirus blocking DLL—add C:\Windows\System32\ to exclusions, (4) Program installation itself corrupted—reinstall the application (Method 3), (5) Conflicting older version—uninstall Visual C++ 2013, delete C:\Windows\System32\MSVCR120.dll manually, reinstall.

Q: Can I just copy MSVCR120.dll from another computer?

A: Technically yes, but NOT recommended. Copying DLL from another computer risks: (1) Architecture mismatch (32-bit vs 64-bit), (2) Version incompatibility (different update levels), (3) No proper registration in Windows, (4) Potential malware if source computer infected. Always use official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installer instead. It's free, safe, and ensures correct version and registration.

Q: After fixing MSVCR120.dll error, now I get MSVCP120.dll missing error. What's happening?

A: MSVCP120.dll is another DLL in the same Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable package. If one is missing, others likely are too. Run the complete Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable installer (Method 1) which includes all related DLLs: MSVCR120.dll, MSVCP120.dll, MSVCR120_CLR0400.dll, and VCCORLIB120.dll. Don't try to fix DLLs individually—install the entire package.

Q: The error says "MSVCR120.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or contains an error." Different from missing DLL?

A: Yes, different error. This means: (1) DLL file is corrupted—delete existing MSVCR120.dll from System32 and SysWOW64, reinstall Redistributable, (2) Architecture mismatch—running 64-bit DLL with 32-bit program or vice versa; install both x86 and x64 Redistributables, (3) Incompatible Windows version—Visual C++ 2013 requires Windows 7 SP1 or later; update Windows, (4) Malware infection—scan system with Malwarebytes, clean infections, reinstall Redistributable.

Q: Do I need to install Visual C++ Redistributables for every year (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, etc.)?

A: Yes, they are NOT cumulative. Each version is separate and required by different programs. Visual C++ 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 are merged into one installer (they share MSVCR140.dll). But 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008 are independent. For best compatibility, install all versions (takes 5-10 minutes total). They coexist without conflicts. Most modern PCs have 5-8 different Visual C++ Redistributables installed, which is normal and necessary.