Summary
That dreaded “msvcr110.dll is missing” error can stop your favorite apps or games in their tracks, leaving you frustrated. Don’t worry—this common DLL error is completely fixable. Our clear, step-by-step guide for Windows 10 and 11 will help you safely repair the msvcr110.dll error using trusted methods, starting with the official Microsoft solution. Let’s get your system running smoothly again.
Step-by-step installation guide for Windows 10/11
Excellent. You’ve got the official installers ready. Now, let’s execute the repair. This process is identical for both Windows 10 and 11, and following these steps meticulously will ensure the Visual C++ 2012 runtime is correctly reinstalled, resolving the dependency issue at its core.
First, if you identified the existing redistributables as potentially corrupted during your diagnostics, it’s best to start with a clean slate. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, search for “Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable,” and uninstall both the x86 and x64 versions. Restart your computer when prompted. This fresh start prevents any legacy corruption from interfering with the new installation.
Now, run your downloaded installers. The order doesn’t technically matter, but a good practice is to install the x64 version first, followed by the x86 version. Double-click vcredist_x64.exe. You’ll likely see a User Account Control prompt—click “Yes.” The installer will present a license agreement; accept it. The installation itself is typically very fast, often completing in seconds with a simple success message. Repeat the identical process for the vcredist_x86.exe file.
Important: During installation, if you encounter an error stating “Another version of this product is already installed,” you may need to use the official Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. This tool can clean up broken registry entries, allowing the fresh install to proceed.
Once both packages are installed, restart your computer. This final reboot is crucial. It allows Windows to fully register the new runtime libraries and clear any cached file paths that were pointing to the missing or corrupted msvcr110.dll. After the restart, launch the application that was failing. In the vast majority of cases, this direct reinstall of the Visual C++ 2012 redistributable will have resolved the error, allowing your software to run as intended.
If the error persists despite this official reinstall, the issue may be more localized, requiring a different approach. This leads us to our next, more hands-on method.
Method 2: Manual DLL File Replacement
Method 1 is the gold standard for a system-wide fix. But what if that official reinstall didn’t work, or the error is stubbornly isolated to one specific program? This points to a scenario where the application might be looking for its own local copy of msvcr110.dll, or the system’s global file has become irreparably corrupted in a way the installer couldn’t fix. In these edge cases, a manual DLL file replacement becomes a viable, if more advanced, troubleshooting step. This approach involves obtaining a clean copy of the file and placing it in the precise directory where the failing software expects to find it.
Proceed with caution. This method requires precision and a trusted source for the DLL. The cardinal rule remains: never download the file from a standalone “DLL repository” website. These are breeding grounds for malware and version mismatches. Instead, extract the file from the official Microsoft installer you already downloaded, or from a known-working system with the same Windows architecture (64-bit). To extract from the vcredist_x64.exe or vcredist_x86.exe, you can use command-line switches (/extract), or simpler, use a free archive tool like 7-Zip—right-click the installer, select “7-Zip > Open archive,” and navigate to find the msvcr110.dll within.
Critical Safety Check: Before placing any new DLL, always rename the existing corrupted file (e.g., to
msvcr110.dll.old) instead of deleting it. This provides an instant rollback option.
The placement is key. For a system-wide fix, the target folder is C:\Windows\System32 for the 64-bit version on a 64-bit OS, and C:\Windows\SysWOW64 for the 32-bit (x86) version. However, for an application-specific error, you should place the DLL in the program’s own installation directory. How do you know which? The error message sometimes reveals the path, or you can check the application’s shortcut properties. After placing the file, you may need to register it manually. Open an Administrator Command Prompt and type regsvr32 msvcr110.dll. Note that not all DLLs self-register, but this step ensures it’s integrated into the system registry.
This hands-on method is your surgical tool when the standard reinstall fails, allowing you to solve the “msvcr110.dll is missing” error message at its exact point of failure. With the file now in place, let’s explore the final verification steps to ensure your fix is complete and stable.
Conclusion
By following this guide, you’ve learned how to systematically repair the msvcr110.dll error in Windows 10 and 11, from diagnosis to applying safe, official fixes. Your next step should be to restart your system after completing the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable install guide to ensure the changes take full effect. With these trusted methods, you can confidently resolve the issue and get back to using your applications without interruption.
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