Windows DLL Missing β Official Safe Fix Guide
This guide solves Windows DLL errors without relying on any third-party "DLL repair tool". Every method here uses Microsoft's official runtimes or Windows built-in tools β clean and safe, with no lingering risk.
"DLL download sites" have long been a primary distribution channel for Windows malware: ransomware, miners, and credential stealers. Even seemingly "useful" repair helpers often bundle adware or backdoors. This page only links to official sources.
β First, figure out which runtime owns your DLL
Most common missing DLLs fall into one of four families:
VC++ Runtime
File name starts with msvcp, msvcr, vcruntime, vcomp, mfc, or concrt.
π VC++ Runtime track
DirectX
File name starts with d3dx, d3dcompiler, xinput, xaudio, or x3daudio.
π Install DirectX End-User Runtime.
.NET
File name is mscoree.dll, mscorlib.dll, etc.
π Install .NET Framework (older apps) or .NET Runtime (newer apps).
Game / bundled DLLs
e.g. steam_api.dll, binkw32.dll, physxloader.dll.
π Reinstall the program from the vendor β never patch a single DLL.
β‘ Microsoft official runtimes (the recommended path)
The three installers below cover 80%+ of all DLL-missing situations. Every download page is on microsoft.com and signed.
VC++ Redistributable (most commonly missing)
Covers the msvc*, vcruntime*, vcomp*, concrt*, mfc* family of DLLs.
Official Microsoft Learn page β
β 32-bit programs need the x86 redist; 64-bit programs need x64. They do not conflict β install both to be safe.
DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
Fixes legacy d3dx9_*, d3dx11_*, d3dcompiler_*, xinput1_3.dll, xaudio2_7.dll, etc.
β Windows 8/10/11 already ship with DX11/12, but many older games still need this legacy DX9-era pack.
.NET Framework / .NET Runtime
Fixes mscoree.dll missing, CLR load failures, "Unable to continue execution" errors.
β’ Windows built-in repair commands (system-level DLLs)
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator and run, in order:
sfc /scannowSystem File Checker scans every Windows-protected file and restores damaged ones automatically. Takes 5-15 minutes.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthDeployment Image Servicing downloads any missing system components online. Needs internet, 10-30 minutes. If sfc reports "could not repair", run DISM first, then sfc again.
ucrtbase.dll or
api-ms-win-crt-*.dll missing, install
KB2999226 (Universal C Runtime).
β£ Last resort: reinstall the program
If β β‘β’ all failed, the program's bundled DLLs are likely corrupt (often deleted by antivirus). The safest fix is to reinstall cleanly from the vendor's official site, not patch a single DLL.
- Steam games: right-click in library β Properties β Installed Files β Verify integrity of game files
- Epic / Battle.net / Origin: built-in "Repair" feature in the client
- Other apps: uninstall cleanly, then reinstall from the official website
β€ Common DLL quick lookup
VC++ Runtime (see also the VC++ track)
msvcp50.dllVisual C++ 5.0 Redistributablemsvcr50.dllVisual C++ 5.0 Redistributablemsvcp60.dllVisual C++ 6.0 Redistributablemsvcp70.dllVisual C++ 2002 Redistributablemsvcr70.dllVisual C++ 2002 Redistributablemsvcp71.dllVisual C++ 2003 Redistributablemsvcr71.dllVisual C++ 2003 Redistributablemsvcp80.dllVisual C++ 2005 Redistributablemsvcr80.dllVisual C++ 2005 Redistributablemsvcr80x.dllVisual C++ 2005 Redistributablemsvcp90.dllVisual C++ 2008 Redistributablemsvcr90.dllVisual C++ 2008 Redistributablemsvcp100.dllVisual C++ 2010 Redistributablemsvcr100.dllVisual C++ 2010 Redistributablemsvcr100d.dllVisual C++ 2010 Redistributablemsvcp110.dllVisual C++ 2012 Redistributablemsvcr110.dllVisual C++ 2012 Redistributablemsvcr110d.dllVisual C++ 2012 Redistributablemsvcp120.dllVisual C++ 2013 Redistributablemsvcr120.dllVisual C++ 2013 Redistributablemsvcr120d.dllVisual C++ 2013 Redistributablemsvcp140.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablemsvcp140_1.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablemsvcp140_2.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablevcruntime140.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablevcruntime140_1.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributableconcrt140.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablemfc140.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablemfc140u.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributablevcomp100.dllVisual C++ 2010 Redistributablevcomp110.dllVisual C++ 2012 Redistributablevcomp120.dllVisual C++ 2013 Redistributablevcomp140.dllVisual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable DirectX components
d3dx9_24.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_25.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_26.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_27.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_28.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_29.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_30.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_31.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_32.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_33.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_34.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_35.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_36.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_37.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_38.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_39.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_40.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_41.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_42.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx9_43.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx10_42.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx10_43.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx11_42.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dx11_43.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dcompiler_36.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dcompiler_39.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dcompiler_41.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dcompiler_42.dllDirectX End-User Runtimed3dcompiler_43.dllDirectX End-User Runtimexinput1_3.dllDirectX End-User Runtimexaudio2_7.dllDirectX End-User Runtimex3daudio1_7.dllDirectX End-User Runtimexapofx1_5.dllDirectX End-User Runtime Windows system / runtime components
msvcrt.dllWindows system componentucrtbase.dllUniversal C Runtimed3dcompiler_47.dllWindows / DirectXd3d9.dllDirectX 9d3d10.dllDirectX 10d3d11.dllDirectX 11dxgi.dllDirectXxinput1_4.dllWindowsxinput9_1_0.dllWindowsxaudio2_8.dllWindowsxaudio2_9.dllWindows