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MSVCP120.dll is missing - how to fix it safely

MSVCP120.dll is the C++ standard library of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable. It always travels with MSVCR120.dll, and programs built with Visual Studio 2013 need both. The error means the 2013 runtime is missing or damaged - and no newer Visual C++ package stands in for it. Microsoft's free installer restores the pair in a few minutes; a single DLL from a download site is the route to skip.

Fix it automatically

Outbyte PC Repair checks Windows for corrupted system files, registry problems and leftovers from removed programs - the kind of damage behind errors like this one. Useful when you would rather not run the steps below by hand - the check and the diagnosis are free, and nothing is changed until you decide.

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Quick answer

Download the Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013 from Microsoft's official site - x64 and x86 - install both and restart the PC. MSVCP120.dll and MSVCR120.dll are back for every program.

Symptoms - how this problem looks

"The program can't start because MSVCP120.dll is missing from your computer"
A game or tool built around 2014-2017 fails at launch
MSVCR120.dll is reported missing as well
The problem started after a Windows reinstall or a cleanup
Reinstalling the program changed nothing
Several programs of that generation show the same error

Why it happens

The 2013 runtime is not installed

Windows does not ship the older Visual C++ runtimes - programs built for 2013 need the package installed separately.

Newer packages do not replace it

Visual C++ 2015-2022 uses different file names. Installing it does nothing for programs that look for the 120 files.

Missing x86 package

32-bit programs load the x86 copy even on 64-bit Windows - install both bitness packages.

Damaged runtime files

Cleanup tools and disk errors corrupt runtime files; reinstalling the package repairs them.

The fixes, in order

1. Install the official Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable

  1. On Microsoft's official site, search for "Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013".
  2. Download vcredist_x64.exe and vcredist_x86.exe.
  3. Run each; choose Repair if offered.
  4. Restart and start the program.

Stay safe: only Microsoft's site - DLL download sites are a known malware channel.

2. Repair the installed package

  1. Settings, Apps, Installed apps - search for "Visual C++ 2013".
  2. Modify, then Repair - for both x64 and x86.
  3. Restart and test.

3. Reinstall the failing program

  1. Uninstall, restart, install fresh.
  2. For Steam games: Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity of game files.

Frequently asked questions

MSVCP120 and MSVCR120 - what is the difference?

Two halves of the same Visual C++ 2013 runtime: MSVCR120.dll is the C runtime, MSVCP120.dll the C++ library. One package restores both; our MSVCR120.dll guide covers the twin error.

Why do I need both x64 and x86?

64-bit Windows runs both kinds of programs, and each loads its own copy of the runtime. The two packages coexist by design.

Is it safe to install an old 2013 runtime in 2026?

Yes - it is Microsoft's supported package for programs of that generation, and it installs side by side without touching newer runtimes.

The automatic route, whenever you are ready

Outbyte PC Repair checks the system and shows what it found - then waits. Nothing is applied without your OK, and a restore point lets you undo changes.

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