What is msvcr120.dll?
MSVCR120.dll contains C runtime functions used by Windows applications compiled with Visual Studio 2013. Games, launchers, media software, engineering tools, and older desktop programs may still require this runtime on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
MSVCR120.dll and MSVCP120.dll belong to the same Visual C++ 2013 package but provide different runtime features. One file cannot be renamed to replace the other, and newer Visual C++ 2015-2022 packages do not automatically supply the 2013 runtime generation.
Which source should provide a msvcr120.dll download?
Microsoft's current support guidance lists Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable version 12.0.40664.0. On July 23, 2026, the stable Microsoft x86 and x64 short links below both resolved with HTTP 200 to download.visualstudio.microsoft.com and returned Windows executable files with matching filenames and package sizes.
Choose the package by application architecture rather than Windows architecture alone. A 32-bit program needs vcredist_x86.exe even on 64-bit Windows. Installing both official packages is appropriate when the computer runs a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Check the evidence before a msvcr120.dll download
Start with the full download error and the path of the program that displayed it. A DLL error raised from a game folder usually points to that game's prerequisites or installation, while an error from an unrelated desktop program may point to a separate runtime. Search results for the filename cannot see that local context.
If a copy already exists, do not replace it with the first download listing you find. Open its file properties and review the location, digital-signature tab, product name, and modified date. Compare those details with the application installer or publisher documentation. A valid signature can support an origin check, but an unsigned file is not automatically malicious and a familiar filename is not automatically trustworthy.
Create a restore point or back up important application data before system-level repairs. Avoid registry cleaners and one-click download fixer programs that do not disclose exactly what they change. A controlled package repair is easier to reverse and easier to diagnose than several simultaneous replacements.
msvcr120.dll download and safe repair checklist
Use this msvcr120.dll download and safe repair checklist to choose a recovery method based on evidence, not urgency. The goal is to restore the component expected by the affected application while preserving its related files, update path, and architecture.
| Situation | Recommended decision |
|---|---|
| The error appeared on the first launch | Install or repair Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable and then repair the application that displayed the message. |
| The error began after an update | Verify the affected product first because an interrupted update can leave a mixed set of executable and DLL versions. |
| The file exists but an entry point is missing | Remove manual replacement copies and restore the build selected by Microsoft or the original software package. |
| Security software quarantined the file | Review the detection, file path, signature, and original installer before deciding whether any restoration is appropriate. |
A responsible msvcr120.dll download and safe repair process also records what changed. Keep the installer name, source domain, architecture, and time of repair. If the problem returns, those details help distinguish a damaged package from an application update, security action, or unsupported modification.
How to fix msvcr120.dll download and missing-file errors
- 1
Confirm the exact error and filename
Check that the message names MSVCR120.dll rather than MSVCP120.dll, MSVCR110.dll, or VCRUNTIME140.dll, and note which application displayed it.
- 2
Identify the application's architecture
Use the x86 installer for a 32-bit process and the x64 installer for a 64-bit process. Install both packages when you use mixed software.
- 3
Install or repair the verified Microsoft package
Run the appropriate Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable and choose Repair if that package is already installed.
- 4
Restart the application and Windows if needed
Close launchers and background processes, then restart before repeating the action that produced the error.
- 5
Repair the affected application
If the official runtime is healthy but the error remains, verify or reinstall the application from its publisher, store, or original installer.
Common msvcr120.dll download and repair scenarios
The safest msvcr120.dll download and safe repair path depends on when the failure started. Work through the scenario that matches your system instead of applying every possible fix at once.
After installing or moving an application
Portable copies, restored backups, and manually moved game folders can omit prerequisites that a normal installer would add. Return to the original setup or launcher, install its dependencies, and keep the application in a supported location. Copying only the executable and a few DLL files rarely reproduces a complete installation.
After Windows or software maintenance
An update can expose an older local DLL that previously loaded by accident. Repair Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable, then verify the affected application so its executable and supporting files come from the same release. Avoid rolling back unrelated Windows updates unless the publisher documents a confirmed compatibility issue.
After a security alert or modification
Do not treat an antivirus block as a routine missing-file problem. Record the detection, scan the system, and remove unofficial loaders, wrappers, or copied libraries. If the software is legitimate, recover it from its original publisher or store instead of searching for a replacement with the same filename.
This msvcr120.dll download and safe repair guidance is intentionally source-first: the correct outcome is a working, maintainable application, not merely a folder that contains a file named msvcr120.dll.
Common msvcr120.dll download error messages
MSVCR120.dll was not found.MSVCR120.dll is missing from your computer.The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCR120.dll was not found.The program can't start because MSVCR120.dll is missing from your computer.
MSVCR120.dll is the C runtime library in the Visual C++ 2013 family. If an error also names MSVCP120.dll, the same official redistributable repair can restore the coordinated runtime set.
msvcr120.dll download compatibility for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
Visual C++ 2013 is an older, out-of-support toolset, but legitimate applications can still depend on its redistributable on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The application publisher remains responsible for product compatibility.
On 64-bit Windows, 32-bit applications still use the x86 runtime package. Installing only vcredist_x64.exe will not repair a missing dependency for a 32-bit executable.
How to confirm the msvcr120.dll download repair worked
Restart the affected application from its normal launcher and repeat the action that previously produced the download error. A successful launch is stronger evidence than finding a file with the expected name. Check that the original missing-file or entry-point message is gone and that no new dependency error has replaced it.
If another DLL download is now requested, return to the owning package rather than downloading files one by one. A sequence of missing components usually means a redistributable, DirectX prerequisite, game depot, or application installation is incomplete. Record each installer used so you can undo changes or provide accurate details to the software publisher's support team.
Do not choose a msvcr120.dll download by name alone
Do not copy MSVCR120.dll into System32, SysWOW64, or an application folder from an unverified DLL site. A loose file may be modified, outdated, the wrong architecture, or inconsistent with the other Visual C++ 2013 runtime components.
Reject any download that hides its publisher, package context, architecture, or update path.
msvcr120.dll download FAQ
What installs MSVCR120.dll?
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable version 12.0.40664.0 installs and services MSVCR120.dll with the related 2013 runtime files.
How do I fix MSVCR120.dll was not found on Windows 11?
Install or repair the official Visual C++ 2013 x86 or x64 redistributable that matches the affected application, restart it, and then verify the application installation if the error remains.
Do I need x86 or x64 for MSVCR120.dll?
Match the application architecture, not only the Windows edition. A 32-bit program needs x86; a 64-bit program needs x64; both packages can coexist on 64-bit Windows.
Is MSVCR120.dll the same as MSVCP120.dll?
No. They are different files from the same Visual C++ 2013 runtime package. Do not rename one to replace the other; repair the official redistributable instead.
Will Visual C++ 2015-2022 install MSVCR120.dll?
No. Visual C++ 2013 is a separate runtime generation and may need its own redistributable even when newer packages are installed.
Where should I put MSVCR120.dll?
Normally you should not choose a folder manually. Let the official redistributable or the affected application's installer place and service the correct files.