The Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00 package is a critical framework component for Windows 10 and 11, containing the C++ Runtime libraries (DLLs like vcruntime140.dll) required by Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps and desktop apps packaged with Desktop Bridge. When this package is missing or corrupted, users often encounter errors stating that a "framework could not be found" or a "bad image" error when trying to launch apps like Windows Terminal or Microsoft Store games. Where to Download the Package
While these packages are typically updated automatically via the Microsoft Store, you may need a manual download for Windows Sandbox or offline installations. C++ Runtime framework packages for Desktop Bridge
The Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00 package is a critical C++ Runtime framework required by many Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, including the Microsoft Store, Photos, and Snip & Sketch. It allows developers to use the Visual C++ libraries without bundling them into every individual application. Download and Official Sources
While these packages are typically updated automatically via the Microsoft Store, you may need a manual download for offline environments, Windows Sandbox, or troubleshooting.
Microsoft Download Center: The official Microsoft Visual C++ UWP Desktop Runtime Package is the primary source for manual installation.
Direct Download Links: You can download specific architecture versions directly from Microsoft's servers: Intel x64: Download x64 Appx Intel x86: Download x86 Appx ARM64: Download ARM64 Appx Installation Guide
Manual installation is generally performed via PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Open PowerShell: Right-click the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). Microsoft.vclibs.140.00 Package Download
Run Installation Command: Use the Add-AppxPackage command followed by the local path or the direct URL of the package:Add-AppxPackage 'https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx'
Verify Installation: Check if the package is correctly registered on your system:Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00 -AllUsers Common Use Cases and Troubleshooting Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop version mismatch
To download and install the Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00 package (also known as the C++ Runtime framework for the Universal Windows Platform), you can use the official Microsoft download center or PowerShell for manual installation. 1. Direct Download Links
Microsoft provides direct .appx package links for manual installation. Choose the link that matches your system architecture:
Intel/AMD 64-bit (x64): https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx
Intel/AMD 32-bit (x86): https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x86.14.00.Desktop.appx
ARM 64-bit: https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.arm64.14.00.Desktop.appx The Microsoft
ARM 32-bit: https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.arm.14.00.Desktop.appx 2. Manual Installation via PowerShell
If the direct download does not automatically trigger an installer, use PowerShell to install the package: Open PowerShell as an Administrator.
Run the following command (replacing the URL with the one corresponding to your architecture from the list above):Add-AppxPackage -Path "https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx"
To verify the installation, run:Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop" 3. Official Download Center
You can also visit the Microsoft Download Center for the full Visual C++ UWP Desktop Runtime Package. This is often used when a standard app installer fails due to missing dependencies: Microsoft Visual C++ UWP Desktop Runtime Package 4. For Developers (Visual Studio)
If you are a developer, these packages are included with Visual Studio:
Location: %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Kits\10\ExtensionSDKs\Microsoft.VCLibs.Desktop\14.0 Open PowerShell as Administrator
Requirements: You must have the "Universal Windows Platform development" workload installed with the "C++ (v14x) Universal Windows Tools" component. C++ Runtime framework packages for Desktop Bridge
.appx Package (Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00):Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.appx.Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.appx
.appx file and click Install (Windows 10/11 will prompt with the App Installer).End users typically search for this package for the following reasons:
msvcp140.dll or vcruntime140.dll.We will cover three methods: the standard redistributable (easiest), the .appx package (for sideloading), and manual installation for offline systems.
Get-AppxPackage in PowerShell.When this package is installed, it places specific Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files into the Windows system folders. The most critical files include:
msvcp140.dll: The C++ Standard Library.vcruntime140.dll: The C Runtime Library.vcruntime140_1.dll: An extension introduced in later updates for additional processor instructions.If the download fails or the error persists, follow this workflow:
If you have encountered an error message stating that Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00 is missing, or if an application refuses to launch, you are likely dealing with a missing Visual C++ runtime dependency. This guide explains what this package is, why it is required, and how to obtain and install it correctly.