GTA 5 vcruntime140.dll Was Not Found Why Error Keeps Appear

If you’ve ever tried launch game a GTA 5 then suddenly you get error massage “vcruntime140.dll was not found”, you’re definitely not the only one get this problem. What makes this annoy me is isn’t just the error message, but the fact that it often appears even after Visual C++ Redistributable is already installed.

I’ve seen this on fresh Windows setups, low-end laptops, and even on PCs where other games run without any issues. So if you’re wondering why GTA 5 keeps triggering this error specifically, the answer is a bit more involved than just a “missing DLL.”

Let’s go through what’s happening — not quick hacks, no risky downloads either,  just the real cause behind it.

What vcruntime140.dll Actually Is (Plain and Simple)

vcruntime140.dll is part of Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime. A lot modern programs rely on it, so GTA 5 isn’t doing anything unusual here. Plenty apps need the same thing.

The difference is that games are much less forgiving than regular desktop software. If the runtime setup isn’t exactly right, they tend to fail immediately.

An easy way to picture it:

• Windows is the road

• Visual C++ is the fuel

• GTA 5 is a heavy truck

If the road isn’t stable or the fuel doesn’t match the engine, the truck doesn’t move. It doesn’t stall politely — it just refuses to start.

That’s why when even one part of this chain is slightly off, GTA 5 won’t launch at all.

Why..! GTA 5 Triggers This Error More Than Other Game

This error massage doesn’t usually mean the file truly missing. In most cases, it means GTA 5 can’t use the version that’s you installed.

This is why that happens so thick.

1. GTA 5 rely on Older + Newer Runtimes at the Same Time

GTA 5 was originally released years ago, but it keeps getting updates through:

• Rockstar Launcher
• Steam
• Epic Games Launcher

That creates a weird situation, the game engine expects older VC++ behavior but launcher expects newer runtime behavior

When Windows only has one side of that equation, obviously, the runtime call fails.

That’s when vcruntime140.dll gets blamed.

2. Game Launchers Don’t Always Install Runtimes Correctly

In theory, GTA 5 should install everything it needs automatically.

But In reality:

• Launcher runtime installers sometimes fail silently

• Defender or Antivirus blocks them

• The installer skips instalation because “a newer version already exists”

So, the result is?
Windows thinks everything is fine but GTA 5 strongly disagrees about that.

3. Low-End PCs Expose Runtime Issues Faster

On lower-end systems — especially ones with 4GB RAM, integrated graphics, or older CPUs — Windows is already working near the limits.

When GTA 5 starts loading assets, there isn’t much room for error. If the runtime stumbles even a little, it shows up right away.

Instead of a clear warning or a helpful message, the game simply stops loading and throws DLL error message. No buildup either explanation — it just quits.

Why Downloading vcruntime140.dll Manually Is a Bad Idea

You’ll see this advice everywhere expecially on forum:

many recommended “Just download the DLL file and paste it into System32”

But what you have to know, this is one of the fastest ways to make things worse.

Why?

• DLL versions must match the runtime package

• A random DLL may be incompatible

• It can break other apps that rely on the same runtime

In the best case, GTA still won’t launch.
In the worst case, you introduce system-wide instability.

The Fix That Actually Works (Step by Step)

This isn’t about “install Visual C++” — you’ve probably already tried that.

What matters is how you install it.

Step 1: Remove Broken or Partial Runtime Installations

Open:
Settings → Apps → Installed apps

Look for:

• Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable

  • both x64 and x86

Uninstall all of them.

Don’t worry — this won’t break Windows permanently. We’re resetting a bad state.

Then Reboot after uninstalling.

Step 2: Install BOTH Versions (x64 and x86)

This part is critical and often skipped.

Download and install:

• Visual C++ 2015–2022 x64

• Visual C++ 2015–2022 x86

Even on a 64-bit system, GTA 5 still calls 32-bit components in some situations.

"Try dont skip one, maybe the error comes back more often."

after that Reboot again.

Step 3: Run GTA 5’s Built-in Redistributables

Go to your GTA 5 installation folder, then look folder named something like:

• Redistributables

• _CommonRedist

on inside, you’ll will find:

• VC++ installers

• DirectX setup

Run them manually — even if Windows says you already have them, replace it

This ensures version alignment with the game, not just Windows.

If the Error Still Appears

At this point, the problem usually not the DLL, so here the real causes I’ve seen.

Game Files is Corrupted this is usual happen

Game updates did not apply cleanly, then check it:

Verify game files:

Steam → Properties → Verify integrity

Epic → Verify

Rockstar → Verify

This usually fixes runtime calls that point to wrong DLL location.

Windows System Files Are Already Unstable

If you’ve seen errors like:

• kernel32.dll not found

• ntdll.dll not found

• random app crashes

Then GTA 5 is just the messenger, not the really cause.

In those cases, fixing runtime won’t be enough.

Background Apps Interfering With Game Startup

Sometimes , problem isn’t  game or runtime, but what’s already running in background.

Things like:

• screen recording tools

• FPS overlays

• old or buggy GPU utilities

if this run it can interfere when GTA 5 is trying to start and load runtime.

If you gettroubleshoot, try turn off temporarily then launch the game again. It’s quick test and some cases, it makes the difference.

How to Tell If This Is a System Issue (Not Just GTA)

Then Ask and check it yourself, Do other games show similar issues?

Do apps close silently sometimes?

Does rebooting temporarily “fix” things?

If yes, your system likely has memory or driver instability, not just a missing DLL.

That’s when articles about kernel32.dll or silent crashes start becoming relevant.

What NOT to Do (Seriously)

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Downloading DLL files from random sites

• Using “DLL fixer” software repair

• Reinstalling Windows immediately

• Ignoring repeated crash patterns

These might hide the error briefly, but they don’t solve the root cause.

Why This Error Keeps Coming Back for Some Users

The reason many people see this error again next later is simple:

The Visual C++ runtime issues was never fully resolved — it was just masked.

A Windows update, launcher update, or driver change re-triggers the same fragile setup.

Fixing it properly once is better than chasing it every month.

Final Thoughts

When  GTA 5  Game shows “vcruntime140.dll was not found”, it’s rarely about single missing file.

It’s usually sign of:

• mismatched runtimes

• incomplete redistributable installs

• or deeper system instability

Treat it as a compatibility problem, not a download problem.

Once the runtime environment is clean and aligned, GTA 5 runs just fine — even on modest hardware.

FAQ

Q: Simple, I can copy vcruntime140.dll from another PC?
No. DLL versions must match the installed runtime package. Copying files usually causes more issues.

Q: I already installed Visual C++. Why does GTA still fail?
Because the wrong version, architecture, or a partial install is often the real problem.

Q: Does this only happen on low-end PCs?
No, but low-end systems expose runtime problems faster because they operate closer to system limits.

Q: Is reinstalling Windows necessary?
Almost never. Only consider it if multiple apps crash and system files are already unstable.