The Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x86) version 12.0.40664 is a vital system component that allows 32-bit applications built with Visual Studio 2013 to run on your PC. 🛠️ Purpose Provides essential C++ runtime libraries. Enables software to execute pre-compiled code. Fixes "MSVCP120.dll is missing" errors. Ensures stability for older games and apps. 📥 When to Install Often required by legacy installers. Error Messages: Use this to fix DLL entry point errors. System Refreshes: Essential after a clean Windows install. ⚠️ Pro-Tips
File version 12.0.40664.0 corresponds to a released in July 2016 (as part of Microsoft security bulletin MS16-100). It is not the original release (12.0.21005) nor the initial "Update 1" but rather a cumulative servicing update.
A: No. The redistributable registers side-by-side assemblies (WinSxS). Manual DLL placement breaks Windows’ internal versioning and can cause DLL hell.
If you attempt to run a program or game built with Visual C++ 2013 on a machine that lacks this specific package, Windows will throw error messages. Typical Error Messages Include: