I am receiving a missing mfc140u.dll message on a program

Candice Cox Blann 25 Reputation points
2026-01-27T02:32:39.46+00:00

I have recently been unable to open a program, having had and used recently as of last week and now it won't open I get this error.

Looking at my applications I have the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, when I tried to reinstall from the Microsoft page, says it exist (yes I see it on app log). Do I need to uninstall this app or my Bernina Software app (had for 9 years and not encountered this problem until now). I have both the 64 & 86 versions 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, and just downloaded 2015-2022 but gets stalled.

Do I have to many versions and need to uninstall some of the versions?? What about today's download of 2015-2022?

Thank you

Windows for home | Other | Apps
Answer accepted by question author
Sin-D 12,245 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-01-27T07:19:09.03+00:00

Hi Candice Cox Blann,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. It seems Q&A Assist help you sorted out of your issue. Additionally, to clarify, Microsoft has consolidated the Visual C++ runtime for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 into a single, continuously updated package called “Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable.” This means the original standalone Visual Studio 2015 redistributable is no longer maintained separately, even though applications built with Visual Studio 2015 are still fully supported.

According to Microsoft documentation, the 2015–2022 redistributable uses the same v14 runtime and includes the required Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) libraries, such as mfc140u.dll. Installing the newer package replaces and services the older 2015 runtime while continuing to support applications compiled with Visual Studio 2015.

Microsoft also confirms that having multiple Visual C++ Redistributable versions installed at the same time is expected and supported, because applications built with different Visual Studio versions depend on different runtime libraries. Older redistributables such as 2008, 2012, or 2013 are not replaced by the 2015–2022 package and should remain installed unless an application vendor explicitly advises otherwise.

For more information, please refer to:

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-01-27T02:32:48.6566667+00:00

    The error message indicating that the mfc140u.dll is missing suggests that your application is dependent on the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) library, specifically the version associated with Visual Studio 2015. To resolve this issue, you need to ensure that the correct version of the MFC DLL is available on your system.

    Since you have already installed the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, it should include the necessary DLLs. However, if you're still encountering the error, consider the following steps:

    1. Reinstall the Redistributable: Uninstall the existing Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 and then reinstall it. This can help if the installation was corrupted.
    2. Check for Multiple Versions: Having multiple versions of the Visual C++ Redistributable installed is generally fine, as different applications may depend on different versions. However, if you suspect a conflict, you could try uninstalling older versions (like 2008, 2010, etc.) and keeping only the necessary ones.
    3. Ensure Compatibility: Make sure that your application is compatible with the version of the Redistributable you have installed. If it was built with a specific version of Visual Studio, it may require that version's Redistributable.
    4. Install the Universal CRT: If your application was built with Visual Studio 2015, it may also require the Universal C Runtime (UCRT). Ensure that this is installed as well.
    5. Check Application Dependencies: Use a dependency checker tool to identify any missing DLLs that your application may require.

    If the issue persists after trying these steps, you may want to consult the support resources for the specific application you're trying to run, as there may be additional dependencies or compatibility issues to consider.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.