Most modern computers (less than 10 years old) require the x64 version. Run the installer: Open the downloaded .exe file.
Microsoft has consolidated the runtimes for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, and 2019 into a single package. This means one installer covers applications built with any of those three versions. If you have older software built with Visual C++ 2008, 2010, or 2013, you will still need those separate installers, but for modern Windows 10 and Windows 11 applications and games, the 2015-2019 (and now extended to 2022) package is the gold standard. Most modern computers (less than 10 years old)
: This is a generic error often caused by existing corrupted files. You may need to uninstall existing Visual C++ versions from your Apps & Features menu and then perform a clean reinstall. This means one installer covers applications built with
If you encounter any of these errors while trying to launch a game (like Fortnite or Fallout) or software (like Adobe Premiere or OBS Studio), downloading the x64 Redistributable is usually the fix. You may need to uninstall existing Visual C++
This guide shows how to safely download, install, and verify the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2019 Redistributable (x64) on Windows.
Absolutely. The 2022 redistributable is fully backward compatible with applications compiled for 2015, 2017, and 2019. Microsoft maintains binary compatibility across these versions. Always install the newest available.