In this article, we will explain what is the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package, why you need it, and how to download and install it for different versions of Visual C++.
What is the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package?
The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package is a set of files that are installed on your system when you install an application that is built with Visual C++. These files include the Microsoft C and C++ (MSVC) runtime libraries, which provide support for various features and functions of the programming language and the development environment. For example, the MSVC runtime libraries enable your application to use dynamic memory allocation, exception handling, file input/output, and other standard C and C++ features.
The redistributable package also includes other components that are required by some applications, such as the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) library, which provides a framework for creating graphical user interfaces, and the Active Template Library (ATL), which provides support for creating COM objects.
Why do you need the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package?
You need the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package if you want to run an application that is built with Visual C++. Without the redistributable package, your application may not work properly or may not run at all. This is because the application depends on the MSVC runtime libraries and other components that are included in the redistributable package.
The redistributable package is not installed by default on Windows. You have to install it separately when you install an application that requires it. The application installer may include the redistributable package or may prompt you to download it from the Microsoft website. Alternatively, you can download and install the redistributable package yourself from the links provided in this article.
How to download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package?
The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package comes in different versions for different versions of Visual C++. You have to install the version that matches the version of Visual C++ that was used to build your application. You also have to install the version that matches the architecture of your system, whether it is 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64).
The following table lists the latest supported English (en-US) Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages for Visual C++ 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022. To download and install the redistributable package, click on the link for your system architecture. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation process.
Version Architecture Link ----------------------------- 2022 ARM64 [4] 2022 x86 [5] 2022 x64 [6] 2019 ARM64 [4] 2019 x86 [5] 2019 x64 [6] 2017 ARM64 [4] 2017 x86 [5] 2017 x64 [6] 2015 x86 [5] 2015 x64 [6] 2013 x86 [12](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784) 2013 x64 [13](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784) 2012 x86 [14](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679) 2012 x64 [15](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679) 2010 x86 [16](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555) 2010 x64 [17](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14632) 2008 x86 [18](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29) 2008 x64 [19](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15336) 2005 x86 [20](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3387) 2005 x64 [21](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21254) Note that the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 are compatible with each other. You only need to install the latest version for your system architecture. The Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008, and 2005 are not compatible with each other. You may need to install multiple versions if your applications require different versions of Visual C++.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package is a set of files that are required by applications that are built with Visual C++. You need to install the redistributable package on your system to run these applications. The redistributable package comes in different versions for different versions of Visual C++ and different system architectures. You have to install the version that matches your application and your system. You can download and install the redistributable package from the links provided in this article.
We hope this article has helped you understand what is the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package, why you need it, and how to download and install it. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.
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