Download File

What is vc_red.msi and why do you need it?

If you have ever browsed through your Windows folders, you might have come across a file named vc_red.msi. You might have wondered what it is, why it is there, and whether you can delete it. In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will explain what vc_red.msi is, how to download it, how to install it, and how to fix any errors related to it.

What is vc_red.msi?

Vc_red.msi is a Windows installer package file that contains the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable components. These components are runtime libraries that are required by many applications that are built using Microsoft C and C++ tools. If your app uses these libraries, you need to have the Visual C++ Redistributable package installed on your system before you can run the app.

What is Visual C++ Redistributable?

Visual C++ Redistributable is a software package that installs the Microsoft C and C++ (MSVC) runtime libraries on your system. These libraries provide various functions and features that are used by many applications, such as input/output operations, memory management, math calculations, graphics rendering, and more. The Visual C++ Redistributable package also includes the latest C++ standard language and library standards conformance updates.

Why is vc_red.msi installed on your computer?

Vc_red.msi is installed on your computer as part of the installation process of another software that has a dependency on Visual C++ Redistributable. For example, if you install a game or a program that was built using Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, or 2022, it will also install the Visual C++ Redistributable package for that version of Visual Studio. This way, the game or program can use the MSVC runtime libraries that it needs to run properly.

How to download vc_red.msi?

If you need to download vc_red.msi for some reason, there are two ways to do it: from the Microsoft official website or from other trusted sources.

Download from Microsoft official website

The best and safest way to download vc_red.msi is from the Microsoft official website. You can find the latest supported versions of Visual C++ Redistributable packages for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist. You can choose the architecture (ARM64, x86, or x64) and the language that matches your system and your app’s target architecture. You can also download other languages and versions from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145.

Download from other trusted sources

If you cannot access the Microsoft official website or if you need an older version of Visual C++ Redistributable package, you can try downloading vc_red.msi from other trusted sources. However, you should be careful when downloading files from third-party websites, as they might contain malware or viruses that can harm your system. Some of the websites that offer vc_red.msi downloads are: https://www.exefiles.com/en/msi/vc-red-msi/, https://www.minitool.com/news/vc-red.html, and https://www.file.net/process/vc_red.msi.html. Before downloading vc_red.msi from these websites, make sure to scan the file with a reliable antivirus software and check the file size and version to ensure that it is not corrupted or modified.

How to install vc_red.msi?

Once you have downloaded vc_red.msi, you can install it on your system by following these steps:

Run the installer as administrator

To install vc_red.msi, you need to have administrator privileges on your system. To do this, right-click on the vc_red.msi file and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu. This will launch the Visual C++ Redistributable installer.

Follow the instructions on the screen

The installer will guide you through the installation process. You will need to accept the license agreement, choose the installation location, and wait for the installation to complete. You might need to restart your system after the installation is done.

How to fix vc_red.msi errors?

Sometimes, you might encounter errors related to vc_red.msi, such as “vc_red.msi is missing”, “vc_red.msi not found”, “vc_red.msi failed to load”, or “vc_red.msi corrupted”. These errors can prevent you from running some applications that depend on Visual C++ Redistributable. To fix these errors, you can try the following solutions:

Repair or reinstall Visual C++ Redistributable

One of the possible causes of vc_red.msi errors is that your Visual C++ Redistributable package is damaged or outdated. To fix this, you can try repairing or reinstalling the package. To do this, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features and find the Visual C++ Redistributable package that matches your app’s target architecture and version. Right-click on it and select “Change”. Then, choose “Repair” or “Uninstall” from the options. If you choose “Uninstall”, you will need to download and install the package again from the Microsoft official website or another trusted source.

Scan your system for malware and viruses

Another possible cause of vc_red.msi errors is that your system is infected by malware or viruses that have corrupted or deleted the file. To fix this, you need to scan your system with a reliable antivirus software and remove any threats that are detected. You can also use a system cleaner tool to remove any junk files or registry errors that might affect your system performance.

Update your Windows and drivers

A third possible cause of vc_red.msi errors is that your Windows or drivers are outdated or incompatible with your app or Visual C++ Redistributable package. To fix this, you need to update your Windows and drivers to the latest versions available. You can do this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and checking for updates. You can also use a driver updater tool to automatically update your drivers for your hardware devices.

Conclusion

Vc_red.msi is a Windows installer package file that contains the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable components. These components are runtime libraries that are required by many applications that are built using Microsoft C and C++ tools. You can download vc_red.msi from the Microsoft official website or other trusted sources, and install it by running it as administrator and following the instructions on the screen. If you encounter any errors related to vc_red.msi, you can try repairing or reinstalling Visual C++ Redistributable, scanning your system for malware and viruses, or updating your Windows and drivers.

FAQs

• Can I delete vc_red.msi?
• No, you should not delete vc_red.msi, as it is part of the Visual C++ Redistributable package that is needed by many applications. Deleting it might cause some apps to stop working or crash.
• How many versions of Visual C++ Redistributable do I need?
• You might need different versions of Visual C++ Redistributable depending on the apps that you use. Each version of Visual Studio has its own version of Visual C++ Redistributable, and each architecture (ARM64, x86, or x64) has its own package. You can have multiple versions of Visual C++ Redistributable installed on your system without any conflicts.
• How can I check if I have Visual C++ Redistributable installed?
• You can check if you have Visual C++ Redistributable installed by going to Control Panel > Programs and Features and looking for entries that start with ” Microsoft Visual C++”. You can also use the https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads-2647da03-1eea-4433-9aff-95f26a218cc0 to check the installed versions of Visual C++ Redistributable.
• What is the difference between vc_red.msi and vc_red.cab?
• Vc_red.msi is the Windows installer package file that contains the Visual C++ Redistributable components. Vc_red.cab is a compressed file that contains the files that are extracted and installed by vc_red.msi. You need both files to install Visual C++ Redistributable on your system.
• What is the latest version of Visual C++ Redistributable?
• The latest version of Visual C++ Redistributable as of June 2023 is Visual Studio 2022 version 16.11.4. You can download it from https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/.

bc1a9a207d