Running into a "The code execution cannot proceed because DLL was not found" pop-up when launching a PC game is one of the most common issues on Windows 10 and Windows 11. These errors typically occur when a game relies on specific graphics, audio, or input libraries that are outdated, corrupted, or completely missing from your operating system.
One of the safest and most effective ways to solve this problem—without risking malware from third-party DLL download portals—is by installing the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer directly from Microsoft's official servers.
Why Missing DLL Errors Happen
Many modern and legacy games (such as GTA V, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077) require specific DirectX runtime libraries to manage graphics acceleration, 3D rendering, and controller inputs.
When your system lacks these components, you will usually see errors citing files such as:
d3dx9_43.dll(or otherd3dx9_xx.dllvariants)xinput1_3.dlld3dx10.dll/d3dx11.dllx3daudio1_7.dll
The official DirectX package scans your system and automatically installs any missing legacy or updated runtime files required by these games.
Step-by-Step: How to Install DirectX End-User Runtime
Follow these steps to safely download and install the required DLL files on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC:
Step 1: Open Your Browser and Search for the Official Tool
Launch any web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, etc.).
Go to Google.com.
In the search bar, type:
DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer MicrosoftLook for the search result directly hosted on microsoft.com (usually titled Download DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer). Alternatively, navigate straight to the official Microsoft Download Center.
Step 2: Download the Setup File
Once the official Microsoft download page opens, confirm the details under Quick Details.
Select your preferred Language (e.g., English) from the drop-down menu.
Click the red Download button.
A small setup file named
dxwebsetup.exewill begin downloading to your computer.
Step 3: Run the Installer
Open your Downloads folder and double-click
dxwebsetup.exe.When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears asking for administrative permissions, click Yes.
Select "I accept the agreement" and click Next.
Important Tip: Uncheck the option to install the Bing Bar (or any other optional bundled tools) if prompted, then click Next.
The installer will analyze your system, detect which DirectX components and DLL files are missing, and automatically download and register them.
Step 4: Restart Your PC
Once the installation wizard displays "Installation Complete," click Finish.
Close all active windows, click the Start Menu, and select Restart.
After your PC reboots, launch the game that was giving you the missing DLL error.
Final Words
Reinstalling the runtime files through official Microsoft installers ensures your system files remain authentic and secure. If your game still throws errors like vcruntime140.dll or msvcp140.dll after updating DirectX, your next step should be installing the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (All-in-One) package, as those files belong to the Visual Studio runtime rather than DirectX.
