But what happens when that installer fails? Or when a brand new game crashes with a "Missing VCRUNTIME140.dll" error?
Before downloading, check your "Apps & Features" list. If you see "Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable," you are already up to date and likely don't need to change anything. microsoft visual c++ 2015-2019 redistributable download
Without the correct version installed, your software will simply refuse to launch. Historically, Microsoft released a separate Redistributable for every major Visual Studio release (2010, 2012, 2013, etc.). This led to a cluttered "Add/Remove Programs" list. But what happens when that installer fails