The Complete Guide to Fixing "VCRUNTIME140_1.dll was not found" Error in League of Legends

As a long-time League of Legends player and streaming enthusiast, I know how frustrating it is to be stopped dead in your tracks by the "VCRUNTIME140_1.dll was not found" error. One minute you‘re getting pumped to play your favorite champion, and the next you‘re left staring at a cryptic error message. But have no fear – in this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to fix this pesky DLL issue and get you back in the game in no time.

What Causes the "VCRUNTIME140_1.dll was not found" Error?

Let‘s start by understanding what causes this error. VCRUNTIME140_1.dll is a Microsoft Visual C++ runtime library file that League of Legends relies on for certain functionality. The most common reasons you might see an error related to it include:

Your system is missing the VCRUNTIME140_1.dll file entirely
The file has become corrupted or damaged
The Visual C++ redistributable packages on your system are outdated or broken
Other key system files or drivers related to DirectX, Windows, graphics cards etc. are damaged or incompatible

Essentially, the error means League can‘t find or properly utilize VCRUNTIME140_1.dll which prevents the game from launching correctly.

The error often crops up after major game patches or updates. Riot Games releases new champion updates, balance changes, and content patches every few weeks. Often these updates require new Visual C++ runtime files that your system doesn‘t have yet. Outdated drivers and system incompatibilities can also surface after patches.

Now that you understand why it happens, let‘s get into the solutions so you can get back in the game ASAP.

Downloading the Missing DLL File

The most direct way to fix the error is to manually download the missing VCRUNTIME140_1.dll file yourself. Here are step-by-step instructions:

Visit https://www.dll-files.com/vcruntime140_1.dll.html and download the ZIP file containing the DLL file. This is a safe and legitimate download directly from the Microsoft website.
Right click the ZIP file and extract or unzip the contents. This will give you the actual VCRUNTIME140_1.dll file.
Open up File Explorer on your computer. You want to navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Copy the extracted VCRUNTIME140_1.dll file from step 2 and paste it directly into the System32 folder. Agree to replace the existing file if prompted.
Repeat the process for the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder – copy and paste the DLL file here too.

That‘s it! Adding the missing DLL file directly into your system directories should resolve the error right away. Re-launch League of Legends and see if it‘s fixed.

Installing the Visual C++ Redistributables

If manually adding the DLL didn‘t work, the next likely culprit is outdated or corrupted Visual C++ packages on your system.

Visual C++ Redistributables contain runtime components like DLLs that apps rely on. Even if the VCRUNTIME140_1.dll file itself is present, it might be an older version that‘s incompatible with the updated League of Legends client.

Here‘s how to update the Visual C++ packages:

Download the latest x64 Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft‘s website here.
Run the installer once it finishes downloading. Agree to any prompts about repairing or updating your existing Visual C++ programs.
Restart your computer after the install finishes. This ensures the changes are properly applied.
Launch League of Legends again to see if the error has been resolved.

The Visual C++ Redistributable contains the most up-to-date DLLs and libraries required by many applications, including League. Installing the latest version squashes compatibility issues that could be preventing League from launching properly.

Updating DirectX, Graphics Drivers, and Other Software

If you still see the error after the above steps, a few other software updates may be in order:

Update DirectX: DirectX consists of system files and API libraries that help apps like games run properly. An outdated version can sometimes trigger the VCRUNTIME140_1 error. Visit Microsoft‘s website to download and install the latest official version of DirectX.
Update Graphics Drivers: Your NVIDIA or AMD graphics card drivers also need to be totally up-to-date for maximum compatibility with League. Use the GeForce Experience or Radeon Software utilities to check for driver updates and install them.
Update Windows: Running the latest version of Windows helps minimize system conflicts. Use Windows Update to install any available operating system updates.
Update Other Apps: Check for updates on other software applications you have installed as well, like your antivirus program, webcam utilities, VPN clients etc. These types of programs can sometimes impact game compatibility. Maintaining the latest versions prevents conflicts.

By taking the time to update all of your software to the latest available versions, you maximize compatibility and minimize the chances of obscure conflicts that could cause the VCRUNTIME140_1.dll error.

Clean Booting Your PC

If you‘ve tried everything above and are still seeing the error, performing a Clean Boot is a great troubleshooting step. A Clean Boot loads Windows with only the bare minimum processes and services active, disables startup programs, and stops background processes and non-Microsoft services.

This isolates League of Legends and rules out conflicts being caused by other programs. Here are the steps:

Type "msconfig" into the Windows search bar and open the System Configuration utility.
Go to the "Services" tab. Check the box that says "Hide all Microsoft services" then click "Disable all".
Go to the "Startup" tab. Click Open Task Manager then disable any startup programs here.
Restart your PC. It will now be in a Clean Boot state. Try launching League of Legends again.

If the game now starts up, you can confirm another program was causing the conflict. You can then selectively re-enable groups of services and startup programs until you isolate the problematic software.

Repairing/Reinstalling League of Legends

If you still can‘t get League to launch properly, repairing or reinstalling the game itself may be worthwhile:

In the League of Legends launcher, click the "Repair" button and allow the process to run. This will fix any corrupt game files.
As a last resort, uninstall League entirely using the Windows "Apps & Features" settings page, then re-download a fresh copy from the League of Legends website and install. This gives you a completely clean slate.

Hopefully after trying the above solutions, your VCRUNTIME140_1.dll issue is resolved and you‘re back in the game. But if not, don‘t hesitate to reach out to Riot Games support. Their technicians have additional tools and troubleshooting tips for resolving stubborn errors like this.

Preventing Future VCRUNTIME Errors

Now that you‘re back up and running, let‘s talk about avoiding similar issues in the future:

Keep League of Legends Updated: Use the client‘s built-in updater to install new patches as soon as they become available. This minimizes version mismatches with runtime libraries.
Don‘t Delay Windows/Driver Updates: Stay vigilant and proactively update Windows, graphics drivers, DirectX, etc as new versions release. Keeping things updated prevents compatibility issues.
Scan for Malware Regularly: Use Windows Security or antivirus software like Malwarebytes to scan for malware. Viruses and spyware can sometimes corrupt crucial system files like DLLs and cause errors.
Clean Out Registry on Occasion: Over time, the Windows registry accumulates obsolete data and keys that can slow down performance and cause glitches. Periodically cleaning it with the built-in registry cleaner or a utility like CCleaner helps optimize system stability.

Following these best practices will help keep your system in top shape and minimize runtime conflicts or glitches when playing League of Legends.

In Conclusion

Debugging obscure errors like VCRUNTIME140_1.dll can be a headache, but resolving it ultimately comes down to a few key steps:

Downloading the missing DLL file directly and adding it to the proper directories
Ensuring Visual C++ Redistributables are fully updated
Updating graphics drivers, DirectX, Windows, and other system software
Clean Booting to isolate conflicts with other programs
Repairing or reinstalling League as a last resort

Staying vigilant with updates, virus scans, and registry cleaning helps avoid similar issues in the future. Hopefully this guide gave you everything you need to quickly fix the error and get back to carrying games as your favorite League of Legends champions. No more time wasted staring sadly at your desktop wondering why League won‘t launch – now you‘ve got the solutions. Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for resolving this pesky issue!