Mfc120u.dll is Missing or Not Found [Solved]

Often, you get the mfc120u.dll missing error upon booting the PC or loading a program, which then fails to open. Affected programs/processes include Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, AccelerometerSt.exe, VSDC Video Editor, Ableton Live 9 Suite, Avira Internet Security, and Adobe Lightroom, amongst others!

For those wondering what is mfc120u.dll, it’s a DLL file published by Microsoft and is related to the Visual C++ library. On a healthy PC, the default storage path of mfc120u.dll is: C:\Windows\System32

When mfc120u.dll is not found or stops working, first install any pending Windows updates, verify that your antivirus is not blocking access to the DLL file, and scan the PC for malware using the built-in Windows Security or a reliable antivirus solution.

What can I do when mfc120u.dll is missing?

Tip

While many websites claim to offer mfc120u.dll, I recommend you don’t download it from the web since the DLL file could be bundled with malware or viruses. The solutions listed below are safer alternatives.

1. Use a DLL repair tool

One of the simplest solutions for the mfc120u.dll missing error in Windows is to use a top-rated DLL repair tool!

These automatically identify any missing or corrupted DLLs and download a fresh copy on your PC within minutes.

2. Transfer mfc120u.dll from another PC

If mfc120u.dll is missing on your computer, copy the DLL file from another PC and then move it to the affected one. As stated earlier, it’s stored in the following location:C:\Windows\System32

So, all you have to do is get an external USB drive > connect it to another computer running the same iteration and OS architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) > transfer mfc120u.dll to the drive > then plug it into the affected PC > move the DLL file to the System32 folder.

Once done, reboot the PC, then launch the affected program, and it should not throw the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\mfc120u.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error message anymore.

3. Install Visual C++ Redistributables (both x64 and x86)

1. Go to Microsoft’s official website, and click on Download.
2. Now, tick the checkboxes for both vcredist_x64.exe and vcredist_x86.exe, and then click on Download.
3. Individually run both downloaded setups and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
4. Finally, reboot the PC and check for improvements.

If you see the mfc120u.dll missing CorelDRAW error, it could be that the version of the DLL required on the PC is not the same as the one present. So, it’s recommended that you get both the x64 and x86 versions!

4. Run the affected program in compatibility mode

1. Right-click on the affected program’s launcher (.exe file), and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab, tick the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for, and select an older iteration of Windows from the dropdown menu.
3. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
4. Launch the affected program.
5. If it still throws an error, select another iteration from the compatibility mode menu, and try again.

5. Reinstall the affected program

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Select the affected program from the list, and click on Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions, and once uninstalled, restart the PC.
4. Now, reinstall the program from the official website or Microsoft Store, and the mfc120u.dll missing error in Windows should be fixed.

If the error message keeps reappearing, use an effective uninstaller software to get rid of all leftover files and Registry entries, and then proceed with the reinstallation!

6. Run the SFC and DISM scans

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Command Prompt in the text field, and click on Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following DISM commands individually and hit Enter after each: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. Now, execute this command to run the SFC scan: sfc /scannow
5. Once done, restart the PC and check for improvements.

7. Perform an in-place upgrade

NOTE

The steps listed below are for Windows 11. If you are running the previous iteration, check our dedicated guide on performing an in-place upgrade in Windows 10.

1. Go to Microsoft’s website, select the OS edition and product language, and then download the Windows 11 ISO.
2. Right-click on the ISO file, select Mount, and then click Open in the confirmation prompt.
3. Run the setup.exe file.
4. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
5. Click on Next to proceed.
6. Now, click Accept to agree to Microsoft’s license terms.
7. Make sure the setup reads, Keep personal files and apps, and then click on Install.
8. Wait for the process to complete. It may take 30-90 minutes.

When nothing else works, the last option is to perform an in-place upgrade. The process is akin to reinstalling Windows and will replace all the system files, including mfc120u.dll, when it’s missing or corrupted.

If other DLL files are also missing on your PC, it’s a sign of malware/virus infection, and the best option is to reinstall Windows from scratch. While running a malware scan will eliminate the threat, you would never know the extent of damage to DLLs. Subsequently, reinstalling Windows becomes a viable solution!

For any queries or to share which fix worked for you, drop a comment below.