mfc140u.dll Was Not Found after Installing or running EmbroideryStudio

REASON: This error usually occurs when a required Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package is missing or improperly installed. 

Solution: Install the Required Visual C++ Redistributable

What This Error Means

When Windows can’t find mfc140u.dll, EmbroideryStudio can’t start. That file is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, a shared Windows runtime that many applications rely on, including  EmbroideryStudio.

This isn’t a EmbroideryStudio bug. It means a system component that EmbroideryStudio requires is missing, corrupted, or has been changed after installation.

Why Does It Happen Even If EmbroideryStudio Was Working Before?

Here are the real-world triggers that break the runtime:

1. Windows Updates Modified or Removed the Runtime

Windows updates sometimes:

• Replace older runtimes with newer ones

• Remove unused redistributables

• Patch files and corrupt them in the process

That can unintentionally remove or break mfc140u.dll.

You install EmbroideryStudio, it works. Then Windows updates later remove the shared library it depends on.

2. Another Program’s Uninstaller Removed Shared Components

The Visual C++ Redistributables are shared by many apps.

Uninstalling software or using cleanup utilities can:

• Remove the redistributable if the other program “owned” it

• Delete shared DLLs it thinks are unused

That leaves EmbroideryStudio without a required file.

3. Antivirus or Security Tools Quarantined the DLL

Some security tools falsely flag system DLLs as suspicious.

If mfc140u.dll gets quarantined:

• Windows thinks the file is gone

• EmbroideryStudio can’t load it

• You see this exact error

Check your antivirus logs if this happened shortly before the error appeared.

4. System File Corruption

Hard shutdowns, power loss, disk errors, or Windows component corruption can break shared runtimes.
Even if Hatch was working yesterday, a system issue today can break it.

Solution: Install the Required Visual C++ Redistributable

Step 1 – Repair the Existing Redistributable (Recommended First)

Before reinstalling, try repairing it:

1. Open Settings

2. Go to Apps

3. Select Installed Apps (or Apps & Features on older Windows)

4. Find Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributables

5. Select it and click Modify

6. Choose Repair

7. Let the repair complete

8. Restart your computer

After restarting, launch EmbroideryStudio again.

If it works — no further action is needed.

Step 2 – Reinstall the Redistributable (If Repair Does Not Fix It)

If repairing does not resolve the issue, install the latest version

1. Go to the official Microsoft download page:
   Microsoft Visual C++

2. Download:

   • Latest supported v14 (for Visual Studio 2017–2026) - X64

3. Run the installer

4. Accept the terms and complete installation

5. Restart your computer

Why This Works

The file mfc140u.dll is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime.
Repairing restores corrupted files.
Reinstalling replaces missing or damaged components.

This is not an EmbroideryStudio defect — it is a Windows runtime dependency issue.