Microsoft C++ 2019 Redistributable X64 New! Link

You cannot simply have the "newest" one and delete the rest. Unfortunately, these libraries are not backward compatible. A developer who built a program in 2012 hardcoded it to look for the 2012 library files. If you delete the 2012 redistributable to "clean up" your PC, that specific program will stop working.

If you are a Windows user, you absolutely need these packages. Without them, a vast majority of the software you use daily—including Adobe Creative Cloud applications, AutoCAD, most modern PC games (Steam/Epic Games), and even some Windows system utilities—will not function. microsoft c++ 2019 redistributable x64

If you previously had a beta or preview version, the official redist may fail to install (“Another version is already installed”). A cleanup tool may be required. You cannot simply have the "newest" one and delete the rest

The installer is quick (<1 minute) and includes a repair option. Most users can accept defaults and be done. If you delete the 2012 redistributable to "clean

On 64-bit systems, the x64 redist loads only 64-bit libraries, avoiding the file system redirection overhead of the x86 version.

The is the package that installs those library files on the user's computer. Specifically, the 2019 version contains the libraries associated with Visual Studio 2019 , a popular development environment.