Resolving: "error: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required. Get it with "Microsoft C++ Build Tools"" in AUTOMATIC1111

 

Resolving: "error: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required. Get it with "Microsoft C++ Build Tools"" in AUTOMATIC1111

This error message means your system is missing the necessary Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package required to run AUTOMATIC1111's dependencies. It's a very common issue, especially on Windows. Here's how to fix it:

Understanding the Problem:

AUTOMATIC1111 relies on certain C++ libraries to function correctly. The error message indicates that the required version (14.0 or greater) isn't installed on your system.

Solution: Install Microsoft C++ Build Tools

The easiest way to resolve this is to install the "Microsoft C++ Build Tools." Here's how:

1. Download the Visual Studio Installer:

• Go to this link: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/visual-cpp-build-tools/

• Click the "Download Build Tools" button.

2. Run the Installer:

• Run the downloaded installer file.

3. Select Workloads:

• In the Visual Studio Installer, very important: select the "C++ build tools" workload. You don't need to install the entire Visual Studio IDE; just the build tools are sufficient.

• Make sure the following components are checked within the "C++ build tools" workload:

  • MSVC v142 - VS 2019 C++ x64/x86 build tools (latest) (or a newer version if available)

  • Windows 10 SDK (latest) (or a newer version if available)

4. Install:

• Click the "Install" button. The installation process may take some time.

5. Restart Your Computer:

• After the installation is complete, restart your computer. This is crucial to ensure that the changes are applied correctly.

6. Try Running AUTOMATIC1111 Again:

• Launch AUTOMATIC1111. The error should now be resolved.

Alternative Solution (If the above doesn't work): Install the Visual C++ Redistributable Directly

Sometimes, installing the build tools isn't enough. You might need to install the Visual C++ Redistributable directly:

• Download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft's website: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe (This is the x64 version, which is what most users need)

• Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Restart your computer.

Troubleshooting:

• Installation Errors: If you encounter errors during the installation of the build tools or redistributable, try running the installer as an administrator (right-click the installer file and select "Run as administrator").

• Conflicting Versions: If you have multiple versions of Visual C++ installed, it might cause conflicts. Try uninstalling older versions.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the "Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required" error and get AUTOMATIC1111 running smoothly.