Can an individual developer redistribute VC++ Runtime DLLs bundled with Python in a free or commercial Windows application?

Question

Can an individual developer redistribute VC++ Runtime DLLs bundled with Python in a free or commercial Windows application?

Владимир Сарвилин 20

Hello Microsoft Team,

I am an independent mechanical engineer and software developer operating as a Ukrainian sole proprietor (FOP) under the CR20KB brand.

I am preparing a Windows desktop application called (removed by Moderator), which compares technical drawings and document revisions.

I plan to distribute the application free of charge, including for commercial use by end users. In the future, I may also offer paid versions, customization and support.

The application includes an official CPython Windows runtime containing two Microsoft-signed DLL files:

vcruntime140.dll

vcruntime140_1.dll

The files are unmodified and match Microsoft's official redistributable binaries.

Before publishing the installer on GitHub and my website, I would like to clarify the following:

Can an individual developer or Ukrainian sole proprietor legally redistribute these DLL files with a free or commercial application under the Visual Studio Community 2022 license?

Is it permitted to redistribute the original DLL files bundled with CPython, or must they be obtained separately from an official Microsoft redistribution package?

Can the files be included in an offline installer that does not require administrator privileges or an existing Visual Studio installation?

What specific license conditions, notices or documentation must accompany the application?

If Visual Studio Community does not provide sufficient redistribution rights in this situation, what free or otherwise appropriate legal distribution method does Microsoft recommend?

I am seeking clarification before distributing the software and would appreciate references to the applicable Microsoft license terms.

If this question requires confirmation from Microsoft's licensing department rather than community technical support, please direct me to the appropriate official channel.

Thank you for your assistance.

CR20KB
(Link + duplicated content removed by Moderator)

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Zoama Fatima 5 Reputation points

2026-10-31T08:26:27.35+00:00

Hi @Владимир Сарвилин You should check Microsoft's official Visual C++ Redistributable license terms before distributing these DLLs with your application.

The safest approach is to use the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package rather than copying DLLs directly from another software installation.

Also, check whether your intended distribution method is covered by Microsoft's redistribution terms. These terms may differ depending on how the runtime files are obtained and distributed.

For confirmation about commercial redistribution rights, it's best to contact Microsoft Licensing Support directly.

Answer accepted by question author

0 additional answers

Zoama Fatima 5 Reputation points

2026-10-31T08:26:27.35+00:00

Hi @Владимир Сарвилин You should check Microsoft's official Visual C++ Redistributable license terms before distributing these DLLs with your application.

The safest approach is to use the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package rather than copying DLLs directly from another software installation.

Also, check whether your intended distribution method is covered by Microsoft's redistribution terms. These terms may differ depending on how the runtime files are obtained and distributed.

For confirmation about commercial redistribution rights, it's best to contact Microsoft Licensing Support directly.

Answer 1

Hello @Владимир Сарвилин and I appreciate you reaching out with these concerns.

These are indeed questions that community technical support does not have the authority to provide official confirmation on. The appropriate official channel is Microsoft Visual Studio Support, where you can select the relevant licensing support option.

Having said that, I can provide the following information from the published documentation which may be useful:

Can an individual developer or Ukrainian sole proprietor legally redistribute these DLL files with a free or commercial application under the Visual Studio Community 2022 license?

As specified in Visual Studio Community 2022 license terms, redistribution is permitted for code included in the applicable Distributable List, subject to the conditions stated in the license. The Visual Studio 2022 Distributable Code Files list is available here.

Please note that I do not have the authority to interpret these license terms or determine whether your particular distribution satisfies them.

Is it permitted to redistribute the original DLL files bundled with CPython, or must they be obtained separately from an official Microsoft redistribution package?

The published Microsoft documentation I could find does not clearly establish whether redistribution rights under the Visual Studio Community license apply to copies of the runtime DLLs obtained indirectly through CPython.

Even if those files are unmodified and identical to Microsoft’s official binaries, the documentation does not clearly establish whether your redistribution rights also apply to copies obtained indirectly through CPython. For a definitive answer, you would need to confirm this with Microsoft Visual Studio licensing support.

Otherwise, you could consider obtaining or deploying the runtime using an official Microsoft redistribution method.

Can the files be included in an offline installer that does not require administrator privileges or an existing Visual Studio installation?

The published license terms do not appear to require the end user to have Visual Studio installed or to have Internet access. Whether the proposed installer technically works without administrator privileges is then a separate deployment question.

What specific license conditions, notices or documentation must accompany the application?

You should review the applicable Visual Studio Community 2022 license terms together with the Visual Studio 2022 Distributable Code Files list and ensure that your distribution satisfies the stated requirements for Distributable Code.

Because the exact requirements may depend on your distribution and licensing circumstances, community technical support cannot determine which notices, terms, or documentation are legally sufficient for your particular application.

If Visual Studio Community does not provide sufficient redistribution rights in this situation, what free or otherwise appropriate legal distribution method does Microsoft recommend?

If the applicable Visual Studio Community license terms do not provide sufficient redistribution rights for your particular distribution, I am not aware of published Microsoft documentation that identifies a specific alternative licensing method for this scenario.

Microsoft Visual Studio licensing support would therefore be the appropriate channel to confirm what licensing or distribution option, if any, Microsoft recommends for your particular situation.

Hopefully, this provides you with the appropriate information and channels for support. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further concerns. Other than that, if you found my response helpful or informative, I would greatly appreciate it if you could follow this guide for your confirmation. Thank you.

Nguyen Dam (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 1,170 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-11-03T01:44:34.7633333+00:00

Hi @Владимир Сарвилин ,

I am following up here with the clarification provided in our private exchange so that the relevant information is also available in the public thread.

The sections relevant to this question are Section 1(a), Individual License, Section 4(a)(i), Distributable List, and the distribution requirements and restrictions in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) of the Visual Studio Community 2022 license terms. The applicable Distributable List is the Visual Studio 2022 Distributable Code Files list, particularly its Visual C++ Runtime Files section.

Obtaining vcruntime140.dll and vcruntime140_1.dll directly from the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable or Visual Studio Redist files, and including those copies unmodified with the application, would be the appropriate documented redistribution approach. This also avoids the uncertainty concerning copies obtained indirectly through CPython.

Based on our exchange, I understand that this resolves your licensing question. Please let me know if anything remains unclear.

Otherwise, you may consider following the guide to indicate that the answer resolved the issue, so that others with the same question may benefit as well. Thank you.