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If a VirtualBox installer says the Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable must be installed first, use Microsoft’s official Visual C++ Redistributable guidance to choose a compatible runtime for your Windows host. Do not assume that every VirtualBox release requires a separately installed package carrying the exact “2019” label: Oracle’s VirtualBox 7.2 manual lists Windows Installer as a Windows-host prerequisite but does not list Visual C++ 2019 in that section.
Why does VirtualBox ask for the Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable?
There are two different claims to distinguish: Oracle’s published prerequisite list and the message a particular installer may display. In the Windows-host installation section of the VirtualBox 7.2.2 User Guide, Oracle names Windows Installer as a prerequisite; it does not name Visual C++ 2019 there. That list does not establish what every installer build checks or bundles.
Oracle’s VirtualBox build configuration comments that Windows builds use the Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 redistributable and that CRTs are not packed in that configuration. This is evidence about the build configuration, not proof that every released installer behaves the same way.
Users have reported seeing the requirement. A VirtualBox forum user wrote in a 2025-05-28 post that they discovered “MS Visual C++ Distrib 2019 required prior install” while trying to install VirtualBox 7 on Windows 10. Separately, a user-submitted Microsoft Q&A report quotes a VirtualBox 7.2.6 installer message: “Oracle VirtualBox 7.2.6 needs the Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package being installed first.” These reports explain the wording a user may encounter; they are not universal requirements published by Oracle or Microsoft.
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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What to do when setup reports a missing runtime
- Read the full error and note your VirtualBox version. Confirm whether setup names Visual C++ 2019 specifically, and record the VirtualBox release shown in the installer or download filename. The 7.2.6 wording above is a reported message for that version, not a guarantee about other releases.
- Check your Windows host architecture and installed runtime. Use Windows Settings or System Information to identify the host architecture, and check installed apps for a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. A runtime already installed may be sufficiently recent even if its display name does not say “2019.”
- Use Microsoft’s official latest supported downloads page. Select the appropriate package for your Windows host from Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable downloads guidance. Microsoft says applications built with Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, or 2026 can use the latest supported v14 Redistributable, provided the installed runtime is at least as new as the toolset used to build the application.
- Install the runtime from Microsoft, then retry VirtualBox setup. The redistributable installs and registers Visual C++ libraries and can be used as an application prerequisite, according to Microsoft’s redistribution guidance. If setup still reports the dependency, recheck the exact error, selected architecture, and installed runtime rather than downloading individual DLL files from a third-party site.
Does “2019” mean you must install an older, separately named package?
Not necessarily. Microsoft documents that Visual Studio 2017 and later share the v14 redistributable files, and that the latest supported v14 Redistributable can serve applications built with Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, or 2026. The installed runtime must be the same version or newer than the build tools used for the application. As a result, an installer’s “2019” wording does not by itself establish that a separate package with that exact year in its name is required.
Microsoft also notes that the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 Redistributables use version number 14.0, and that a newer installed version can cause an older package not to install. If an older package installer says a newer version is already present, do not try to remove or downgrade it just to match the year in a VirtualBox message; first confirm the actual runtime and architecture against Microsoft’s guidance.
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Which download should you choose?
Choose according to your Windows host architecture and the current options on Microsoft’s live download page, not by guessing from the VirtualBox message. The available evidence does not establish one package architecture or one installation procedure for all systems. Microsoft’s page is the authoritative place to check the current v14 package options and compatibility details.
Quick Recap
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
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- Use the host’s architecture when selecting the package; do not assume the same choice suits every Windows system.
- Check whether a compatible, sufficiently recent v14 runtime is already installed before adding another package.
- Download only from Microsoft’s official page. Avoid third-party DLL sites and unofficial redistributable mirrors.
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