Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required (Unable to find vcvarsall.bat) Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required (Unable to find vcvarsall.bat) python python

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required (Unable to find vcvarsall.bat)


Your path only lists Visual Studio 11 and 12, it wants 14, which is Visual Studio 2015. If you install that, and remember to tick the box for Languages->C++ then it should work.

On my Python 3.5 install, the error message was a little more useful, and included the URL to get it from

 error: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required. Get it with "Microsoft Visual C++ Build Tools": http://landinghub.visualstudio.com/visual-cpp-build-tools

Edit: New working link

Edit: As suggested by Lightfire228, you may also need to upgrade setuptools package for the error to disappear:

pip install --upgrade setuptools


Binary install it the simple way!

I can't believe no one has suggested this already - use the binary-only option for pip. For example, for mysqlclient:

pip install --only-binary :all: mysqlclient

Many packages don't create a build for every single release which forces your pip to build from source. If you're happy to use the latest pre-compiled binary version, use --only-binary :all: to allow pip to use an older binary version.


To solve any of the following errors:

  • Failed building wheel for misaka
  • Failed to build misaka
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required
  • Unable to find vcvarsall.bat

The Solution is:

  1. Go to Build Tools for Visual Studio 2017

  2. Select free download under Visual Studio Community 2017. This will download the installer. Run the installer.

  3. Select what you need under workload tab:

    a. Under Windows, there are 3 choices. Only check Desktop development with C++

    b. Under Web & Cloud, there are 7 choices. Only check Python development (I believe this is optional But I have done it).

  4. In cmd, type pip3 install misakaenter image description here

Note if you already installed Visual Studio then when you run the installer, you can modify yours (click modify button under Visual Studio Community 2017) and do steps 3 and 4

Screenshot of Modify button

Final Note : If you don't want to install all modules, having the 3 ones below (or a newer version of the VC++ 2017) would be sufficient. (you can also install the Visual Studio Build Tools with only these options so you dont need to install Visual Studio Community Edition itself) => This minimal install is already a 4.5GB, so saving off anything is helpfulThe modules you need for c++ compiler