For developers who want to use libcurl in C/C++ projects on Windows, it is very important to download the MSVC (Microsoft Visual C++) compatible compiled cURL library from the correct source and integrate it into the project. In this article, we explain in detail how to find the appropriate curl package for MSVC, where to download it, and how to use it in Visual Studio projects.

What is MSVC and Why is Compatibility Necessary?

MSVC (Microsoft Visual C++) is a compiler used to develop C/C++ applications on the Windows platform. libcurl is commonly compiled in POSIX environments. Therefore, a version not compiled under MSVC cannot be used directly. If an incompatible version is used, compilation errors such as linker error and undefined reference may occur.

Where to Download the MSVC Compatible cURL ZIP Package?

✅ Official Source:

https://curl.se/windows/ → On this page, pre-compiled packages for MSVC are available under the curl for Windows heading.

Alternative and Up-to-Date Binary Source:

Up-to-date package provider accessed by redirecting from https://curl.se/windows/:
- On https://curl.se/windows/, you can find packages with Schannel, OpenSSL, zlib support under the headings "Win64 - Generic" or "Win32 - Generic".

Example ZIP File (Win64 + MSVC):

File Name: Instead of curl-8.x.x_4-win64-mingw.zip, use the MSVC version curl-8.x.x_5-win64-msvc.zip
Contents:
- bin/ → curl.exe, curl-ca-bundle.crt
- lib/ → libcurl.lib, libcurl.dll
- include/ → curl/*.h

Note: The .lib and .dll files must be MSVC compatible, otherwise a linker error will occur.

️ Integration into Your Visual Studio Project

Add the libcurl.lib file to your project's link settings:
- Project > Properties > Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies: libcurl.lib
Add the include folder:
- C/C++ > General > Additional Include Directories → path/to/include
Introduce the lib folder:
- Linker > General > Additional Library Directories → path/to/lib
Place the libcurl.dll file in the same directory as your executable file.

Library Type Selection: OpenSSL or Schannel?

If you are using OpenSSL for HTTPS operations, download the OpenSSL supported version.
If you want to use Windows internal certificate management, select the Schannel (Windows-native TLS) compatible version.

✅ Conclusion

To use libcurl under MSVC, it is essential to use the correctly compiled ZIP package. You can easily download OpenSSL or Schannel supported, MSVC compatible ZIP files from the official curl.se website and securely integrate them into your Visual Studio projects.