MSVCP140.dll Missing: Fix the Capture2Text Launch Error

Seeing “MSVCP140.dll was not found” or “VCRUNTIME140.dll was not found” when you start Capture2Text? It takes two minutes to fix with the official Microsoft download.

What the Error Means

When you double-click Capture2Text.exe and Windows shows one of these messages:

“The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP140.dll was not found.”
“VCRUNTIME140.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.”

…it means your PC is missing the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable — a set of runtime libraries that Capture2Text (like many Windows applications) needs to run. This is the very first item in the official Capture2Text documentation‘s Troubleshooting & FAQ section, and the fix is an official Microsoft download.

The Fix: Install the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable

Download the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable from Microsoft’s official download page: microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145.
Choose the installer that matches your Windows: vc_redist.x64.exe on virtually all modern PCs (64-bit). If you are unsure, press Win + Pause and check “System type”.
Right-click the downloaded installer and choose Run as administrator.
Accept the license terms, click Install, and wait for it to finish.
Restart your computer — the new libraries are picked up reliably only after a reboot.
Double-click Capture2Text.exe again. The tray icon should appear in the bottom-right corner.

Still Not Working?

Re-download Capture2Text. Make sure you unzipped the whole folder — running the .exe straight from inside the zip archive causes its own set of strange errors. Our download page has the current v4.6.3 build.
Check your antivirus. Some antivirus software quarantines Capture2Text’s executable or its DLLs on first run. The official docs list this as the second thing to check. Whitelist the Capture2Text folder and re-extract the zip.
Install both x64 and x86. On rare 64-bit systems with mixed-architecture software, installing the x86 (32-bit) redistributable alongside x64 clears stubborn “DLL not found” messages.
Run Windows Update. A fully patched Windows 10/11 usually pulls in the Visual C++ runtimes automatically.

Security warning: never download MSVCP140.dll or VCRUNTIME140.dll from third-party “DLL download” websites and drop them into your System32 folder. Those sites are a classic malware vector, and a single stray DLL will not properly register the runtime anyway. The only safe source is the official Microsoft installer linked above.

Which versions count? Newer Visual C++ redistributables (2017, 2019, 2022) are technically backwards-compatible with the 2015 runtime in most cases — if you already have “Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable” in your installed programs list and still see the error, a repair install of that package (Control Panel > Programs > right-click > Change > Repair) usually resolves it.

Quick Recap

MSVCP140.dll / VCRUNTIME140.dll missing? → Install the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable from Microsoft (link above), then reboot.
Error persists after install? → Re-extract the zip, check antivirus, repair the redistributable.
Rule of thumb: DLL errors are fixed with official installers, never with DLL files from random websites.

FAQ

Why does Capture2Text say MSVCP140.dll is missing?

Capture2Text was built with Visual Studio 2015 and needs its runtime libraries. If the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable is not installed on your PC, Windows cannot start the program. Installing the official Microsoft package fixes it.

Is it safe to install the Visual C++ Redistributable?

Yes — it is a standard Microsoft system component that thousands of applications depend on. Download it only from microsoft.com, never from third-party DLL sites.

Do I need the x86 or x64 version?

Capture2Text v4.6.3 is a 64-bit build, so vc_redist.x64.exe is the right one on 64-bit Windows. Installing both does no harm and occasionally helps on mixed systems.

I installed it and restarted, but the error is still there. Now what?

Re-extract the Capture2Text zip to a fresh folder (do not run from inside the zip), whitelist the folder in your antivirus, and try a repair install of the redistributable via Control Panel.