DirectX is a set of components in Windows that allow software and games to work directly with your video and audio hardware. Games that use DirectX can use multimedia acceleration features built into your hardware more efficiently, improving your overall multimedia experience.
Check which version of DirectX is installed
The DxDiag tool provides detailed information about the DirectX components and drivers installed on your system and can be used to check the version of DirectX installed on your computer.
| windows 10 | 1. From Start, type dxdiag in the search box, and then press Enter. 2. Tap or click dxdiag from the results. 3. Check the version of DirectX on the first page of the report in the System Information section. |
| Windows 8.1 or 8 | 1. Swipe left and tap Search. Type dxdiag in the search box. Or just type dxdiag from Start. 2. Tap or click dxdiag from the results. 3. Check the version of DirectX on the first page of the report in the System Information section. |
| Windows 7 or earlier | 1. Click Start, type dxdiag in the search box. 2. Tap or click dxdiag from the results. 3. Check the version of DirectX on the first page of the report in the System Information section. |
Versions and updates of DirectX by Operating System
The new Windows operating system includes the latest version of DirectX. There is no separate package for any version of DirectX. You can only install and update the version of DirectX through Windows Update.
| Operating system | DirectX version | DirectX updates |
|---|---|---|
| windows 11 | DX 12 Ultimate | When installing graphical tools as an optional feature |
| windows 10 | DX11.3 / DX12 | |
| windows 8 | DX 11.1 | DX 11.2 with update 8.1 |
| windows 7 | DX 11.0 | DX 11.1 with SP1 Platform Update (KB2670838) |
| Windows Vista | DX10 | DX 10.1 with SP1 and DX 11 with SP2 (KB971512) |
| Windows Xp | DX 9.0c | When installing DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime |
To update DirectX further, you will need to update your operating system.
Some applications and games require DirectX 9. However, your computer includes a newer version of DirectX. If you install and then run an application or game that requires DirectX 9, you may receive an error message such as “The program can’t start because d3dx9_35.dll is missing from your computer. Please try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.”
To resolve this issue, install the DirectX End-User Runtime.
