How to install the latest version of DirectX (2024)

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Applies To

Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Enterprise Windows 8.1 Pro Windows 8 Windows 8 Enterprise Windows 8 Pro Windows RT Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Starter Windows 7 Ultimate Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Starter Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Windows Server 2008 Standard Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Windows 10

What is DirectX?

DirectX is a set of components in Windows that allows software, primarily and especially games, to work directly with your video and audio hardware. Games that use DirectX can use multimedia accelerator features built-in to your hardware more efficiently which improves your overall multimedia experience.

Check which version of DirectX is installed

The DxDiag tool reports detailed information about the DirectX components and drivers installed on your system and can be used.

From Start, type dxdiag in the Search box, and then press enter.
Tap or click on dxdiag from the results.
Check DirectX Version on the first page of the report in the System Information section.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Type dxdiag in the search box. Or, just type dxdiag from Start.
Tap or click on dxdiag from the results.
Check DirectX Version on the first page of the report in the System Information section.

Click Start, typedxdiag in the search box.
Tap or click on dxdiag from the results.
Check DirectX Version on the first page of the report in the System Information section.

DirectX versions and updates by Operating System

DirectX 11.3 and 12 are included with these Windows versions.

Updates will be available through Windows Update. There is no stand-alone package for these versions of DirectX.

DirectX 11.1 is included in Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Server 2012. There is no stand-alone update package for DirectX 11.1. You can only install this DirectX version through Windows Update in Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Server 2012.
DirectX 11.2 is included in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.There is no stand-alone update package for DirectX 11.2. You can only install this DirectX version through Windows Update in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.

Note To upgrade DirectX further, you will need to upgrade your operating system.

DirectX 11.0 is included in Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2. There is no stand-alone update package for this version. You can update DirectX by installing the service pack and update listed below.
DirectX 11.1 is available for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RS SP1, with Platform Update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (KB2670838).

Note To upgrade DirectX further, you will need to upgrade your operating system.

DirectX 10 is included in Windows Vista. There is no stand-alone update package for this version. You can update DirectX by installing the service pack and update listed below.
DirectX 10.1 is included in Windows Vista SP1 or later, and Windows Server SP1 or later. There is no stand-alone update package for this version. You can update DirectX by installing the service pack and update listed below.
DirectX 11.0 is available for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2, with KB971512 installed.

Note To upgrade DirectX further, you will need to upgrade your operating system.

DirectX 9.0c is available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 by installing the DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime.

Some applications and games require DirectX 9. However, your computer includes a more recent version of DirectX. If you install and then run an application or game that requires DirectX 9, you might receive an error message such as "The program can't start because d3dx9_35.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."

To resolve this issue, install DirectX End-User Runtime.

Notes

When you run this package, no change is made to your version of DirectX, Direct3D 9, Direct3D 10.x, Direct3D 11.x, DirectInput, DirectSound, DirectPlay, DirectShow, or DirectMusic.
To upgrade DirectX further, you will need to upgrade your operating system.

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