Many multimedia and video applications that run on Windows PCs require the DirectX application programming interface to function properly. This technology allows these applications to function smoothly by allocating RAM, video storage, and processor resources. However, recent reports indicate that some individuals are having problems installing DirectX on their computers. In case you’re also dealing with an identical problem, this guide is for you.
What is DirectX in Windows?
DirectX is basically a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) that Microsoft uses to handle multimedia-related tasks such as gaming, video playback, and graphics rendering. By default, DirectX comes pre-installed on your Windows PC. However, if it corrupts somehow, you should reinstall it on your computer.
What causes DirectX Not Installing issues in Windows?
If you are not able to use DirectX on Windows 11/10, this could be because of different reasons. Some possible reasons include –
- DirectX is already installed: As stated earlier, DirectX may come pre-installed on your computer. That’s the reason why you are encountering issues when installing DirectX manually on your PC.
- Compatibility issues: There are many versions of DirectX, each one compatible with a specific Windows version. If you try to install an incompatible version, the installation will fail on some odd error codes. There’s a possibility that you have recently upgraded your Windows OS and as a result of this, your device is now not compatible with the existing DirectX version.
- You have downloaded a corrupt DirectX setup file: At times, when you download the DirectX setup file, this may download incorrectly. This happens only when you are connected to an unstable internet connection.
- Drivers must have corrupted somehow: Apart from the above reasons, DirectX might also fail to install when some of your device drivers have corrupted somehow, especially Graphics cards or any other hardware components.
How to fix DirectX Not Installing on Windows 11/10
If DirectX is failing to install on your computer, you may try out the following solutions one after another.
1] Install the previous version of DirectX if required
The latest version of DirectX is not supported by many applications. It’s sometimes necessary to download older versions like DirectX8. To determine what version of DirectX you have, do the following:
- Right-click on Start and select Run to open the dialog box.
- Type
dxdiagin the text box and press Enter to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. - On the next page, you will find the DirectX version in the System tab.
- If you want to install an older version, you can download it here. However, if you would like your device to run without lags and freezes, you should always use the latest version.
2] Update your graphics card drivers
In many cases, you will find that your DirectX version is incompatible with the graphics card driver. The reason may be that the auto-update feature has been disabled. To solve this problem, make sure that regular system updates are being applied.
- Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type
devmgmt.mscon it and press Enter. This will open the Device Manager window. - Now click on Display Adapter, and it will show you the available display drivers.
- Right-click the Intel HD adapter and select Update.
- Click on Search automatically for updated driver software. You’ll need an internet connection for this step.
- It will let you know if the latest drivers are already installed, but if not, it keeps downloading and installing the updates.
3] Install .NET Framework using Command Prompt
If none of the above solutions work, you might have to download and install the .NET Framework using the Command Prompt. This will be accomplished using the Windows deployment image service:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and hit enter:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:D:sourcessxs
- Once the process is complete, wait for it to finish. When it is done, restart your computer.
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