DirectX is a component of the Windows operating system that enables programs, especially games, to run smoothly with your computer's hardware. Keeping it up to date ensures your system can handle the latest graphics and multimedia content. This article explores how to quickly update DirectX on Windows 11 and 10.
What is the latest version of DirectX? Well, at the time of writing, it was DirectX 12. DirectX 12 was announced at GDC on March 20, 2014, and was officially released alongside Windows 10 on July 29, 2015. One significant benefit is that it improves graphics performance. Additionally, it provides compatibility with the latest games, fixes bugs, and improves security.
But first, let's take a closer look at what DirectX is.
What is DirectX and why is it important?
DirectX plays a crucial role in multimedia and gaming applications. It bridges the gap between software and hardware, enabling developers to interact with computer components such as graphics cards, sound devices, and peripheral input devices. DirectX allows users to display 2D and 3D graphics, manage multimedia content, handle user input, and manage networked games.
Essentially, DirectX ensures that games and multimedia applications can take advantage of the full potential of computers, providing rich and immersive experiences, making it an important technology for the gaming industry and applications that involve graphics and multimedia.
With this understanding, let's check your DirectX version.
How to Check the Current DIRECTX Version on Your Windows PC
Checking your computer's DirectX version is easy. Follow these steps.
Step 1: press the . key Windows On the keyboard, type Run, Then click Open.
Note: Alternatively, press Windows key + R to quickly open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type the command below in the text field and click OK.
dxDiag
Step 3: Click yes In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool pop-up window.
Step 4: Now, under the tab the system In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window, you will see a section system information Which displays the DirectX version.
That's it. You now know the version of DirectX on your Windows computer. Although DirectX is an integral part of the Windows operating system, you can manually install DirectX on Windows.
How to install the latest version of DirectX on Windows
There are several ways to update the DirectX version on your Windows 11 or 10 computer. Let's start with the easiest, then move on to some lesser-known methods.
1. Use Windows Update
This is the easiest and most common way to update DirectX on your computer. Follow the instructions below.
Step 1: press the . key Windows On the keyboard, type Settings, Then click to open.
Step 2: in window Settings, Go to Windows Update.
After the DirectX update is complete, restart your computer; you'll be running the latest version upon restart. If the update doesn't complete, you can Update your graphics card driver directly and resolve the issue. If this doesn't fix the DirectX errors, move on to the next method.
2. From Microsoft Update Catalog
This is another way to update or download DirectX, and it's just as simple. This method bypasses the Windows Update section and allows you to download and install the update directly from Microsoft's website.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Update Catalog In your favorite browser on your Windows computer.
Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog
Step 2: Choose Update Which one you want to install from the list of updates.
Step 3: Click on to download.
Step 5: Once you do this, the update will be downloaded and saved. automatically. Double click on the file and follow Instructions To install it effectively.
Once installed, restart your computer if prompted. And there you go! You've successfully installed the latest version of DirectX on your Windows operating system.
If you can't update DirectX, you can check the DirectX diagnostic tools. We've explained this in detail in our article about How to Fix DirectX Not Installed on WindowsAre you having trouble playing old games after updating? Check out the method below.
3. Visit the Microsoft Download Center
Unlike the last two methods, this one is more straightforward, as you can update DirectX using the end-user runtime web installer. Follow the steps below.
Note: This method does not change the DirectX version but instead installs some older DirectX SDK technologies alongside which older games may need.
Step 1: Go to Microsoft Download Center From your favorite browser on your Windows computer.
Go to the Microsoft Download Center
Step 2: Now, select اللغة Click on the download button.
Note: You can also check the system requirements by scrolling down.
In the pop-up window, click Yes.
Step 5: If you want to try Bing Bar, click Next. If not, uncheck Install Bing Bar And click "the following".
The installation process will begin automatically. Once installed, click "Finish" to close the installation wizard window. Now, restart your computer, and once it's back up, your old games should support DirectX.
If you have any questions that we couldn't address, see the FAQ section below.
common questions:
Q1. Is updating DirectX safe, and will it affect my existing games and applications?
The answer: Yes, updating DirectX is safe, and it won't negatively impact your existing programs. New DirectX versions are backward compatible, meaning they can run older games and applications without problems.
Q2. Can I update DirectX on non-Windows operating systems?
The answer: DirectX is a technology exclusive to Windows. If you're using a non-Windows operating system (for example, macOS or Linux), you won't need to update DirectX. Instead, you should ensure your system is compatible with the software you want to run.
Enhance your gaming experience
Now that you know how to update DirectX on Windows, you can ensure your system is running the latest version, improving performance and ensuring you get the best gaming and multimedia experience. You may also want to know how to Improve gaming performance on Windows 11.
