DxDiag can show whether Windows detects expected DirectX components, graphics and audio devices, drivers, and feature levels. It cannot repair DirectX, reinstall a driver, replace damaged Windows files, or make unsupported hardware compatible.
Use DxDiag to identify the likely cause, then apply the appropriate repair. A missing manufacturer driver, a legacy DirectX DLL, an unsupported GPU feature level, and a damaged game installation require different fixes.
What DxDiag does—and does not do
DxDiag is a diagnostic and information-collection tool included with Windows. It gathers system, display, sound, input, driver, and diagnostic-note information that can help troubleshoot graphics and audio problems or provide details to technical support.
| DxDiag can help you check | DxDiag cannot do |
|---|---|
| Installed DirectX version | Repair or reinstall DirectX |
| Detected graphics and audio devices | Install a missing graphics or audio driver |
| Driver version, date, and model | Replace damaged system files |
| Direct3D feature levels and diagnostic notes | Fix a game’s files, settings, mods, or anti-cheat software |
| Information useful to support staff | Improve hardware performance or add unsupported features |
For that reason, “use DxDiag to fix DirectX” is shorthand for “use DxDiag to diagnose the problem, then repair the cause it reveals.”
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How to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
From Windows Search
- Open the Windows taskbar search box.
- Type dxdiag.
- Select dxdiag from the results.
From the Run dialog
- Press Windows logo key + R.
- Enter dxdiag.exe.
- Select OK.
DxDiag normally does not need an elevated Command Prompt. You may need administrator permission later if you roll back, uninstall, or reinstall a driver.
Accept the driver-signature check
The first time DxDiag runs, Windows may ask whether it should check if drivers are digitally signed. Select Yes. This verifies whether a driver has been digitally signed by a publisher whose authenticity has been checked. It does not update or repair the driver.
Check the DirectX version
- Open DxDiag.
- Select the System tab.
- In System Information, find DirectX Version.
The same tab also shows the Windows edition and build, computer manufacturer and model, BIOS information, processor, installed memory, and DxDiag version.
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, Windows Update supplies the latest DirectX version supported by that Windows release. Installing a random “DirectX updater” is unnecessary and can expose the PC to unwanted software. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft says it no longer provides normal free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. Moving to a supported Windows release is the safer long-term option where the hardware permits it. Source: Microsoft Support.
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The DirectX Version value on the System tab describes the DirectX software available in Windows. It does not mean that the graphics processor supports every Direct3D feature associated with that version.
Feature levels such as 11_0, 12_0, and 12_1 describe the functionality exposed by the GPU and its driver. They are separate from the DirectX API version and do not indicate performance. A PC can report DirectX 12 while its GPU supports only lower Direct3D feature levels. Source: Microsoft Learn.
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Inspect the Display tab
- Select Display in DxDiag.
- If more than one display adapter is installed, inspect Display 1, Display 2, and any other Display tabs.
- Record the adapter Name, driver version, driver date, driver model, feature levels, and Notes.
Important entries include:
- Name: identifies the graphics adapter Windows is using.
- Driver Version and Driver Date: help establish whether the installed package is current or whether a problem began after an update.
- Feature Levels: show graphics capabilities exposed by the adapter and driver.
- Notes: may identify a driver warning or another detected problem.
What “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” means
If the adapter is listed as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, Windows is using its generic display driver instead of the driver supplied for the GPU or computer. This can cause poor performance, missing features, incorrect resolutions, crashes, or games refusing to start.
Install the correct driver from the computer manufacturer or from the GPU manufacturer’s official support page. Do not repeatedly run DxDiag; it will only report the same driver state until the driver is changed. Source: Microsoft Support.
Inspect the Sound and Input tabs
Use the available Sound tabs to check whether Windows detects the expected audio device, which driver it uses, and whether the Notes section reports a problem. A computer may have more than one sound tab.
If the expected audio device is missing, DxDiag cannot diagnose it as though it were present. The cause is more likely to be a disconnected device, disabled hardware, device-detection problem, or missing driver than damaged DirectX.
The Input tab contains information about controllers, keyboards, mice, and other input devices when available. It can help with device-detection issues, but it is not a general-purpose DirectX repair tool.
Save a DxDiag report
A saved report is useful when a game developer, hardware manufacturer, or support technician asks for system details.
- Open DxDiag.
- Select Save All Information….
- Choose a folder, such as the Desktop, and save the text file.
- Open the report when you need to review or share it.
The report can contain your Windows build, hardware, drivers, display adapters, audio devices, and diagnostic information. Before posting it publicly, remove identifying details such as user names, computer names, serial numbers, and personal file paths.
Generate a report from Command Prompt
To write a text report directly to the Desktop, open Command Prompt and run dxdiag /t "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\dxdiag.txt".
On 64-bit Windows, a support procedure may specifically request this form: dxdiag /dontskip /whql:off /64bit /t "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\dxdiag.txt".
The /t switch writes the report to the path provided. The command may return to the prompt before DxDiag finishes writing the file, so check that the report exists and wait for DxDiag to finish if necessary. Source: Microsoft Q&A.
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- Use a folder where your account can write files, such as the Desktop.
- Do not combine /t and /x in the same command.
- If support staff provide exact command syntax, use that syntax rather than adding switches yourself.
Apply the repair indicated by DxDiag
1. Update a missing or incorrect display driver
If DxDiag shows a driver warning, an unexpected adapter, or Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, use Device Manager:
- Search for and open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the graphics adapter.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers when offered.
For the most reliable result, compare the driver with the package on the PC manufacturer’s support page. Laptop graphics drivers can depend on the manufacturer’s power-management and display-switching software. Source: Microsoft Support.
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2. Roll back a driver that caused the problem
If crashes, flickering, or game failures began immediately after a graphics driver update:
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the adapter and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
- Select Roll Back Driver, then Yes.
- Restart the PC.
The Roll Back Driver button is unavailable when Windows has no previous driver to restore. Rolling back or uninstalling a driver requires administrator privileges. Source: Microsoft Support.
3. Install legacy DirectX files for an older game
A message naming a file such as d3dx9_35.dll does not necessarily mean that the current DirectX version is missing. Older games may require optional, side-by-side libraries that are not included with the modern DirectX installation.
Use Microsoft’s official DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) when an application actually requires legacy components such as D3DX9, D3DX10, D3DX11, XAudio 2.7, XInput 1.3, XACT, or Managed DirectX 1.1. The Microsoft Download Center lists version 9.29.1974.1, published July 15, 2024, with the file name directx_Jun2010_redist.exe.
This package does not upgrade DirectX 12 or change the DirectX runtime version built into Windows. Do not download individual DLL files from third-party websites and copy them into system folders. Source: Microsoft Download Center.
4. Continue troubleshooting when DxDiag says “No problems found”
That message means DxDiag did not identify a diagnostic problem for that component. It does not certify that a game is compatible, that the GPU meets the game’s performance requirements, or that the game files and Windows configuration are correct.
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Next check the game’s minimum requirements, verify or repair its installation through the launcher, disable overlays and incompatible mods, update related audio or chipset drivers, and investigate overheating, unstable overclocks, BIOS settings, power delivery, and anti-cheat software. A game-specific error log is often more useful at this stage than another DxDiag run.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical DxDiag troubleshooting sequence
- Run dxdiag.exe.
- Select Yes if asked to check digital signatures.
- Read System > System Information > DirectX Version.
- Inspect every Display tab and every relevant Sound tab.
- Read each component’s Notes section.
- Select Save All Information… and keep a copy of the report.
- Update the manufacturer driver if Microsoft Basic Display Adapter or a driver warning appears.
- Roll back the driver if the problem followed a recent update.
- Install Microsoft’s legacy DirectX End-User Runtime only when an older application requires its libraries.
- If the report is clean, investigate the application, its files and settings, Windows configuration, overlays, peripherals, and hardware stability.
FAQ
Does running DxDiag repair DirectX?
No. DxDiag reports DirectX, device, driver, and diagnostic information. It does not repair DirectX, update drivers, replace system files, or fix game files.
How do I run DxDiag in Windows 11 or Windows 10?
Search for dxdiag from the taskbar, or press Windows + R, enter dxdiag.exe, and select OK.
What should I do if DxDiag shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter?
Install the manufacturer-specific graphics driver from the computer manufacturer or GPU manufacturer. You can also try Device Manager > Display adapters > right-click the adapter > Update driver.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoes DirectX 12 in DxDiag mean my GPU supports every DirectX 12 feature?
No. The DirectX version reported on the System tab is different from the GPU’s Direct3D feature levels. Check the feature-level information on the Display tab and compare it with the application’s requirements.
Can the DirectX June 2010 runtime upgrade DirectX 12?
No. It installs legacy side-by-side libraries needed by some older applications. It does not change the DirectX version built into Windows or upgrade DirectX 12.
What does “No problems found” mean in DxDiag?
It means DxDiag did not detect a problem for that component. It does not prove that a game is compatible, that its files are intact, or that the hardware is stable.
The Bottom Line
Run DxDiag to collect evidence, not to perform a repair. Check the System, Display, Sound, and Notes sections, save the report, and then act on the result: install or roll back a driver, install the official legacy runtime for an older game, or continue with application and hardware troubleshooting when DxDiag reports no fault.
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