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On Windows 10 and Windows 11, you cannot uninstall and reinstall the main DirectX runtime like a normal application. DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 are Windows components updated through Windows Update; older games may instead need optional legacy DirectX libraries installed side by side.
Use Windows Update for the Windows-integrated runtime, Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtime for missing legacy files, or DISM and SFC when Windows system files are damaged. Do not download individual DLL files from unofficial websites.
First, check which DirectX version Windows reports
Check the installed Windows DirectX version with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
- Press Windows + S, type
dxdiag, and open dxdiag. - Select Yes if Windows asks whether it should check if your drivers are digitally signed.
- On the System tab, find DirectX Version under System Information.
- Optionally select Save All Information… to save a diagnostic report.
The version shown by DxDiag is the Windows-integrated DirectX version. It does not prove that every optional legacy library is installed. For example, a PC can report DirectX 12 and still be missing d3dx9_*.dll files required by an older game.
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Method 1: Update DirectX through Windows Update
Use Windows Update to update the DirectX runtime built into Windows. There is no supported standalone DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 installer for Windows 10 or 11.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for Windows updates.
- If updates are offered, select Download & install.
- Restart the PC if Windows requests it.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- If updates are offered, select Download and install or Download & install, depending on your Windows build.
- Restart the computer if prompted.
Windows 10 reached the end of standard support on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Moving to a supported Windows version is the safer long-term solution.
Method 2: Install legacy DirectX files for an older game
Use the DirectX End-User Runtime if a game displays an error such as:
d3dx9_35.dll was not foundXINPUT1_3.dll is missingXAudio2_7.dll is missingD3DCOMPILER_43.dll is missing
These messages normally indicate missing legacy side-by-side libraries—not a missing DirectX 12 installation. The End-User Runtime can add older components including D3DX9, D3DX10, D3DX11, XAudio 2.7, XInput 1.3, XACT, Managed DirectX 1.1, and HLSL compiler components.
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Option A: Use the web installer
- Open Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer page.
- Select Download.
- Run
dxwebsetup.exeafter the download finishes. - Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Follow the DirectX Setup instructions.
- Restart Windows if the game still fails to launch.
The web installer downloads the required legacy components during setup, so the PC needs a working internet connection. Microsoft’s Download Center listing identifies the package as version 9.29.1974.1, published July 15, 2024.
Option B: Use the offline June 2010 package
Use the offline package if the web installer cannot download files, the computer is offline, or you need to install the components on several PCs.
- Open Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) page.
- Select Download and save
directx_Jun2010_redist.exe. - Run the downloaded file.
- Choose a folder in which to extract the files.
- Open the extracted folder in File Explorer.
- Run
DXSETUP.exe. - Complete the setup wizard and restart Windows if necessary.
Microsoft lists the download size as 95.6 MB. The package contains June 2010 and earlier legacy DirectX components. Installing it adds those libraries alongside the newer Windows runtime; it does not install DirectX 9 instead of DirectX 12.
Method 3: Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC
Use these commands when DxDiag fails, Windows Update cannot repair the problem, or several Windows components are behaving incorrectly. DISM repairs the Windows component store first, and SFC then uses that repaired store to check protected system files.
Run DISM and SFC
- Search for Command Prompt from the taskbar.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Run this command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Wait for DISM to finish. When it reports that the operation completed successfully, run:
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sfc /scannow
Leave the Command Prompt window open until verification reaches 100%. Restart Windows afterward and test the game or application again.
If DISM cannot use Windows Update
If Windows Update is unavailable or damaged, DISM can use a separate repair source:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess
Replace C:\RepairSource\Windows with the path to a valid Windows repair source.
Method 4: Repair-reinstall Windows 11
Windows 11 includes a recovery option that reinstalls the current Windows version while preserving installed applications, personal files, and settings. This can repair damaged Windows components when updates and DISM/SFC do not resolve the problem.
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- Open Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
- Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
- Choose whether Windows should restart automatically 15 minutes after installation.
- Select OK.
- Keep the computer connected to power and the internet.
- Restart the PC when the process finishes if automatic restart was not selected.
This is a Windows repair installation, not a separate DirectX installer. The option may be unavailable on workplace or school-managed PCs, on systems where Windows Update policies block it, or when required updates are missing. Microsoft states that Windows 11 requires the February 2024 optional update or a later update for this feature.
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What to do when reinstalling DirectX does not fix the game
| Symptom | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
DxDiag reports DirectX 12, but the game says d3dx9_*.dll is missing |
Missing legacy library | Install Microsoft’s End-User Runtime |
XINPUT1_3.dll is missing |
Missing XInput 1.3 | Run the web installer or June 2010 package |
XAudio2_7.dll is missing |
Missing XAudio 2.7 | Run the web installer or June 2010 package |
| The installer says a newer DirectX version is already installed | The Windows runtime is already present | Use Windows Update for Windows components; use the End-User Runtime for legacy files |
| The web installer cannot complete | Network, proxy, firewall, or security-software problem | Use the offline June 2010 package |
| DxDiag shows problems on the Display or Sound tab | Graphics or audio driver issue | Update or reinstall the driver from the hardware manufacturer |
| DISM or SFC cannot repair files | Component-store or system-file corruption | Run DISM before SFC and use a valid repair source if required |
| The DirectX runtime does not appear in Settings > Apps > Installed apps | The Windows-integrated runtime is not a normal removable app | Use Windows Update, DISM, SFC, or Windows recovery to repair Windows |
What not to do
- Do not download “DirectX 12 installers” from random websites. Windows supplies the integrated DirectX runtime through Windows Update.
- Do not uninstall DirectX. The Windows DirectX runtime is not a normal removable application.
- Do not replace DirectX 12 with DirectX 9. The June 2010 package installs older libraries alongside the current runtime.
- Do not download individual DLL files from third-party DLL websites. Use Microsoft’s End-User Runtime or repair Windows with DISM and SFC.
FAQ
Can I uninstall DirectX and install it again?
No. The main DirectX runtime is integrated into Windows and cannot be uninstalled through Settings or Control Panel. Update it with Windows Update, or repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC.
Does installing DirectX End-User Runtime install DirectX 9 instead of DirectX 12?
No. It adds optional legacy libraries next to the Windows-integrated runtime. DirectX 12 remains installed and available.
Why does a game say DirectX is missing when DxDiag reports DirectX 12?
DxDiag reports the Windows-integrated DirectX version, but older games may require separate legacy files such as D3DX9, XInput 1.3, or XAudio 2.7. Install Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtime.
Should I use the web installer or the June 2010 package?
Use the web installer on a connected PC for a download-as-needed installation. Use the June 2010 package when the PC is offline, the web installer cannot download files, or you need to install the components on multiple computers.
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Can I fix a missing DirectX DLL by downloading that one DLL?
Avoid third-party DLL download sites. Install the official Microsoft End-User Runtime, which installs the required files as a supported package.
Will updating my graphics driver reinstall DirectX?
No. A graphics driver update can fix display-related problems that are sometimes mistaken for DirectX problems, but it does not replace the Windows DirectX runtime or install all legacy DirectX libraries.
The Bottom Line
For Windows 10 and Windows 11, start with Windows Update when the Windows-integrated DirectX runtime may be outdated or damaged. If an older game names a missing file such as d3dx9_35.dll, XINPUT1_3.dll, or XAudio2_7.dll, install Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtime instead. If Windows itself is corrupted, run DISM followed by SFC, and use the Windows 11 repair-reinstall option when necessary.
Official downloads: DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer and DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010).
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