How to Fix D3dx9_24.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If restarting your PC doesn't help, install the latest version of DirectX

By
Tim Fisher
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Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on September 15, 2022

Unlike many other DLL errors which can have complicated causes and fixes, d3dx9_24.dll issues are caused in one way or another by a single thing: some kind of problem with Microsoft DirectX.

The d3dx9_24.dll file is one of many files contained in DirectX. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows based games and advanced graphics programs, d3dx9_24.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx9_24.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

D3dx9_24.dll Errors

There are a number of ways d3dx9_24.dll errors may show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common error messages:

  • D3DX9_24.DLL Not Found
  • File d3dx9_24.dll not found
  • The file d3dx9_24.dll is missing
  • D3DX9_24.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_24.DLL and try again.
  • D3dx9_24.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.
  • This application has failed to start because d3dx9_24.dll could not be found!
d3dx9_24 DLL error in Windows

D3dx9_24.dll errors typically appear when a software program, usually a game, is started. Occasionally, an error will display after a game is loaded but right before it actually starts.

A couple of examples of games known to generate these errors include Supreme Commander, Call of Duty 4, and Doom9.

How to Fix D3dx9_24.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're presented to address the simpler solutions first.

Do not, under any circumstances, download d3dx9_24.dll individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of reasons that downloading DLLs from these sites are never a good idea. If you've already done so, remove it from wherever you put it and continue with the following steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet done so.

    The d3dx9_24.dll error might be a fluke or one-time issue and a simple restart could clear it up completely. It's unlikely this will fix the problem, but restarting is always a good first troubleshooting step.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the d3dx9_24.dll not found error.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the d3dx9_24.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or other program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of DirectX on the installation disc.

    Sometimes, though not often, the version included on the disc is a better fit for the program than the latest version available online.

  4. Uninstall the game or software program and then reinstall it again. Something may have happened to the files in the program that work with d3dx9_24.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore the d3dx9_24.dll file from the latest DirectX package. If the above standard troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your d3dx9_24.dll error, try extracting the d3dx9_24.dll file individually from the DirectX package.

  6. Update the drivers for your video card. While it's not the most common solution, in some situations, updating the drivers for the video card in your computer could correct this DirectX issue.

    The same DirectX installation program works with all versions of Windows and will replace any missing DirectX file.

    Microsoft often releases updates to DirectX without updating the version number or letter, so be sure to install the latest release even if your version is technically the same.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.

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