How to Fix D3dx9_32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If installing DirectX doesn't fix the error, reinstall the program or game that needs the file

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 March 14, 2023

Unlike many other DLL errors which can have complicated causes and fixes, d3dx9_32.dll issues are caused in one way or another by a single issue: some kind of problem with Microsoft DirectX.

This file is one of many contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows-based games and advanced graphics programs, these errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx9_32.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

D3dx9_32.dll Errors

d3dx9_32 DLL error message in Windows

There are quite a few ways d3dx9_32.dll errors may show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common messages you could see:

  • File d3dx9_32.dll not found
  • The file d3dx9_32.dll is missing
  • D3DX9_32.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_32.DLL and try again
  • D3dx9_32.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this
  • Missing component d3dx9_32.dll

These errors typically appear when a software program, usually a game, is started. Occasionally, d3dx9_32.dll errors will display after a game is loaded but right before gameplay begins.

In non-game applications, the error might appear before certain advanced graphics features of the program are used.

Some common games and graphics programs that have been known to generate these DLL errors include FPS Creator, Civilization IV, Geometry Wars, Virtual Tennis 3, NoLimits Fairground, FIBA Basketball Manager, Barbie as the Island Princess, Autodesk 3ds Max, Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific, F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate, VGMTrans, and more.

How to Fix D3dx9_32.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the simpler solutions first.

Do not, under any circumstances, download d3dx9_32.dll individually from any DLL download site. There are a number of reasons why downloading DLLs like that is 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 error might be a fluke or one-time issue, and a simple restart could clear it up completely. Restarting often fixes many computer problems, so it's always a good first troubleshooting step.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version will fix the d3dx9_32.dll not found error.

    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.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or another program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of it 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 this DLL file, and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore d3dx9_32.dll from the latest DirectX package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve the error, try extracting the file 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.

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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