How to Fix D3dx9_34.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If restarting your computer 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 August 15, 2022

D3dx9_34.dll problems are caused, in one way or another, by a problem with Microsoft DirectX. This DLL file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software package. Since DirectX is used by most Windows-based games and graphics programs, d3dx9_34.dll errors usually show up only when you use these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx9_34.dll and other DirectX problems. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, etc.

D3dx9_34.dll Errors

Some of the more common d3dx9_34.dll error messages are listed below:

  • D3DX9_34.DLL Not Found
  • File d3dx9_34.dll not found
  • The file d3dx9_34.dll is missing
  • D3DX9_34.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_34.DLL and try again
  • D3dx9_34.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this
  • This application has failed to start because d3dx9_34.dll could not be found
D3dx9_34.dll was not found error message

These errors typically appear when a software program, usually a game, starts. Occasionally, these errors display after a game is loaded but right before it starts.

Some games that have been known to generate d3dx9_34.dll errors include Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Crysis, Need for Speed Pro Street, Project 64 (an N64 emulator), Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, and Savage 2: A Tortured Soul.

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

How to Fix D3dx9_34.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're presented so that you can try the simpler solutions first.

Don't download d3dx9_34.dll from any "DLL download" site. Downloading DLLs from these sites is never a good idea. If you have already, delete it, and then continue with the steps below.

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

    The d3dx9_34.dll error might be a one-time problem and a restart could clear it up. It's unlikely this approach 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 will fix the "d3dx9_34.dll not found" error.

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

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't do the job, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Most likely, if it uses DirectX, the software developers will include a copy 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, and a reinstallation could do the trick.

  5. Restore the d3dx9_34.dll file from the latest DirectX package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked, try extracting the d3dx9_34.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 problem.

Need More Help?

If you don't want to fix 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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