How to Fix D3dx9_35.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
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
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.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on November 14, 2022

D3dx9_35.dll issues are caused in one way or another by a single issue: some kind of problem with Microsoft DirectX.

The d3dx9_35 DLL file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows-based games and advanced graphics programs, these kinds of errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx9_35.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, etc.

Ddx9_35.dll Errors

D3dx9_35 DLL error message

There are several ways d3dx9_35.dll error messages might appear, depending on where the error is being generated from.

Here are some examples:

  • D3dx9_35.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this
  • D3DX9_35.DLL Not Found
  • File d3dx9_35.dll not found
  • The file d3dx9_35.dll is missing
  • D3DX9_35.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_35.DLL and try again
  • Missing component d3dx9_35.dll
  • This application has failed to start because d3dx9_35.dll could not be found

These errors appear when a software program, usually a game, is started. In non-game applications, the error might appear before certain advanced graphics features of the program are used or, like in many games, as soon as the program is started.

The error message could apply to any program that utilizes DirectX, but it's most commonly with video games like The Witcher, Deal or No Deal: Secret Vault Games, Kwari, Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock, OGRE (a graphics rendering engine), Unreal Tournament 3, EVE, Dark GDK (a game development package), Battlefield 2, Call of Duty 4, nullDC (a Dreamcast emulator), Distant Guns, and more.

How to Fix D3dx9_35.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

Do not, under any circumstances, download d3dx9_35.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 already have, remove it from wherever you put it and continue with the following steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't already done so. The error might be a fluke or one-time issue, and a restart could clear it up. It's unlikely this will fix the problem, but restarting is always a good first step.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the d3dx9_35.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 d3dx9_35.dll 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 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. There may be an issue with the files in the game or program that work with d3dx9_35.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore the file from the latest DirectX package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your error, try extracting the d3dx9_35.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 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.

Was this page helpful?