How to Fix Microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll Errors

If installing DirectX doesn't fix this DLL error, reinstall the program or game that needs this 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 13, 2023

Microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll issues are caused in one way or another by an issue with Microsoft DirectX.

This 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, errors related to this file usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

Microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll Errors

Microsoft.directx.direct3d DLL error message in Windows

There are several ways these errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common ones:

  • Microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.
  • The file microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll is missing
  • Microsoft.directx.direct3d.DLL Not Found
  • File microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll not found

These error messages could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, but they're most commonly seen when a video game first starts. Recognizing the context of the error is an important part of knowing how to address the problem.

How to Fix Microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll Errors

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

Do not download this DLL file individually from any "DLL download site." There are several reasons why downloading DLLs that way is never a good idea. If you've already downloaded the DLL file, remove it from wherever you put it and continue with these steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

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

    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.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the error, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application DVD or CD.

    The software developers will sometimes include a copy of DirectX on the installation disc if their game or program utilizes it. Sometimes, though not often, that version is a better fit for the program than the latest version available from Microsoft.

  4. Uninstall and then reinstall the game or software program. Something might have happened to the files in the program that work with microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore microsoft.directx.direct3d.dll from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve the error, try extracting the DLL file individually from the DirectX downloadable 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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