How to Enable DirectX 12 Ultimate & Use It if It's Disabled

Learn how to turn on a disabled DirectX 12 Ultimate, the newest iteration of the API

How to

Reading time icon 3 min. read

Calendar icon Updated on

by Matthew Adams 

updated on

Share this article

This article is translated in

Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team Read more

If you want to know how to enable DirectX 12 Ultimate on your PC, you’re in the right place.  We’ll show you all the steps, no matter the Windows version you use.

Furthermore, you might also need to configure specific in-game settings to enable DirectX 12 for some games. This guide will give you some quick ways to enable DirectX 12 Ultimate on your PC.

How do I enable DirectX 12 Ultimate on my computer?

1. Enable DirectX 12 for Windows 7

A few select Windows 7 games, such as World of Warcraft, support DirectX 12. You can enable DX12 for selected Windows 7 games by ensuring your NVIDIA or AMD GPU has the most up-to-date driver.

Some users might also need to update GPU drivers to enable DX12 Ultimate in Windows 10. To ensure your graphics card driver is up-to-date, run a driver updater utility software.

⇒ Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

2. How to enable DirectX 12 Ultimate in Windows 10 & 11

  1. Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Windows Update.
  3. Click Check for updates to see if there are available patch updates. If so, install the patch updates.

After you enable it, you might still need to configure some games to utilize Direct12’s graphics settings. Below are two examples of how to enable DX12 for Fortnite and Battlefront 2.

3. Enable DirectX 12 for Fortnite

  1. Launch the Fortnite game.
  2. Click the Menu button at the top right of Fortnite’s title screen.
  3. Click Settings to open game options.
    The Fortnite menu enable directx 12
  4. Scroll down the Video tab to the DirectX Version option.
  5. Click the arrow button for the DirectX Version setting to select DirectX 12 (Beta).
    The DirectX Version setting enable directx 12
  6. Press the Confirm button.
  7. Click the Apply option.
  8. After that, restart Fortnite for the DX12 changes to take effect.

As you can see, it’s simple to enable DirectX 12 in Fortnite, as long as you follow the instructions from above.

4. Enable DirectX 12 for Battlefront 2

  1. Start the Battlefront 2. 
  2. Open the Home screen in Battlefront 2.
  3. Select Options to open tab selections for different setting categories.
  4. Select the Video tab.
  5. Then toggle the Enable DirectX 12 set on if it’s off.
    how to enable direct battlefront 2
  6. You’ll need to restart Battlefront 2 to apply the new settings.

This is the only way to enable DirectX 12 in Battlefront 2, so try it out.

We also have an article on how to fix Battlefront 2 error codes that you can check out.

Can I get DirectX 12 Ultimate?

One important criterion to get DirectX 12 Ultimate is ensuring that your PC is running Windows 10 version Version 2004 or higher to be eligible to install DirectX 12 Ultimate.

If your PC isn’t the version mentioned above, then you can only install DirectX 12.

What are DirectX 12 Ultimate requirements?

  • Windows 10, version 2004 or above
  • Windows 10 SDK, version 2004
  • AMD Radeon RX 6000 series
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 series

You can head over to the official Microsoft website for more complete details.

How to check if my PC supports DirectX 12 Ultimate?

  1. Press the Win + G button to open the Xbox Game Bar.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Select Game features.
  4. Check if your PC supports DirectX 12 Ultimate or not.

Is DirectX 12 and DirectX 12 Ultimate the same?

No, DirectX 12 and DirectX 12 Ultimate are not the same. DirectX 12 Ultimate is the latest version and the gold standard for new-age gaming.

It comes equipped with a new API version and supports ray tracing, mesh shaders, variable rate shading, and sampler feedback; all meant to take the gaming experience to the next level.

Wrapping up

That’s how you can ensure DirectX 12 is fully enabled in Windows 10, Fortnite, and Battlefront 2. You’ll need to look through the advanced graphics settings for DX12 options to turn on DirectX 12 in other games.

More about the topics: Optimization guides & tools

Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it. He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes. In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.