How to reinstall DirectX 12
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Key notes
- As an essential component of your Windows 10 OS, reinstall DirectX 12 if there are any issues with the program.
- You can use a great Windows built-in tool to find and fix system files if DirectX is corrupted.
- Many features are installed by Windows updates, so, make sure to keep your computer up to date.
- If DirectX 12 is not working, check what are the programs that prevent it from running.
DirectX 12 is the latest version of DirectX, a set of application programming interfaces indispensable for multimedia, video, and game programming purposes.
When already installed in the OS, DirectX will update automatically each time Windows checks for updates. However, your system might run on previous versions of DirectX.
It can happen because certain programs prevent the reinstallation of the latest version or because the upgrading process failed upon upgrading to/reinstalling Windows 10.
First, you should check what version of DirectX your OS is using. To do this, press Windows +R keys on the keyboard, type dxdiag in the Run box, and hit enter.
If DirectX 12 is not listed, and since there is no stand-alone package for this version, we recommend the following solutions.
How do I reinstall DirectX 12?
1. Check for updates
If you need to properly reinstall DirectX 12, you can check for Windows updates with the simple steps presented below.
1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Click Check for updates.
Usually, Windows is updated automatically. But if any updates are missing, this action should solve the problem. Wait for the process to finish and make another attempt to see the DirectX version.
2. Run the DirectX End-User Runtime Installer
Reinstall DirectX using the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer available in the Microsoft Download Center to try and restore missing files, if any.
Check once again for updates and see if the problem is fixed. If you’re still having trouble with a proper installation for the graphics component, take a look at this dedicated article that lists a few alternative options.
3. Use the SFC tool for missing files
- Type Command Prompt in the taskbar and click on Run as administrator.
- Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
- Wait for the results.
This scan might take some minutes. SFC is a built-in tool that should repair any corrupted files in the system or install missing ones, after faulty OS installation.
4. Perform a clean boot
- Type System Configuration in the taskbar and select Run as administrator.
- On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable for all.
- On the Startup tab, open Task Manager, and Disable all items.
- Close the Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window.
- Restart your device and reinstall DirectX using the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer download link as mentioned before and see if it helps.
This should show if any other installed program is preventing DirectX 12 from running, so you can uninstall it from Control Panel.
Afterward, set your device to boot normally by opening the System Configuration as shown previously, and in the General tab, check Normal startup, then OK.
To completely uninstall a program, you can use a third-party uninstaller solution to make sure no leftovers remain in your system.
These tools will help you to remove stubborn programs, get rid of malicious and advertising plug-ins installed in your browser without your knowledge, and remove leftovers of programs uninstalled before.
If you can’t install DirectX on your Windows 10 system, you can check our dedicated guide and learn how to fix DirectX installation errors with ease.
The above solutions will help you for use to install the latest DirectX on your computer. If you have any suggestions or questions, please write us a comment below.
