The process of updating DirectX does not follow exactly the same scenario as updating other components. Below are the installation methods on different operating systems.
Windows 10
In the top ten, package versions 11.3 and 12 are preinstalled by default. This is due to the fact that only the new generation video cards of the 10 and 900 series support the latest edition. If the adapter does not have the ability to work with the twelfth Direct, then 11 is used. New versions, if they are released at all, will be available in Center Windows updatesยป . If desired, you can manually check for their presence.
Windows 8
With the eight the same situation. It includes revisions 11.2 (8.1) and 11.1 (8). It is impossible to download the package separately - it simply does not exist (information from the official Microsoft website). The update is automatic or manual.
Windows 7
The seven is equipped with the DirectX 11 package, and if SP1 is installed, then it is possible to upgrade to version 11.1. This edition is included in the comprehensive operating system update package.
note that "DirectX Diagnostic Tool" may not display version 11.1, defining it as 11. This is due to the fact that not a complete edition is ported to Windows 7. However, many features of the new version will be included. This package is also available through "Windows Update". His number KV2670838.
Windows XP
The maximum version supported by Windows XP is 9. Its updated version is 9.0c, which is on the Microsoft website.
Downloading and installation is exactly the same as in the Seven. Don't forget to reboot after installation.
Conclusion
The desire to have the latest version of DirectX in your system is commendable, but unreasonable installation of new libraries can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of freezes and glitches in games, when playing videos and music. All actions you perform at your own peril and risk.
Do not try to install a package that does not support the OS (see above), downloaded from a dubious site. This is all from the evil one, version 10 will never work on XP, and 12 on seven. The most efficient and reliable way to update DirectX is to upgrade to a newer one. operating system.
DirectX is a special executable library for programming in Windows OS. Most often used to write a variety of games.
The software is distributed free of charge from the official Microsoft website.
The optimal version usually comes bundled with games and on disks with drivers for video cards.
The executable libraries are also part of the Windows distribution.
The components of this software are necessary for the daily operation of the operating system, but have a much wider scope.
Most often used in writing games for working with sound, graphic and video data, as well as for processing signals coming from various elements management.
There are several alternative sets of execution libraries (OpenGL, for example).
But for operating systems from Microsoft, of course, it is the software developed by them that is suitable.
Installing the latest version of DirectX
The DirectX installer is most likely on discs with fresh games or driver discs from a new video card.
With it, you can both install and update direct x.
But the installation in this case will be different. Here we will consider the installation via the Internet.
To use the latest version of DirectX, you need to go to the download page on the official Microsoft website and click the "Download" button.
Do not install programs downloaded from other sources.
It is not known what the "caring" inhabitants of the network supplied with such an installer.
The site will offer to download and install additional software.
It does not interest us, so click "Refuse and continue."
After that, the explorer will open to select where to save the file. For convenience, it is better to save the file to the desktop.
Important! When the file is downloaded, you need to find the installer (installation file), it can be either on the desktop or in the download directory and then run it. In some browsers (Chrome, for example), you can launch the downloaded application from the downloads panel. In the future, the same file will help you update direct x for Windows 7 or carry out the procedure for restoring damaged libraries.
The OS security system will ask you to confirm the launch of the program. You need to enable it by clicking the "Run" button.
This will open the installer window. In it, you must check the box opposite the item on accepting the terms of the user agreement and click on the "Next" button.
If not accepted license agreement, then the installation will be impossible.
The installer will then prompt you to add the "Bing" toolbar to your browser. If you need it, you can leave everything as it is and click "Next".
But this is just a waste of computer resources, so it's better to disable the installation of the panel.
Installing the components will take a little time.
When restoring or updating DirectX, this step collects information about the current state of the runtime libraries.
After that, the installation is complete. It remains only to click "Finish" and restart the computer. No special DirectX setup is required.
After that, the games should work fine.
Checking the currently installed version
The cause of problems in games can be not only a mismatch of the version of this software with the stated requirements.
There are many other factors that affect their performance.
To make sure you need to update DirectX, you need to check its current version. At the time of writing, the latest version is version 11.
To do this, press "Win + R" (Win is the button on the keyboard with the OS icon), after which the "Run" window will open.
In some versions of Windows, it can be opened from the Start menu. In the input line of the window that opens, type "dxdiag" and press "Enter" or "OK".
Then a diagnostic window will open that provides detailed information.
In this case, only the most bottom line in the list of options on the first tab. It contains the current software version.
Note! DirectX 11 supports everything previous versions, so games that require lower versions should work on it. It is impossible to roll back the version without reinstalling the system and, in general, there is no such need.
If an earlier modification is indicated in the mentioned line, then it is necessary to proceed with the update process.
In addition, executable libraries should be updated when one of them is missing or damaged.
DirectX update
The appropriate version of DirectX is necessarily included in the distribution of the operating system.
So, XP comes with DX 9, Vista comes with DX 10, and Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 comes with DX 11. next version OS, Windows 10 will ship with DX 12.
Installing and updating DirectX, the processes are almost identical.
The update process is as follows:
- Downloading the installer.
- Launching the installer.
- The process of downloading the installation of updated libraries will occur automatically.
- DirectX component and driver update completed.
Some DirectX executable libraries become corrupted after removing certain viruses or other procedures for repairing and restoring the functionality of a malfunctioning computer.
Such problems are indicated by system errors when starting games, which mention the absence of certain files with the .dll extension.
In this case, you need to restore them.
Important! The recovery process is the same as installing or updating. The launched installer automatically collects information about available libraries and resumes damaged or missing files.
Now the correct handling of the executive libraries at the user level will not be difficult.
The main thing to remember is that distributions distributed on third-party sites can easily contain malware.
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This page contains installation information. latest downloads DirectX 11.1 drivers using the DirectX Driver Update Tool.
DirectX 11.1 drivers are small programs, which allow the Software hardware to interact with the operating system software. Constant update software DirectX 11.1 prevents crashes and maximizes hardware and system performance. Using outdated or corrupted DirectX 11.1 drivers may result in system errors, malfunctions and failure of equipment or computer. What's more, installing the wrong DirectX drivers can make these problems worse.
Advice: If you are unfamiliar with updating DirectX device drivers manually, we recommend downloading the DirectX 11.1 Driver Utility. This tool will automatically download and update the correct DirectX 11.1 driver versions, protecting you from installing the wrong 11.1 drivers.
About the author: Jay Geater is President and CEO of Solvusoft Corporation, a global software company focused on innovative utility programs. He has been passionate about computers all his life and loves everything related to computers, software and new technologies.
Any person playing games on a computer or even using the latter to solve everyday tasks, with a high degree of probability I met with such a thing as DirectX, but not everyone knows what it is, is it necessary to have this component, why does it need to be updated and where can I download Microsoft DirectX 12 for Windows 10 for free?
What is DirectX?
Explanations in complex technical language are inappropriate in this case; such information is always easy to find on official websites or on Wikipedia. In simple words is a library or set of instructions that are responsible for the interaction of computer hardware and software. DirectX uses mainly the graphics card, but does not leave without attention and knows how to open other parts of the PC in order to direct their power to the maximum in order to reproduce or create in real time the game elements written in advance by the developers. It works automatically, so you don't have to worry about how to enable DirectX 12 on Windows 10. And yes, it's not just a playback tool used by gamers or ordinary users computer, but also a tool for developers, starting from which they find the maximum level of interaction between hardware and software components. However, the question of how to reinstall DirectX on Windows 10 x64 or, in general, whether it is necessary to install it, arises especially often among the first.
This set of libraries was developed by Microsoft and is used exclusively in Windows operating systems.
What is DirectX for?
It should be noted that if you still have never encountered such a concept and can vouch for not installing anything like this into the system, the component is still present, and there is even a way to see the DirectX version on Windows 10. Despite that it is aimed at game projects, is also used in other OS processes, therefore it is necessary, and is installed along with it. Depending on the Windows versions the version of the libraries also varies - from 9.0 in Windows XP to 12.0 in Windows 10. And so on, when a new OS comes out, there will be a new library update. Again, this is a very important indicator. Each a new version The set not only adapts to the new operating system, but also provides enhanced opportunities for developers, so, in theory, the same game launched with versions 9 and 11 can look very different - especially in terms of visual effects. That is why it is important to know how to install DirectX 12 on Windows 10.
Important! The kit itself will not affect the quality in any way, but the amount of technologies available in different versions can significantly affect how a developer uses them and what the game ends up with. Based on this, one can understand .
How to find DirectX version in Windows 10?
Examination current version installed in the system will not be difficult even for novice users.
The easiest way to check DirectX version on Windows 10.
Fortunately, these libraries are such a component that is easy to find and install. It's free and always has been. However, this also hides another difficulty, especially for inexperienced users. There is a high probability of receiving a malicious file. But, again, there is a simple but reliable way how to avoid all possible problems- download installation files exclusively from the official site.
Download and install a set of libraries
In this case, this is the official Microsoft website. Find the "Download" or "Download" button on the site. 
Then click "Abandon and continue". 
Download the dxwebsetup.exe file, then run it. 
It is recommended, both during downloading and during installation, to pay attention to all stages of the installation process and to the emerging dialog boxes, during which the company will try to deliver several of its products to you - from Microsoft Office to the Bing bar. These, of course, are not malicious files, but if you do not need them, they can be absolutely useless.
We agree to the terms of the license agreement.
Then installing them.
After installation, click "Finish". 
The site emphasizes that this component cannot be removed, so it is advisable to create a point so that in case of any problems you can easily restore it from right place thus avoiding the need to reinstall entirely. There are no options offered during installation, and you don't know where DirectX is located in Windows 10. Even the path is selected automatically, so there shouldn't be any difficulties in the process.
How to update DirectX 12 version for Windows 10?
It is important to know how to update the version of DirectX 12 for Windows 10 for 64 bit or 32 bit - by downloading the installation file from the Microsoft website, you do not get a distribution kit for a specific library, but rather an assistant that will first determine the version of your video card and operating system, and then, based on this, downloads necessary files for installation. Therefore, in fact, by installing libraries in this way, you update the set of libraries to latest version. This is not manually regulated, but repelled by certain factors.
In rare cases, the set is not updated. This is solved by a simple reinstallation.
This is the only answer to why DirectX 12 is not installed on Windows 10.
What if I don't trust Microsoft?
If you don't trust Microsoft and want to find out for yourself which version your graphics card supports, there are a few things you can do:
- Visit the official website of the manufacturer and find the corresponding table. This is an urgent question, so there should be no problems with the search;
- Use any program that determines the set of PC components. As one of the options, you can offer a free GPU-Z. Necessary information located in the "Graphics Card" section in the "DirectX Support" field.
DirectX is complex software solutions, which are used by developers when creating software. DirectX gained popularity as a means of developing video games. Each time, along with the launch of a new edition of Windows, Microsoft releases a new numbered build of DirectX, which allows you to create even more realistic and high-quality visual effects more productive use of computer resources.
DirectX is distributed free of charge and is often found along with the purchased game on the same disc. Other than that, there are a few more ways to update DirectX on Windows 10.
Checking the current version of DirectX
By default, Windows 10 comes pre-installed with version 12 of DirectX. This assembly is the latest edition of the library, and it is not required to update it. To verify this and find out which DirectX version you are using in Windows 10, you need to:
- Click on the search bar on the taskbar or click on the combination Win keys+R.
- Enter the command "dxdiag" in the text field and click "Run".
- Examine the data in the window that appears, at the bottom of which the version of DirectX used should be indicated.
Important! Even though DirectX 12 is preinstalled on Windows 10, the dxdiag dialog box may in some cases show an earlier version. This is because the video card used in the computer does not support the technologies used in DX12. Information about the technologies supported by the video card can always be obtained on the official website of the device manufacturer.
Update
The only way to update DirectX 12 on Windows 10 is to check for a library update via windows update. Any attempts to download the web installer from the official Microsoft website or get help on updating DX to the latest version 12 will take the user to the Windows 10 upgrade page.
So, to check for an update for system components, you need:
- Open "Computer Settings".
- Go to the "Update and Security" section.
- Click on the "Check for Updates" button.
- Agree to install updates.
Video
For step-by-step execution instructions, we recommend watching the video.
In custody
It is important to remember that new editions of DX are extremely rare - often the update occurs only a few times before the next major version appears. Therefore, if the task of downloading Directx 12 for Windows 10 is set to improve computer performance in games, then it is better to check the status of the drivers or think about improving the hardware of the device.