An up-to-date DirectX version always ensures the best gaming and graphics performance. Most of the time, Windows 10 automatically updates the DirectX version for you. However, not all the hardware supports the latest version of DirectX (like DirectX 12.1). If you’re looking for methods to manually update your DirectX, please follow the steps below.

  1. Check your current DirectX version
  2. Check for Windows Update
  3. Update your graphics driver

Step 1. Check your current DirectX version

Before you update your DirectX, you have to check out the current version you’re using and make sure your hardware supports the latest version of DirectX.

You can check it out in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool just like this:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and R together to invoke the Run prompt. Type DxDiag and hit Enter.
  2. Under the System Information, you will see your DirectX Version. If it’s DirectX 12, then you’re using the newest DX version. If it isn’t, move on to check if your graphics card supports a newer version.
  3. Click the Display tab and refer to the Drivers section. If you see 12_1 and 12_0 in Features Levels, then you’ll be able to upgrade your DirectX to DirectX 12. And in Driver Model, WDDM 2.0 (or higher) means your system supports the full features of DirectX 12. (That said, the first value number in Feature Levels means the highest version of DirectX compatible with your graphics card, and the Driver Model WDDM 1.3 (or lower) means you will not be able to use all the features in DirectX 12.)

Once you verify that your computer allows a DX update, please proceed with Step 2.

Step 2. Check for Windows Update

For Windows 10, DirectX updates will be available through Windows Update. There is no stand-alone package for DirectX 11.3 and 12. If you need to manually upgrade your DirectX to DirectX 11.3 or higher, Windows Update is the only way to go.

To do so:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and I together to open Windows Settings, and then click Update & Security.
  2. Click the Check for updates button. If there is a DX update available, install it. If there isn’t, then no newer DX versions available for your system.

For your reference, you can also refer to the Microsoft official website to see how to update DX in other Windows versions.

Step 3. Update your graphics driver

When you’re facing a graphics-related issue or longing to improve the gaming performance, upgrading DirectX shouldn’t be the final solution. Since an up-to-date display card driver ensures the best gaming performance and fewer bugs, we strongly recommend you update your graphics driver.

Here’s what you can do (please note that the following screenshots are taken on Windows 11, but the instructions work on Windows 10 as well):

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and X at the same time, select Device Manager.
  2. Double-click to expand the category Display adapters. Then right-click your graphic card driver and click Update driver (the name of the device can be different on your computer).
  3. Then click Search automatically for updated driver software.
  4. Wait for Windows to find the latest driver available for you.
  5. When the driver update is done, restart your computer for the change to take effect.
  6. Then check and see if the problem is fixed.

If Windows says that it’s already found the latest driver for you, so no newer drivers are found, then you should consider updating your graphics driver in a different way with the help of Driver Techie.

Its ever-growing driver database allows you to always have access to the latest device drivers that you need. More importantly, Driver Techie simplifies the driver update process, so all it takes is just 3 clicks (for Pro users), and all your drivers are updated.

To use Driver Techie to find you the latest drivers:

  1. Download and install Driver Techie, then launch it.
  2. Click Scan Now.
  3. After the scan, select all the drivers you need to update and click Update All. Then all your drivers will be updated automatically without you having to do anything else.

Please note that Update All is available for Pro subscribers only, otherwise, you can only manually update the driver one at a time. To see how to manually update the drivers one by one, please check this post.

If you’re a Pro user of Driver Techie, and need our technical support to upgrade your DirectX or fix any graphics card issues, please feel free to contact <support@drivertechie.com>.