However, Microsoft has been known to release updated versions, and installing the latest updates might be the fix to a DirectX problem you’re having—such as dsetup.dll errors—or may give performance increases in your games and graphics programs. Follow the steps below to update DirectX in any version of Windows. Installing DirectX will take less than 15 minutes.
How to Download and Install DirectX
DirectX Windows Versions
All versions of Windows don’t support all versions of DirectX. Here’s more on how each version of DirectX works across the Windows family. Read carefully through the setup procedure. You might be asked to install something else like the Bing Bar. Just uncheck whatever you’re not interested in to avoid installing it. DirectX 12 is included with Windows 10 and is only supported in that version of Windows. Updates to DirectX 12 related files are only available through Windows Update. No standalone version of DirectX 12 is available. DirectX 11.4 & 11.3 are only supported in Windows 10. As with DirectX 12.0, updates are only provided through Windows Update. DirectX 11.2 is supported in Windows 10 and Windows 8 (8.1+) only. Any updates to DirectX 11.2 related files are made available in Windows Update in those versions of Windows. There is no standalone download available for DirectX 11.2. DirectX 11.1 is supported in Windows 10 and Windows 8. Windows 7 (SP1) is supported as well but only after installing the Platform Update for Windows 7. DirectX 11.0 is supported in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. Support for Windows Vista is available but only after installing the Platform Update for Windows Vista. DirectX 10 is supported in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. DirectX 9 is supported in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. If you have a program that calls for a DirectX 9 file in Windows 10 or Windows 8, installing the downloadable version (the process above) is the way to solve that problem—it will not “downgrade” your DirectX 10/11/12 install! This is also the latest version of DirectX that’s compatible with Windows XP.
How to Find the Current DirectX Version Number
You can check which version of DirectX is installed on your computer through the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
