To check your DirectX version, type dxdiag in the taskbar search box, open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, select the System tab, and read DirectX Version under System Information. That screen answers only that question: whether your graphics card or a particular game works with DirectX 12 at a given level should be confirmed from the game's official requirements, not from this one line. As checked on September 30, 2026, Microsoft's documentation gives the same steps for Windows 10 and 11, and this article follows Windows 11. For an example of how a game lists its requirements, see Delta Force system requirements and install size, which reproduces the official store wording.
Bottom line: installed version and game support come from different places
It comes down to two steps. First, use dxdiag to see the DirectX version installed on your PC. Second, compare the DirectX requirement on the official page of the game you want to play. According to Microsoft's documentation, a PC running Windows 10 or 11 already has the latest DirectX installed, that includes DirectX 11.3 and 12, and updates are delivered through Windows Update. There is no standalone installer package for these versions, so there is no separate file to hunt for. For reference, Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements page (updated July 14, 2026) lists a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver. However, the documentation checked on September 30, 2026 gives no example of what the System tab displays, so do not treat that value as identical to a game's requirement; read the game's own listing as well. Every game publishes its own spec, and Eternal Return system requirements is another example laid out that way. All steps and menu names here reflect what was checked on September 30, 2026.
How to check DirectX with dxdiag (Windows 11)
- 1Type dxdiag in the search box — Type dxdiag in the search box on the taskbar and select dxdiag from the results list. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window opens. This is the only launch method the official documentation describes, so this article does not cover others.
- 2Handle the first-run signature prompt — The first time you run it, a window may ask whether you want to check that your drivers are digitally signed. Microsoft's documentation recommends selecting Yes.
- 3Read DirectX Version on the System tab — Select the System tab and look under System Information for the DirectX Version line. That line is the value you are after. As of September 30, 2026 the documentation gives no sample of the wording, so simply note what your screen shows.
- 4Save the result if you need it — To show the result to someone or compare it later, select Save All Information.... The documentation says this saves it in an easily shared format.
- 5If it is not what you expected, start with Windows Update — If the value differs from what you expected, check Windows Update first, since that is how DirectX updates are delivered. If you still cannot tell whether it fits a game, use that game's official requirements page as the reference.
What each check tells you, and where the docs stop
| What you want to know | Where to look | Note from the official docs |
|---|---|---|
| The DirectX version installed on your PC | dxdiag > System tab > DirectX Version under System Information | The docs say where to look but give no example of the displayed value |
| Showing the result to someone else | Save All Information... in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool | The docs say it saves in an easily shared format; the file type and location are not stated |
| Keeping DirectX up to date | Windows Update | Windows 10 and 11 include DirectX 11.3 and 12, and there is no standalone installer |
| The graphics condition Windows 11 requires | Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements page | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver (checked September 30, 2026; page updated July 14, 2026) |
| The GPU's functionality level (feature level) | Microsoft Learn's Direct3D hardware feature levels page | A feature level means functionality, not performance, and Direct3D 12 drivers are feature level 11_0 or better |
What to check when you cannot find it or it looks wrong
- Confirm you typed dxdiag exactly and selected dxdiag from the results list.
- If a driver-signature prompt is on screen, check whether you chose Yes, as the documentation recommends.
- Make sure you are on the System tab, below System Information. Entries on other tabs are outside this article.
- On Windows 10 or 11, do not look for a separate DirectX installer; check Windows Update. Older Windows versions are outside the scope of this article and are not covered.
- If it is still unclear whether your setup fits, check the graphics card maker's official driver page and then the game's official requirements, in that order.
Where this check meets game recording
If you are checking DirectX to make sure a game will run properly, the next question may be how to keep footage of your play. This article does not cover DOR's requirements. DOR is a free Windows desktop app that detects supported games and records full matches to mp4 automatically. For example, Sudden Attack is supported for automatic full-match recording only, not for automatic highlight clips of kills. With an NVIDIA graphics card, NVENC is the default encoder for recording, and the match audio and your microphone can end up in the same mp4.
Official sources (checked September 30, 2026)
The steps and menu names come from Microsoft Support's guide to running dxdiag, the update method from Microsoft Support's guide to installing the latest DirectX, and the Windows 11 graphics requirement from Microsoft Learn's Windows 11 requirements. The feature level notes come from the Direct3D hardware feature levels page on Microsoft Learn. Documentation can change, so check the links for the current wording.
