How to Check Direct X Version

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DirectX is Microsoft's name for a family of application programming interfaces designed to speak to multimedia programs, such as music and video players. The DirectX family includes Direct3d, DirectMusic and DirectPlay and the "X" stands in for the name of the individual program. In addition to applications in the Windows operating system, Microsoft also uses DirectX in its Xbox video game system. Older versions of DirectX may not work with newer multimedia applications. If you find yourself receiving errors in your multimedia programs, you may need to check your Direct X version to determine if you are up-to-date.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Find DirectX Version on Vista

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-1.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-2.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will launch.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-3.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The tab may be the first to present when the DirectX Diagnostic Window opens. If not, it should be the first tab on the top left.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-4.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Scan down to the bottom of the list for a section labeled "DirectX Version" where you should see your version.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-5.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Find DirectX Version on a Pre-Vista Operating System

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-6.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-7.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-8.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This tab should show the version for each individual DirectX application.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-9.jpg\/aid1482578-v4-728px-Check-Direct-X-Version-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":337,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":534,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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      Tips

      • Windows Vista should have DirectX 10 or above. The latest version, as of May 30, 2011, is DirectX 11 which is standard on Windows 7. Microsoft released DirectX 11 version 6.01.7601.17514 as part of service pack 1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on February 16, 2011.
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      • Windows Update downloads and updates DirectX automatically as part of the service pack updates. You can download the latest DirectX version from Microsoft Windows Update or from the downloads section of the Microsoft Windows website.
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      References

      1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/157730
      2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX

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