DirectX 9 For Windows 10 & 11: How to Download and Install

DirectX 9 may be required by certain games or apps

3 min. read

Updated onAugust 30, 2024

updated onAugust 30, 2024

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Key notes

In this guide, we will share with you a detailed guide on how you can download DirectX 9 on your Windows 10 and 11 computers. Let us check out the solutions.

What is DirectX 9?

DirectX 9, released by Microsoft in 2002, was originally designed for Windows 98 and Windows XP but is also supported by later versions of Windows.

Windows 10 and 11 come with DirectX preinstalled and updated automatically through Windows Update. There’s no need for separate installation.

Despite being an older version, DirectX 9 is still required by some programs and games. If it’s missing, you might see an error message like “The program can’t start becaused3dx9_41.dll is missing.

How to download DirectX version 9.0 on Windows 10 & 11

1. Install DirectX 9 on Windows 10 & 11

Following the above steps, you will be able to download and install DirectX 9 on your Windows 10 and Windows 11 computer.

The process is identical for both OSes so you won’t have any problems if you have upgraded to the new Windows 11.

However, do note that there are multiple readers who claimed that they aren’t able to play the program or game even after installing DirectX 9 on their PC.

In such a scenario, there is one more feature that you need to enable on your computer to enjoy the DirectX 9-supported software or games on your PC, the details of which you will find in the next section.

2. Enable Direct Play?

Once you have enabled this feature, you will be able to play the DirectX 9-supported games and programs on your Windows 10 or 11 PCs without any issues.

Is there a DirectX 9 offline installer?

There is no separate DirectX 9 offline installer, but the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer fromMicrosoft’s DirectX download pagecan be used offline.

All you have to do is download the installer. Afterward, you can add it to a USB drive or other portable media.

On the target computer, run the installer from the USB drive to complete the installation without needing an internet connection.

Wrapping up

That is it from us in this guide. We have a guide that lists down some of the best ways tofix DirectX errors on your computer.

You should also check out our guide that will help you toreinstall DirectX on Windows 11. This could come in handy when you are coming across DirectX-related issues on your PC.

If you are getting thed3d8.dll missing or not found error, then do not worry, as you can easily resolve it by following the solutions in our guide.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below, if you found this guide helpful, or if you opted for a different way to download DirectX 9 on your computer.

DirectX 9 For Windows 10 & 11: How to Download and Install#

What is DirectX 9?#

How to download DirectX version 9.0 on Windows 10 & 11#

1. Install DirectX 9 on Windows 10 & 11#

2. Enable Direct Play?#

Is there a DirectX 9 offline installer?#

Wrapping up#