Windows may be the best for gaming; it has more errors than any other operating system. If you’re a PC gamer, you might have already encountered a ‘d3d11-compatible GPU’ error message while running specific games.
Have you ever wondered what does the D3D11-Compatible GPU error means and why it occurs while launching specific games? In this article, we will discuss the game error and how to fix it.
What Does D3D11-Compatible GPU is Required error means?
Before understanding the error message, you must know about Direct3D 11, a software component of Microsoft DirectX for rendering 3D graphics.
The error message appears if you try to launch a game that requires a graphic card compatible with Direct3D 11.
If a game requires the hardware features of Direct3D 11, but your graphic card isn’t compatible, you will see this error message.
Another important thing that may lead to the ‘D3D11-compatible GPU’ error in Windows is the outdated or incompatible graphics drivers.
How to Fix D3D11-Compatible GPU error in Windows?
Now that you know why the error message appears, things will become clear. It’s possible to fix D3D11 compatible GPU required to run the engine error message on Windows. For that, follow the methods we have shared below.
1. Install Pending Windows Updates
Windows automatically installs the latest version of DirectX during the Update. So, if your PC is compatible with any new version of DirectX, updating the operating system will download & install it.
To update your Windows operating system, follow some of the simple steps we have shared below.
1. Click the Windows Start button and select Settings.
2. On Settings, select Windows Update.
3. Next, on the right side, click the Check for Updates button.
4. Now, the Windows update will run and will download & install all pending updates.
That’s it! That’s how easy it is to update the Windows operating system.
2. Update your Graphics Card Driver
The next best thing you can do to resolve the Windows D3D11-Compatible GPU error message is to update your graphics card driver.
As we know, outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can sometimes trigger uninvited errors. Hence, chances are that you are getting the error message just because of the outdated driver.
So, it’s recommended to update your graphics card driver on Windows via Device Manager. Here’s how to update it.
1. Click on the Windows Search and type Device Manager. Next, open the Device Manager app from the list.
2. When the Device Manager opens, expand the Display adaptors.
3. Next, right-click on your Graphics card and select Update Driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers on the Update Driver screen.
That’s it! Now you need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update process.
3. Repair the Visual C++ Redistributables
Corrupted or missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable runtime libraries is another reason for ‘D3D11-compatible GPU’. On Windows 11, you can repair them instead of reinstalling them. Here’s how to repair Visual C++ Redistributables on Windows.
1. Click on the Windows Start button and select Settings.
2. On the Settings app, switch to the Apps section.
3. On the right side, click Installed apps.
4. Next, find all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. Right-click on them and select Modify.
5. On the Modify Setup wizard, click the ‘Repair‘ button.
That’s it! You must repeat the steps for all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables available on your computer.
4. Set the Game to use your GPU
Well, if you have a PC with both integrated and dedicated graphics, it’s best to set the game to utilize a dedicated graphics card.
You need to make a few changes to the Graphics preference settings to get rid of the error message. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Click on the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings. On the Settings, switch to the System tab.
2. On the right side, click on Display.
3. On the Display screen, scroll down and click on Graphics.
4. Next, find the game that is throwing the error message. Select it and click Options.
5. On the Graphics preference, select High performance.
That’s it! If you don’t want to go through these steps, open the Device Manager and disable the Integrated graphic adapter.
5. Download & Install DirectX Runtime Libraries
Many Windows users on the Microsoft forum have claimed to fix the ‘D3D11-Compatible GPU’ error by installing the DirectX Runtime Libraries. DirectX Runtime Libraries installer replaces all missing/corrupted DirectX Files. Here’s how to install it on Windows.
- Open your favorite web browser and visit this webpage.
- Next, go through the download section to download dxwebsetup.exe on your computer.
- Once downloaded, run the installer and select check the I accept the agreement option, and select Next.
- On the next screen, uncheck all bundleware.
- Click the Next button on the DirectX setup wizard and wait until the installation completes.
- Once completed, click on the Finish button.
That’s it! Once installed, restart your computer and launch the game showing the ‘D3D11 GPU’ error message.
6. Force DirectX 11 on Steam
If you have encountered the ‘D3D11-Compatible GPU is Required to Run the Engine’ error while launching a Steam game, you must force DirectX 11 on Steam. Here’s how to do it.
1. Launch the Steam desktop client and switch to the Library tab.
2. Now right-click on the game, showing you the error message, and select Properties.
3. Next, switch to the General tab.
4. On the Launch option, input -dx11.
That’s it! After making the changes, restart the Steam desktop client and relaunch the game. This time, you won’t see the error message.
7. Run the SFC Command
SFC or System File Checker is a utility designed to deal with corrupted system files. The ‘D3D11-Compatible GPU’ error can sometimes occur due to corrupted or missing system fiell.
Hence, it’s a good idea to scan your system files with the system file checker utility. Here’s how to run the SFC tool on Windows.
1. First, click on Windows search and type Command Prompt. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. When the command prompt opens, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
That’s it! Now, the System File Checker utility will run; this will likely fix all your corrupted system files and will eventually resolve the ‘D3D11-Compatible GPU is Required’ error message.
Also Read: How to Check Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate in Windows
So, these are the few best ways to resolve the ‘D3F11 Compatible GPU’ error in the Windows operating system. We hope that the methods we have shared have resolved the message. If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with others.
