How to Fix the “D3D11-compatible GPU” Error in Windows 11

Suppose you are all set to jump into your favorite game or any new software and suddenly find that it is not working and are hit by an error: “A D3D11 compatible GPU is required to run the engine.”

What will you do then? Don’t worry! We are here to help you. In this guide, you will get some fixes that have and will help to fix this issue on your Windows 11 PC. So, let’s get started with the guide. 

What is a d3d11-compatible GPU that is required to run an engine error?

Direct3D 11 (D3D11) is basically a part of DirectX API that you can use to handle all your tasks related to multimedia or any task which has high graphics.

So, suppose when any game or your editing software needs D3D11 compatibility GPU, it directly indicate that your GPU also support Direct3D 11 features.

However, unfortunately, the system doesn’t meet this requirement, it is somehow impossible to run the application. 

What are the Common Causes?

1. Outdated Graphics Drivers: Your device may be running on an outdated or corrupted GPU driver. 
2. Incompatible Hardware: Your device hardware may not support Direct3D 11. 
3. Software Glitches: There might be a glitch in your new software update.
4. DirectX Issues: You may not have installed the DirectX correctly on your device. 
5. Windows Update Problems: If you have recently updated your Windows 11 with the new update, then that update might have any bugs. 

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How to Fix “A D3D11 Compatible GPU is Required to Run the Engine” on Windows 11 PC

Here are some initial fixes that you can try to resolve the DirectX issue on your Windows 11 PC:

Fix 1: Check the game requirements

It is common for people who play games to purchase expensive hardware, but that is not true for everyone.

It isn’t uncommon for users to be running older configurations for one reason or another, and then playing modern games isn’t possible.

It is definitely a good idea to check the minimum system requirements before you start the game if you are running a computer with lower specs or are receiving an error message “D3D11-compatible GPU is required” while attempting to launch the game.

Most games have this information available on their official websites, on Steam (or other gaming platforms), or on specific game websites.

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Fix 2: Update DirectX

Your computer may not be able to support DirectX 11 features if it runs an older DirectX version than DirectX 11. It is recommended that you update DirectX in this case.

The first thing you need to do is check the DirectX version on your PC.

1. To invoke Run, press the Windows logo key and R simultaneously on your keyboard. You can type dxdiag and click OK.
2. Make sure you have the latest DirectX version.

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Fix 3: Disable Game Launcher and Restart

To resolve the Direct3D 11 game issue, it is recommended that the game launcher be terminated and restarted before trying advanced fixes.

There are times when apps crash or freeze abruptly and stop working, but you can fix that by restarting the computer. Follow these steps again:

1. To launch the Task Manager, press Control + Shift + Esc.
2. Right-click the game launcher application from the list of active processes. Click on the End task button.

3. It is now time to close Task Manager.
4. You can open the game and check if the issue persists.

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Fix 4: Check if your GPU supports Direct3D

While your graphics card might support the minimum requirements, it might lack some direct3D support. Here are the steps you need to take to find out:

1. The first step open the Windows search box, type in dxdiag, and hit Enter.
2. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, select the Display tab.
3. There should be a Direct3D driver listed in the Drivers section.

If it’s not installed, it might be because it’s not available. It has been quite a while since DirectX was integrated into Windows update delivery, so if you haven’t updated, try these steps:

4. Initially, in the Windows search box, type Updates and press Enter.
5. Then click Additional Updates.
6. Install all optional updates (very important!).

7. Restart your PC after you’ve done this, and try playing the game again.
8. Alternatively, you can download and install legacy DirectX SDK components, although this is only relevant to older games and won’t work on the latest ones.

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Fix 5: Run the Game Using the Dedicated GPU

The games may be using the onboard GPU if the games don’t work with DirectX 11 despite your discrete GPU supporting DirectX 11.

Instead of using the discrete GPU, you need to force the game to use the integrated GPU. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app, press Windows + I.
2. Go to the System> Display section. Select Graphics.

3. To customize the application, scroll down to the ‘Custom settings‘ section. On the list, click the arrow icon to access the game.
4. Select GPU Preferences from the drop-down menu. Select High-Performance.

5. Now, you can close the Settings app.

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Fix 6: Repair Visual C++ Redistributables

For Windows OS games and apps to run, the Visual C++ Runtime libraries are required. It is possible to repair an existing installation without uninstalling the entire package if it is corrupt. Follow these steps:

1. Initially, to open the Start menu, press the Windows key and type appwiz.cpl.
2. In the list of installed programs, look for the Visual C++ Redistributable. To change it, right-click on it and select Change.

3. Then click the Repair button.
4. You will see User Account Control open. Simply click on the Yes button.
5. You should wait until the utility repairs the Visual C++ Redistributable installation. Then click Close.
6. You need to restart your computer.

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Fix 7: Update Windows 11

In some cases, keeping Windows 11 up-to-date can fix compatibility problems.

1. To open Settings, press Win + I.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Thereafter, to check for updates, click on Check for updates.

4. However, if there are any updates available, install them and restart your computer.

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Fix 8: Adjust Graphics Settings

In case you are still experiencing problems, you may wish to adjust your graphics settings.

1. On your desktop, right-click and select Display settings.
2. Afterward, click on Advanced Display Settings at the bottom of the page.

3. You should adjust your GPU’s refresh rate and resolution to the recommended settings on your monitor.

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Fix 9: Modify Registry (Advanced)

It can be dangerous to modify the Windows Registry if you do so incorrectly. Whenever you make any changes to your registry, be sure to back it up first.

Make sure you follow each step carefully and proceed with caution.

1. To open the regedit program, press Win + R, then enter regedit.
2. Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Direct3D.
3. Make sure any keys associated with your GPU are correct.

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Fix 10: Update GPU Drivers

It’s possible that the DirectX error is caused by habitual ignorance of app and driver updates. Games run without any issues whenever GPU drivers are released to fix bugs in old versions.

In this case, you should update the GPU driver using the Device Manager:

1. To access the Power User menu, right-click the Start button. Choose Device Manager.
2. Click on the Display Adapters section to expand it. Right-click the GPU adapter and select Update Driver.
3. Select ‘Search automatically for drivers‘. It will take a few minutes for the GPU drivers to download and install.

4. You should close Device Manager and restart your computer.

Fix 11: Download DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer

It may be possible to solve the D3D11 compatibility issue by replacing missing or corrupted DirectX files with the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.

1. Go to the Microsoft download site and install DirectX End-User Runtime.
2. To install the software on your computer, open dxwebsetup.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.

Once the changes have been applied, restart your computer to make sure the DirectX files have been replaced.

So, that’s all we have for you on how to fix the A D3D11 compatible GPU that is required to run the engine error. It’s our hope that you find this article helpful. For more info, comment below and let us know.