Direct3D, which is part of DirectX, is a graphical interface API for Windows that is used to render three-dimensional graphics in applications or games. Direct3D uses the hardware acceleration if available on the video card and allows the 3D rendering path’s hardware acceleration.

Not initializing it in a video game could mean that everything as the explanation is a bit too vague. It could be anything from old drivers to missing important files, but we decided to gather all the known working methods and put them together in one article for you to check out. Investigation!

Solution 1: Force the game to use DirectX11

The DirectX errors you see when they appear when you try to run the game can be resolved simply by making the game use DirectX11 instead of the DirectX9 it tries to use by default. The problem is that different games use different methods to enable this tweak.

Sometimes a user needs to edit the configuration file in Notepad, and sometimes it can be fixed merely using in-game settings. However, here we will present an almost universal method that can be used for nearly every game.

1. Navigate to the challenging game’s installation directory. If you didn’t make any changes during the installation, it would be Local Disk >> Program Files.

2. However, if you have the game shortcut on the desktop, you can right-click on it and choose Open file location from the context menu.

3. Locate the d3d9.dll file in the folder, right-click on it, and choose the Rename option from the context menu. Rename it to something like d3d9.old.dll, so you have a backup ready if something goes wrong.

4. The game will now automatically switch to using DirectX11 if it is available (and it is available for Vista and earlier).

Solution 2: Update Video Card Drivers

This is an important solution if you want to properly fix this problem as DirectX and Direct3D are closely related to your graphics card. The graphics card will need the latest drivers to make some of the features available in newer games required by the DirectX utility.

1. Click the Start menu button, enter “Device Manager” with the menu open, and select from the list of results by clicking on the first result. You can also use the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type in “devmgmt.msc” in the box and click OK to run it.

2. Since we want to update the graphics card, expand the category of Display Adapters, right-click on your video card and choose Uninstall Device.

3. Confirm any dialogue that may ask you to confirm your choice and wait for the end process.

4. Look for your graphics card driver on the card manufacturer’s website and follow the instructions. They will be available on the website. Save the installation file on your computer and run it from there. Your computer may reboot several times during the installation.

Nvidia Driver – Click Here!

AMD Driver – Click Here!

Solution 3: Download and install the latest version of DirectX 9.0

Sometimes the solution may be obvious, and you may need to install a newer version of DirectX. It is often the case between games that do not provide their DirectX settings, and the problem can be resolved quite quickly if that’s the case, and that’s by updating DirectX to the latest version.

1. Navigate to the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer Download page on the official Microsoft website linked here.

2. Scroll down, locate and click the red Download button at the website and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to download the Web Installer for DirectX on your computer directly.

Note: Microsoft will likely make some of their apps available after you click the Download link, but you should deselect those products if you don’t want them on your computer. If you choose not to download these utilities, the Next button will be renamed No, thanks and continue.

3. Perform the DirectX installation by following any instructions from the Microsoft website or the DirectX setup wizard. You will need to scroll through the Terms & Conditions page and click the Next button.

4. Reboot your computer and check to see if the error “Failed to initialize Direct3D” still appears.