How to Fix D3d9.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

A troubleshooting guide for d3d9.dll errors

d3d9.dll error message



The d3d9.dll file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows-based games and advanced graphics programs, d3d9.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

There are several ways that d3d9.dll errors can show up on your computer. Several of the more common specific d3d9.dll error messages are listed below:

The file d3d9.dll is missing
D3d9.DLL Not Found
File d3d9.dll not found
D3d9.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.

The d3d9.dll error message could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, most commonly video games, but it could also appear when another software program is started.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3d9.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7Windows VistaWindows XP, and Windows 2000.

How to Fix D3d9.dll Errors

Do not download the d3d9.dll DLL file individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of excellent reasons that downloading DLLs from these sites are never a good idea.

If you've already downloaded d3d9.dll from one of those DLL download sites, remove it from wherever you put it and continue with these steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet.

    The error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the d3d9.dll not found error.



  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the d3d9.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or other program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of DirectX on the installation disc.


  4. Uninstall the game or software program and then reinstall it again. Something might have happened to the program files that work with d3d9.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

    You might try removing the program with a free software uninstaller tool to make sure that all of the installation files and registry data is removed. Using the standard uninstall method might not delete everything that needs to be deleted, which could cause other problems during the reinstall.

  5. Restore the d3d9.dll file from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your error, try extracting the d3d9.dll individually from the DirectX downloadable package.

    Where you put the extracted d3d9.dll file depends on the application that needs it. If the DLL error tells you the specific folder where d3d9.dll is missing from, copy the file to that location. However, since most programs probably look for d3d9.dll in C:\Windows\system32\, copy the DLL file there if you're not explicitly told where to put it. Some DirectX installations might use C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ instead.


Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way, like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a whole lot more.