Fix DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error in Windows 11 or 10

While playing Call of Duty, mw2, WW2, or other games or trying to open them, several users are facing “DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error” which is incredibly frustrating. The issue is more frequent for Call of Duty titles but might also occur when starting others like Fivem, Plutonium, and Modern Warfare. Such errors usually arise due to faulty graphics drivers, incompatible system configurations, and outdated OS. The same issue can be caused by temporary glitches or conflicts if so, a simple restart can do the trick to fix DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error in Windows 11 or 10.

DirectX is a collection of APIs that are primarily used in gaming and multimedia applications to ensure better performance, graphics rendering, and audio processing. It provides a standardized interface for developers to interact with the underlying hardware, such as graphics cards and sound cards, without needing to know the specific details of each device. Once the system senses any issue or complication when using the DirectX file may abruptly close the entire application or sometimes, the game may not even start. See: Fix: Dev Error 6068, 6606, 6065, 6165, 6071 Modern WarFare [Windows 10].

DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error

Here is how to Fix DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error in Windows 11 or 10 –

Method-1: Ensure system requirements

Different applications have different system requirements and your PC must meet them to avoid any abnormality while running one. The same happens with Windows games too.

If your system fails to match the game’s specified requisite, you are likely to encounter performance issues or errors related to DirectX. To know your DirectX version, here are the steps to follow –

1. Press Windows + R.
2. In Run command, type – dxdiag.
3. Hit Enter key.
4. When DirectX Diagnostic tool window shows up, check which version your PC has.

Not all games demand the same system requirement, so, review them before downloading and installing one to ensure smooth functioning. Usually, most games perform better in DirectX 11 but you are always encouraged to upgrade to the latest version for better performance.

Method-2: Make sure your graphics driver is updated

DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error in Windows 11 or 10 may appear when there is an issue with the DirectX components or there is a conflict with the system’s graphics drivers. Outdated or incompatible display adapter drivers are more likely to conflict with DirectX.

To update the driver you can either use Device Manager or visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install manually.

1. Press Windows + X.
2. From the appearing Power User menu, choose Device Manager.
3. Expand Display adapters by double-clicking.
4. Right-click on your graphics driver and choose Update driver.

5. Click on Search automatically for drivers.
6. Now Windows will search for available updates over the internet. If found, it will be installed automatically.
7. When done, reboot your computer.

See: How to update drivers in Windows 11 (Best ways)

Method-3: Reinstall graphics card driver

Updating your graphics driver usually helps to resolve DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error, if not, consider reinstalling it.

This will not only resolve the associated issues but also improve performance, and ensure compatibility with the latest games and applications.

1. Press Start button and type dxdiag.
2. Hit Enter to open DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
3. In the appearing window, shift to Display tab.
4. Note down the graphics card and manufacturer details.
5. Open Device Manager.
6. Double-click Display adapters.
7. When the list is expanded, right-click on your graphics driver and choose Uninstall device.

8. Select the checkbox present before Delete the driver settings for this device.
9. Click Uninstall.
10. Restart Windows.
11. If a prompt window opens for detecting the graphics card driver, Click Cancel.
12. Go to the website of the graphics card manufacturer.
13. Look for a Drivers or Support section on the manufacturer’s website. You may find it in the main navigation menu or through a search function on the site.
14. Select the appropriate options to specify your graphics card model and the operating system using the information you noted down earlier.
15. Look for the latest driver version.
16. Download the driver package.
17. Once the download is complete, visit the directory where the system stores downloaded files.
18. Double-click the installer file.
19. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the new driver.
20. After the driver installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes and ensure that the new driver is fully activated.

Method-4: Update DirectX

To fix DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error, ensure that you have the latest version of the tool installed on your system. Windows updates usually automatically upgrade DirectX if there’s a more recent version, so make sure the service isn’t disabled. To check for updates manually, follow the way –

Windows 11

1. Press Windows + I.
2. Select Windows Update from left sidebar.
3. Move to the right and then click Check for updates.
4. Windows will now start checking for available updates
5. If updates are available, Windows will display them in a list.
6. Click Download button and then Install.
7. Follow on-screen instructions if any.
8. Once the updates are installed, Windows will ask you to reboot the system. Click Restart now button to finish the process.

Windows 10

1. Open Windows Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. From the right pane of the appearing page, click Check for updates.
4. The next procedures are the same as we mentioned above.

Method-5: Configure display scaling

To adjust the size of elements on your computer screen by making them larger or smaller, display scaling is used. It is especially useful when you have a high-resolution display or if you have difficulty reading small text or icons.

DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error in Windows 11 or 10 can also be a consequence if this setting is wrongly set.

Not all Windows games support display scaling or may have their own built-in options for adjusting the interface or text size. When the related settings are modified incorrectly, may fail to ensure desired results or cause graphical issues within the game.

If so, adjusting the scaling is necessary and it can be done easily in the display settings of your operating system.

1. Press Windows + D to go to the Desktop screen.
2. Right-click on any empty space and choose Display settings.
3. When the page appears, move to its right pane.
4. Click Scale.
5. Enter 100 in the text box located under Custom scaling section.
6. Click Apply (tick) button.

7. To make the changes effective, you may require to sign out and sign back in.

Method-6: Close other apps prior to running a game

A few apps run in the background are found to consume too much memory or CPU resources and end up causing conflict with running applications. Therefore, it’s necessary to exclude the interference of background apps.

Disabling them can help to free up system resources and potentially resolve issues related to performance or conflicts with other running processes.

1. Right-click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager from context menu.
2. The Task Manager will display a list of currently running processes and applications.
3. Check which app is consuming the most resources.
4. Rght-click on it and select End task.
5. Similarly, disable other apps that you don’t need or are using a significant amount of resources.
6. Try playing games now and see if the issue arises anymore.

Method-7: Tweak registry

A simple change in the registry often fixes DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error Call of Duty Advanced Warfare or another game. To modify the related key you don’t have to be an advanced user.

Simply stick to the below-given steps closely. If you are not familiar with the Windows registry or are unsure about making changes, it’s best to seek guidance from an expert.

Making changes to the Windows registry can have a significant impact as they can lead to system instability or even prevent your computer from starting properly if modified incorrectly. So, it should be approached with caution.

Also, always create a backup of your registry before adjusting the registry so that you can revert the modification in case of an emergency.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. In Run command, type regedit.
3. Click OK.
4. When a User Account Control prompts for your consent, click Yes.
5. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/xml directory.
6. On the left sidebar, right-click on text/xml folder and select Delete.

7. After removing the key successfully, reboot Windows.

Method-8: Disable antimalware program

Disabling your antivirus temporarily can help troubleshoot issues related to DirectX, as this software may interfere with certain system components or game files.

However, turning off the utility exposes your Windows to potential security risks, so it should be done with caution and for troubleshooting purposes only. Here’s how you can temporarily disable your antivirus –

Turn off Windows Defender Firewall

1. Click Start button and type Windows security.
2. When search result appears, hit Enter.
3. In the Windows Security app, choose Firewall & network protection.
4. You will see different network profiles, such as Domain, Private, and Public.
5. Select the network profile for which you want to disable the firewall, for example – Private network.
6. On the corresponding page, turn off the toggle button present under Microsoft Defender Firewall.
7. When prompted, click Yes to confirm your action.

Disable third-party antivirus

Specific steps to disable an antivirus program may vary depending on the software your system has. However, you can follow these general steps –

1. From the bottom right corner of the desktop screen, right-click on your antivirus icon.
2. Select the option that says Disable or Turn Off or something similar.
3. Confirm your selection by clicking Yes or Disable.
4. The antivirus program should now be disabled.

Keep in mind that your computer is now vulnerable to malware and other threats, so proceed with caution. To ensure your computer’s protection, it’s essential to re-enable the antivirus program as soon as the issue gets fixed

Method-9: Repair game files

Due to virus invasion and software conflict, many times game files go missing or become corrupted. DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error may emerge because of this reason.

The same issue can also take place due to incomplete installations or interference from other programs. To repair the error and restore system stability, you can reinstall a fresh copy of the game.

Before uninstalling and installing the game, you can verify the integrity of game files. To do so, you typically need to use the appropriate game launcher or platform. The exact steps may vary depending on the platform you are using, but here are general instructions for some popular platforms –

Steam

1. Open the Steam launcher.
2. Go to its Library.
3. Right-click on the game you want to verify and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
4. In the Properties window, opt for Local Files.
5. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files button.
6. Steam will then check the game files and replace any missing or corrupted files.

Epic Games Store

1. Open Epic Games Launcher.
2. From left sidebar, click Library.
3. Click on the three dots (…) icon present next to the game you want to verify.
4. Select Verify.
5. The Epic Games Launcher will then verify the game files and repair any issues it finds.

GOG Galaxy

1. Open the GOG Galaxy client and go to your game library.
2. Click on the game you want to verify to select it.
3. On the right-hand side, click on the More button (represented by three dots).
4. Select Verify/Repair from the drop-down menu.
5. GOG Galaxy will then verify the game files and fix any problems if necessary.

Origin

1. Open Origin launcher.
2. Click My Games Library from side panel.
3. Right-click on the image of the game you want to check and choose Repair.
4. The process will start automatically, and you can track it by watching the progress bar that appears.

Uplay

1. Open the UPlay launcher.
2. Click on Games.
3. Find the game you want to verify.
4. Right-click it and choose Verify Files.

Method-10: Scan & repair battle.net launcher

DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error is more visible when you play the games available on the Battle.net platform, especially Call of Duty (COD) Warzone. If so, you can scan and repair any specific game you choose within the launcher.

1. Open the Battle.net launcher.
2. In the list of games on the left-hand side, locate the game you want to scan and repair.
3. Click on the game’s icon to select it.
4. In the top left corner of the Battle.net launcher, click on the Blizzard logo to open the drop-down menu.
5. From the drop-down menu, choose Scan and Repair.
6. A new window will appear with the option to begin the scan and repair process. Click Begin Scan button.
7. The Battle.net launcher will start scanning the game files for any issues or errors.
8. If any problems are found during the scan, the launcher will prompt you to repair them. Click Repair to initiate the process.
9. The launcher will now download and replace any missing or corrupted files.
10. Once the repair process is complete, launch the game that was giving error.

Method-11: Delete battle.net cache folder

When you delete the cache folder of battle.net, the app will rebuild the necessary cache files the next time you launch it. This process can help resolve certain issues or conflicts that may occur with the cache files including DirectX-related errors.

Deleting the folder won’t remove any game installations or your saved data; it only removes temporary files and cached data related to the Battle.net app.

1. Close the Battle.net app if it’s currently running.
2. Press Windows + E to open the file explorer.
3. In the address bar at the top of the file explorer window, insert %ProgramData%\Battle.net and hit Enter.
4. Within the Battle.net folder, locate a subfolder named Cache.
5. Double-click the same.
6. Press Windows + A to select all the files and folders within the Cache folder.
7. Now, click Delete icon from the toolbar.
8. Confirm the deletion if prompted.
9. Close the file explorer.

Method-12: Run Call of Duty in DirectX 11 Mode

If you are encountering errors when attempting to run Call of Duty in DirectX 12 mode, there is a chance of combability issues. Try to run the game on DirectX 11 mode instead and see if the error is fixed.

1. Launch the Battle.net app.
2. Provide credentials to log into your account.
3. In the game library, locate the Call of Duty game and select it.
4. Click Options or cogwheel icon and select Game Settings.
5. Check Additional Command Line Arguments and insert -DD11 in its text box.
6. Click Done to save the changes.
7. Launch the Call of Duty game, and it should now run in DirectX 11 mode.

Methods:

Method-1: Ensure system requirements
Method-2: Make sure your graphics driver is updated
Method-3: Reinstall graphics card driver
Method-4: Update DirectX
Method-5: Configure display scaling
Method-6: Close other apps prior running a game
Method-7: Tweak registry
Method-8: Disable antimalware program
Method-9: Repair game files
Method-10: Scan & repair battle.net launcher
Method-11: Delete battle.net cache folder
Method-12: Run Call of Duty in DirectX 11 Mode

That’s all!!