Dxgi.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the dxgi DLL file (also called DirectX Graphics Infrastructure).

The dxgi.dll error message could apply to any program or system that might utilize the file on any of Microsoft's operating systems including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

How to Fix Dxgi.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

Do not download dxgi.dll from a DLL download site.There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file like that is a bad idea. If you need a copy of this file, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.

1. 
   Restore dxgi.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" dxgi.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

   If you suspect this, but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover dxgi.dll with a free file recovery program.

   Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete any of these steps if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the error.

2. Scan your entire computer for viruses and other malware. Some dxgi.dll errors could be related to some kind of malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file.

   It's even possible that the dxgi.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

3. Execute the sfc/scannow command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the dxgi.dll file. Fortunately, the dxgi.dll file is provided by Microsoft in at least some versions of Windows, so the System File Checker tool (the sfc command) should restore it.

   This is the most likely solution to a missing or not found dxgi.dll error. Please make every effort you can to complete this step after making sure your computer isn't infected with malware.

4. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the dxgi.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, and System File Checker didn't help, System Restore should solve the problem.

5. Reinstall the program that uses the dxgi.dll file. If the dxgi.dll DLL error occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

   This step is most useful for replacing DLL files that aren't supplied by Microsoft, but it could help with your dxgi.dll problem if this program also provides a copy of the file and the previous troubleshooting ideas weren't successful.

6. Copy the dxgi.dll file from a backup folder. Windows should have a backup copy of dxgi.dll in at least one folder, or two if you're on a 64-bit version of Windows:

   • %windir%\WinSxS\amd64...\dxgi.dll can be copied to %windir%\System32\
   • %windir%\WinSxS\x86...\dxgi.dll can be copied to %windir%\SysWOW64\

   A super easy way to find another copy of dxgi.dll is to search your whole computer for the file. You should find those locations above; just copy the file out of the folder you see above and paste it into the other folder above that correlates to the first folder.

7. Delete the dxgi.dll file if the DLL error is related to a video game,but only remove the DLL file if it's in the game's folder.

   Dxgi.dll is an important DLL file when its in the correct folder. However, some video games store a copy in their own folder within the game's installation directory.

   If you have a dxgi.dll file in your game's installation folder, delete it from there to see if that fixes the DLL error (don't deleteany DLL files from the Windows folders located above).

   You might need to repeat Step 5 after this one.

8. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to dxgi.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file dxgi.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

   The dxgi.dll file may or may not be related to video cards-this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

9. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if dxgi.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

10. Install any available Windows updates. Many service packs and other patches replace or update some of the hundreds of Microsoft distributed DLL files on your computer. The dxgi.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

11. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual dxgi.dll file troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a Refresh, Startup Repair, or Repair Installation (depending on your version of Windows) should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

12. Use a free registry cleaner to repair dxgi.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid dxgi.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

    We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners, but we've included the option here just in case it turns out to be helpful, in which case you could avoid the last-resort option below.

13. Perform a clean install of Windows. This will erase everything and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the dxgi.dll error, this should be your next course of action.

    To be clear, all the data on the drive you have Windows installed on will be deleted during this step, so be sure to back up important files if you're able to. Obviously, make sure you've made every attempt possible to fix the dxgi.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one before you take on a clean installation.

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 lot more.

Causes of Dxgi.dll Errors

In some cases, dxgi.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

There are several ways dxgi.dll error messages might be phrased, depending on the cause of the problem. Here are some examples:

• Dxgi.dll Not Found
• The file dxgi.dll is missing
• This application failed to start because dxgi.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
• Cannot find [PATH]\dxgi.dll
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: dxgi.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again

These error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, or when Windows starts or shuts down.

Some dxgi.dll errors are seen while playing or trying to play certain video games.PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG)is one example.

Noting at what point the error shows up is an important piece of information that will be helpful during troubleshooting.