How to fix the “DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error” on a Windows PC?

For some users, launching their Call of Duty games in Windows has become a bit of a problem because of the unrecoverable error in DirectX. In the article, we will show you what this ‘unrecoverable error in DirectX’ is and how to fix it.

The reason why we are focusing on the Call of Duty titles here is, of course, because the occurrence rate of this error is much higher for these games. However, the unrecoverable error in DirectX can happen when you are starting any other Windows game, which means that the problem lies deeper that one might think.

So, what does it mean if DirectX displays an unrecoverable error?

The meaning behind this error is clear: something in the process has gone wrong, and this error has everything to do with DirectX. If you are unfamiliar with DirectX, you should know that it is a collection of Application Programming Interfaces powering your gaming graphics.

In order to remove the DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error warning, you need to use the fixes that we provided below. Make sure to stick to the instructions.

Fix 1

First, you can check the game’s DirectX system requirements. The error in question stems from the possible incompatibility of what your device can offer and the requirements that are essential for the game to run. Here’s how you check this:

• Step 1. Open Steam and locate the game’s page.
• Step 2. At the bottom of the page, you will see your game’s DirectX system requirements..
• Step 3. Use the Win key + R shortcut and open the Run box.
• Step 4. Type ‘dxdiag’ and hit Enter.
• Step 5. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window, scroll down to find the DirectX version.
• Step 6. If your DirectX version does not meet the game’s requirements, make sure to update your system. Currently, Windows 10 supports DirectX 12, so if you have a version that came out earlier, you will need to make some adjustments in order to play your games.

Keep in mind that Windows Update will automatically update DirectX if there is an available latest version. Unless, of course, you have disabled automatic updates. To check for the latest updates, use this guide:

• Step 1. Open the Run box and type:
  ‘control /name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate’, hit Enter.
• Step 2. Click the Check for updates option to get the latest updates.

Fix 2

Another solution you might want to try is reinstalling and/or updating your graphics card driver. The driver is a mediator between your graphics card and system, so if the driver is unupdated, DirectX issues show up. From this point onwards, you have two choices: update your driver manually or install a special tool.

You can try to install the update or reinstall the driver yourself. However, for those of us that really don’t have time for that, there is an easy way out – use Auslogics Driver Updater, a tool that was created for this exact purpose. It will run in the background, perform scans of all the drivers that you have on your device and keep a record of their status. Once a driver becomes outdated and needs an update, Auslogics Driver Updater will download the necessary version automatically and start the updating process without your interference. This tool will save you a lot of time and hassle, not to mention annoyance at finding out that your mouse or keyboard are not working for some reason.

Fix 3

The next fix comes with a little proviso: if you have any experience with your system’s Registry, then the following fix is available for you to try. However, if you do not have any experience and/or are a newbie, we suggest postponing this fix after you have engaged someone more tech-savvy to help. Here are the instructions:

• Step 1. Use the Win key + R to open Run.
• Step 2. Type ‘regedit’ and hit Enter.
• Step 3. Follow this pathway: Computer > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > PROTOCOLS > Filter > text/xml
• Step 4. One you have done that, click File>Export and name that file, save it.
• Step 5. Right-click text/xml and select Delete from the menu. Confirm the action.
• Step 6. Close the Registry Editor. Your issue should now be fixed.

Fix 4

Finally, we suggest customizing your display scaling. Some users have reported that this simple workaround helped them with the DirectX unrecoverable error for such games as Advanced Warfare and Ghosts. Hopefully, you will be one of the lucky ones for whom this fix has actually worked. See the instructions below to adjust the settings:

• Step 1. Right-click the desktop.
• Step 2. Select Display settings.
• Step 3. At the bottom of the window, navigate to Custom scaling.
• Step 4. Enter 100 into the box of the recommended scaling size and click Apply.
• Step 5. After that, select Sign out to apply the custom scale factor. You should now be able to play your games without any interference.

We hope that this article helped you to understand why you were experiencing issues with your DirectX and you found the fix that worked for you among our suggestions.