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The error “DirectX 12 is not supported on your system. Try running without the -dx12 or -d3d12 command line argument.” usually means the game cannot create the Direct3D 12 device it needs. It does not necessarily mean that Windows lacks DirectX 12.
First check the active GPU’s Feature Levels in DxDiag. Then install the correct graphics driver, make sure the game is using the capable adapter, and remove -dx12 or -d3d12 only if the game supports another renderer.
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What the error really means
-dx12 and -d3d12 are launch arguments that explicitly ask the game or engine to use the Direct3D 12 renderer. The message is normally produced by the game, not by DxDiag or a standalone Windows DirectX diagnostic check.
DirectX has several different concepts that are often confused:
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- DirectX Version: the runtime/API version reported by Windows.
- Feature Levels: the graphics functionality exposed by a particular GPU and its driver.
- Game requirements: the exact feature level and optional capabilities that the game’s renderer needs.
Therefore, “DirectX Version: DirectX 12” does not prove that the active GPU supports every Direct3D 12 game. Microsoft identifies feature levels with underscores, such as 11_0, 11_1, 12_0, and 12_1—not decimal labels such as “12.0.” Feature levels describe functionality, not performance: a compatible GPU can still be too slow, lack sufficient video memory, or fail another requirement.
See Microsoft’s Direct3D hardware feature-level reference.
1. Check the GPU and feature levels in DxDiag
- Press Win+R.
- Enter
dxdiagand press Enter. - Open every Display tab.
- Record the adapter name under Device, the driver information under Drivers, and the complete Feature Levels list.
Do not check only the first Display tab. A laptop with integrated and dedicated graphics can show separate adapters, and the game may be running on the integrated GPU.
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Compare the active adapter’s feature levels with the game’s own minimum requirements. Microsoft states that Direct3D 12 drivers support at least 11_0; that does not automatically mean the GPU supports 12_0 or 12_1. A game requiring 12_0 or 12_1 cannot be made compatible by installing an older DirectX package if the physical GPU does not expose that level.
Feature levels also do not represent every optional Direct3D capability. A game may query additional requirements through Direct3D’s CheckFeatureSupport, so even a GPU advertising 12_1 is not automatically compatible with every DirectX 12 title.
2. Install the proper graphics driver
In DxDiag, check whether the adapter is listed as NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. If it instead says Microsoft Basic Display Driver, Windows is using a generic fallback driver.
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Basic Display Driver can appear when the vendor driver is missing, disabled, failed to install, or is being used during Safe Mode or driver installation. It is not proof that the GPU is permanently unsupported.
- Identify the actual GPU model in the DxDiag Device section.
- Download the Windows driver for that exact model from the GPU manufacturer.
- Install it, restart Windows, and run
dxdiagagain. - Recheck the adapter name, driver status, and Feature Levels.
Do not manually replace files under C:WindowsSystem32DriverStore. Microsoft documents that BasicDisplay and BasicRender use DriverStore locations on Windows 11, but this is an implementation detail, not a supported repair method. See Microsoft’s documentation on the Microsoft Basic Display Driver.
3. Make sure the game uses the capable GPU
On a hybrid-graphics laptop, the dedicated GPU may support the required feature level while the game starts on the integrated adapter.
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Use DxDiag’s Display tabs to identify both adapters, then determine which one the game is using through Windows’ graphics settings or the GPU vendor’s graphics-control software. Assign the game to the dedicated/high-performance GPU when that option is available, restart the game, and test again.
Choosing the correct adapter matters more than simply seeing a capable GPU installed in the computer. The adapter creating the game’s Direct3D device must expose the required feature level and driver support.
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If the game supports a DirectX 11 or other fallback renderer, remove the argument that forces Direct3D 12:
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- Remove
-dx12. - Remove
-d3d12.
For a launcher shortcut, open the shortcut’s properties and edit the target or launch-argument field. For a game launcher, open the game’s properties or launch-options screen and delete the argument. The exact label depends on the launcher.
Removing these arguments does not universally force DirectX 11. It only stops explicitly requesting Direct3D 12. The game may select its default renderer, require a different argument, or fail if it has no DirectX 11 path. Follow that game’s own documentation for the supported fallback option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Do not expect a DirectX package to add missing GPU support
The DirectX End-User Runtime is mainly for legacy, side-by-side DirectX components used by older games. It is not a replacement DirectX 12 implementation and cannot upgrade an unsupported GPU to a higher Direct3D feature level.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSimilarly, installing Windows updates can provide runtime and platform updates, but it cannot make a missing hardware feature level appear. Windows updates, the vendor display driver, the selected adapter, and the game’s own renderer requirements are separate parts of the diagnosis.
Quick Recap
Quick diagnosis table
| What you find | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Levels stop below the game’s minimum | The GPU does not meet the game’s Direct3D requirement | Use a supported renderer if the game has one, otherwise use supported hardware |
| DxDiag shows Microsoft Basic Display Driver | The vendor driver is missing, disabled, or malfunctioning | Install the correct NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel driver and restart |
| A capable dedicated GPU is present, but the game uses integrated graphics | Wrong adapter selected on a hybrid laptop | Assign the game to the high-performance GPU |
| DirectX Version says 12, but the required Feature Level is absent | Runtime version is being confused with hardware capability | Use the active adapter’s Feature Levels as the decisive check |
| Feature Levels appear sufficient, but the game still fails | An optional capability, driver issue, or game-specific requirement may be involved | Update the vendor driver, verify the active adapter, and check the game’s exact requirements |
What not to do
- Do not assume DirectX Version: DirectX 12 means every DirectX 12 game will run.
- Do not reinstall the DirectX 12 runtime expecting it to add GPU functionality.
- Do not assume removing
-dx12automatically enables DirectX 11. - Do not repair Microsoft Basic Display Driver by manually editing DriverStore files.
- Do not compare only the installed GPU; verify the adapter that the game actually uses.
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