DirectStorage normally works automatically. There is no standard Windows switch to turn it on. To check your PC, press Win + G, open the Settings gear, choose Gaming Features, and read the DirectStorage status for Windows, your GPU, and each storage drive.
Your PC generally needs compatible Windows support, an NVMe SSD, a suitable DirectX 12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support, and a game that actually implements DirectStorage. An NVMe drive alone does not make every game use it.
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What DirectStorage does
DirectStorage is a Windows API and runtime for loading game assets from fast storage. It is designed to reduce CPU overhead from large numbers of small reads and asset decompression, particularly when a game is using an NVMe SSD. Microsoft describes the technology in its DirectStorage documentation.
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GPU decompression is a separate part of the picture. A title can use DirectStorage without using the same GPU-decompression path as another title, so “supports DirectStorage” and “uses GPU decompression” are not interchangeable claims.
DirectStorage requirements
| Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Windows | Use the Xbox Game Bar Gaming Features panel. Windows 11 is the preferred platform for the fullest storage-stack optimization path. |
| Storage | An NVMe SSD is the target for Microsoft’s advertised configuration. SATA SSDs and hard drives are different storage types. |
| Controller | The expected configuration uses the Microsoft Standard NVM Express Controller, where applicable. |
| GPU | A DirectX 12-capable GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support, subject to the game’s own requirements. |
| Game | The developer must implement DirectStorage. Windows cannot add support to a game that does not use the API. |
These are general platform requirements from Microsoft’s current Windows PC gaming guidance, not a guarantee that every compatible game will show a measurable improvement.
How to check DirectStorage support in Windows
- Press Win + G to open Xbox Game Bar.
- Select the Settings gear.
- Open Gaming Features.
- Find the DirectStorage section.
- Check the entries for Windows, your GPU, and the drive where the game is installed.
Depending on your Windows and Game Bar versions, the wording may differ. You may see labels such as DirectStorage supported, DirectStorage optimized, a warning that the drive is not NVMe, a GPU feature-level warning, or a note that particular Windows I/O optimizations are unavailable.
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This panel is the most useful consumer-facing check. The commands dxdiag and msinfo32 can provide additional system information, but they do not replace the DirectStorage status panel.
How to verify the hardware manually
Check whether the game drive is NVMe
The drive type matters. An SSD connected over SATA is faster than a hard drive, but it is not the same as the NVMe configuration listed by Microsoft.
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- Open Task Manager → Performance → Disk. Many systems identify the drive type there.
- Open Settings → System → Storage → Advanced storage settings → Disks & volumes to map partitions to physical disks.
- Open Device Manager → Storage controllers and inspect the controller.
- In Device Manager → Disk drives, note the SSD model and check its interface in the manufacturer’s specifications.
Make sure the game is installed on the drive being evaluated. A PC can contain an NVMe boot drive while the game itself is stored on a SATA SSD, hard drive, external USB device, or another drive that does not receive the same status.
Check the storage controller and driver
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Storage controllers.
- Open the NVMe controller’s Properties.
- Check the device name and driver provider.
The Microsoft Standard NVM Express Controller is the expected driver in the standard configuration. Do not replace a storage driver blindly. RAID, Intel RST, AMD RAID, Storage Spaces, and manufacturer-specific configurations can change how a drive is exposed to Windows. A driver change can cause boot or storage-access problems, so document the current setup and back up important data before making changes.
Check the GPU
Press Win + R, enter dxdiag, and inspect the Display tabs. You can also check the GPU manufacturer’s official specifications and compare the result with Game Bar.
Simply seeing “DirectX 12” in a product description is not enough to establish every required feature. Microsoft lists a DirectX 12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support as part of the DirectStorage requirement. On a laptop, also check that Windows is using the intended discrete GPU rather than an integrated or power-saving adapter.
How to enable DirectStorage
You normally do not enable DirectStorage manually. Windows supplies the platform support, the hardware determines readiness, and the game activates the API if its developers implemented it.
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There is no credible need for a registry tweak, random DLL download, “DirectStorage optimizer,” or separate consumer installer. Microsoft’s developer runtime and repository are intended for game developers, not as a general performance utility for players.
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- Install current Windows updates.
- Update Xbox Game Bar through the Microsoft Store if its interface is missing or outdated.
- Install a current graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
- Confirm that the game is installed on the compatible NVMe drive.
- Update the game itself.
- Restart Windows and check Win + G → Settings → Gaming Features again.
A game may offer separate settings for texture streaming, SSD use, or loading behavior. Those are game-specific options, not a universal DirectStorage switch.
Windows 10 versus Windows 11
The answer is not simply “Windows 10 supports DirectStorage” or “Windows 10 does not.” Microsoft originally announced DirectStorage for Windows 10 version 1909 and later as well as Windows 11. Windows 11 was designed with additional storage-stack optimizations and is the platform Microsoft currently emphasizes for the most complete path.
On Windows 10, use the Game Bar result and the game’s own requirements rather than assuming that every Windows 11 optimization is available. Historical compatibility information is covered in Microsoft’s DirectStorage announcement.
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What to do when DirectStorage is unavailable
Game Bar says the GPU is unsupported
- Update the graphics driver.
- Open Settings → System → Display → Graphics and assign the game to the high-performance GPU.
- Restart Windows and check Game Bar again.
- Verify the GPU’s DirectX and Shader Model capabilities using the manufacturer’s specifications.
If the GPU genuinely lacks the required feature support, software cannot enable it. A virtual machine or remote-desktop session can also mask the physical GPU.
The drive is not DirectStorage-ready
Common explanations include a SATA SSD, hard drive, external USB storage, an NVMe device behind RAID or another storage abstraction, a vendor controller driver, an outdated Windows or Game Bar version, or the game being installed on a different drive.
Do not assume that changing to the Standard NVM Express Controller will fix the problem. Investigate the storage layout first and avoid driver changes unless you understand the configuration and have a recovery plan.
The PC passes, but the game shows no benefit
That can be normal. The game may not implement DirectStorage, may use a fallback path, or may be limited by CPU decompression, shader compilation, network delivery, initialization, background activity, thermal throttling, or the game engine itself. A supported game may also use DirectStorage without GPU decompression.
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Does DirectStorage require PCIe 4.0, a new CPU, or extra RAM?
Microsoft’s general requirement is an NVMe SSD, not a specific PCIe generation. A PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive may qualify if the rest of the PC and the game meet their requirements. Do not buy a PCIe 4.0 or PCIe 5.0 drive solely for DirectStorage unless a particular game or platform requirement says otherwise.
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There is no universal RAM or CPU requirement for DirectStorage itself. Individual games still impose their own minimum and recommended specifications. DirectStorage can reduce some CPU I/O overhead, but it does not make an otherwise underpowered system suitable for every title.
PC games confirmed to use DirectStorage
There is no single current Microsoft-maintained consumer master list of every PC game using DirectStorage. The examples below are confirmed through developer, publisher, or vendor material and should not be treated as an exhaustive catalog. The list was checked against the supplied evidence on August 18, 2026.
| Game | Evidence and qualification |
|---|---|
| Forspoken | A developer presentation identifies the game as supporting Microsoft DirectStorage. See the GDC presentation. This does not establish that its implementation behaves like titles using GPU decompression. |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PlayStation’s PC announcement says the game implements DirectStorage 1.2, including GPU decompression. Its minimum requirements allow an HDD, while an SSD is recommended for the intended experience. See PlayStation’s announcement. |
| Portal: Prelude RTX | NVIDIA identifies the title as using RTX IO and DirectStorage-related technology. RTX IO is NVIDIA’s complementary implementation and branding layer, not a separate replacement for DirectStorage. See NVIDIA’s RTX IO announcement. |
Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology continues to evolve for developers. Its March 2026 developer update discusses Zstandard compression support and the Game Asset Conditioning Library. Those additions do not mean every current game automatically uses the newest runtime features. See Microsoft’s GDC 2026 update.
How to check a specific game
- Read the game’s official PC system requirements.
- Search the publisher’s or developer’s technical announcement.
- Check patch notes and support documentation.
- Use SteamDB’s DirectStorage technology page as a secondary signal.
- Treat faster loading or smoother streaming as an observation, not proof of DirectStorage use.
SteamDB’s list is automatically detected and can include limited, dormant, indirect, or changing implementations. It is useful for discovery, but it is not a publisher certification database. A game can require an SSD without using DirectStorage, while a DirectStorage-enabled game can retain a fallback path for slower storage.
Is an NVMe upgrade worth it?
An NVMe upgrade is most defensible if you currently use a hard drive, need faster general game loading, or play titles with substantial asset streaming. It is not a guaranteed DirectStorage upgrade if the game does not implement the API or if Game Bar already reports that your current NVMe configuration is compatible.
Compare capacity, sustained performance, thermal behavior, heatsink compatibility, endurance, warranty, and price per usable terabyte—not just headline sequential-read speed. A premium PCIe 5.0 drive is usually a poor fit when the motherboard supports only PCIe 3.0 or 4.0, cooling is limited, or the sole goal is DirectStorage compatibility.
Examples of mainstream NVMe families include the Samsung 990 Pro, WD_BLACK SN850X, and Crucial T500. Choose based on your motherboard, capacity needs, thermals, warranty, and current price rather than DirectStorage branding.
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Do not buy a USB external SSD as a guaranteed DirectStorage solution, a SATA SSD as an equivalent substitute for Microsoft’s listed NVMe configuration, or a new GPU when your current GPU already passes the Game Bar check. Upgrade Windows only after checking broader Windows 11 eligibility and the games you actually play.
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