PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo check DirectStorage compatibility, verify four things: your supported Windows configuration, the physical drive containing the game, the NVMe controller Windows is using, and your GPU’s DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0 support. The game must also implement DirectStorage itself; there is no universal Windows switch that enables it for every title.
Windows 11 is the clearest current consumer baseline. Microsoft’s stated hardware requirements include an NVMe SSD using the Standard NVM Express Controller driver and a DirectX 12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support. Windows 10 support can depend on the DirectStorage version, game, and implementation, so check the individual game’s requirements rather than treating Windows 10 as universally equivalent to Windows 11.
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DirectStorage requirements at a glance
| Check | How to check it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Run winver or open Settings → System → About |
Windows 11 is the clearest current consumer baseline; Windows 10 depends on the title and implementation. |
| Game drive | Identify the game’s library location and physical disk | The game’s relevant data needs to be on the qualifying NVMe SSD. |
| Storage interface | Check PowerShell’s BusType |
NVMe meets the storage-interface condition; SATA and HDD do not. |
| Controller | Device Manager → Storage controllers | Microsoft specifically lists the Standard NVM Express Controller driver. |
| GPU | Run dxdiag and verify the exact GPU model |
The GPU needs DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0 support. |
| Game support | Read the game’s official requirements or technical documentation | A compatible PC cannot activate DirectStorage in a game that does not use the API. |
These requirements are based on Microsoft’s current Windows 11 documentation: Windows 11 requirements and Windows 11 specifications.
What DirectStorage does
DirectStorage is a Windows gaming API for moving large quantities of game data from storage and, where supported, decompressing that data efficiently. It is particularly useful for games that stream textures, geometry, and other assets while you play.
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Step 1: Check your Windows version
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
winverand press Enter. - Record whether the system is running Windows 11 and note its version and build.
You can also open Settings → System → About and check Windows specifications.
Do not assume that every DirectStorage feature has identical support on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft’s current gaming-development documentation lists both 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported development environments, but that is not a blanket consumer guarantee for every implementation or optimization. For a particular game, its own system requirements take priority.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Step 2: Confirm that the game is installed on an NVMe SSD
An SSD alone is not enough. The relevant distinctions are:
- HDD: does not meet the NVMe requirement.
- SATA SSD: faster than an HDD, but it is not an NVMe SSD.
- NVMe SSD: meets the storage-interface requirement, subject to the controller and other checks.
Also, M.2 describes a physical form factor, not the storage protocol. An M.2 drive can use either SATA or NVMe, so its shape does not prove compatibility.
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Find the game’s physical drive
Open Settings → System → Storage → Advanced storage settings → Disks & volumes. Select the volume where the game is installed and record the physical disk model. Check that model on the drive manufacturer’s specifications page.
For Steam, open Steam → Settings → Storage, identify the library containing the game, and match that location to the physical disk. For Xbox PC and other launchers, use the launcher’s installed-game location before identifying the corresponding disk in Windows.
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Use PowerShell to check the bus type
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-PhysicalDisk | Format-Table FriendlyName, MediaType, BusType, SizeInterpret the result as follows:
BusTypeofNVMeis the useful result.SATAis not NVMe.USBdoes not establish internal NVMe DirectStorage eligibility.- A missing or ambiguous value should be checked in Device Manager and against the drive model’s official specifications.
This is a practical Windows diagnostic, not an official DirectStorage certification test.
Step 3: Check the NVM Express controller driver
- Right-click the Start button.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Storage controllers.
- Look for Standard NVM Express Controller.
Microsoft’s current requirements specifically refer to games using the Standard NVM Express Controller driver. Some systems instead show a vendor-specific controller, RAID controller, Intel RST, AMD RAID, motherboard storage utility, or virtualization layer.
A vendor-specific name is not automatic proof that DirectStorage will fail, but it means you should not call the system definitively compliant based only on the drive model. To inspect the entry, right-click it, choose Properties, and open the Driver tab.
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Do not replace or uninstall a storage controller driver merely to make its label match. Storage-driver changes can cause boot failures or inaccessible volumes. If RAID or vendor storage software is involved, check the motherboard or system manufacturer’s documentation, confirm the BIOS storage mode, and back up important data before changing anything.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsStep 4: Check DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
dxdiagand press Enter. - On the System tab, note the DirectX version.
- On the Display tab, record the GPU name, driver model, driver version, feature levels, and driver date.
Microsoft recommends DxDiag for checking installed DirectX information. See its DirectX support guidance.
Seeing “DirectX 12” is not, by itself, enough. Verify the exact GPU model on the GPU manufacturer’s official specifications page for Shader Model 6.0 support. Microsoft’s Direct3D feature-level documentation explains how feature levels relate to Shader Model support.
DirectX 12 Ultimate is not a universal DirectStorage requirement. Microsoft’s current consumer wording specifies a DirectX 12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support, not the complete DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set.
Step 5: Confirm that the game supports DirectStorage
Check these sources in order:
- The game’s official system-requirements page.
- The developer’s technical FAQ or patch notes.
- The game’s graphics or performance settings.
- Official launcher notes or developer announcements.
Look for an explicit DirectStorage statement. Your PC can meet every hardware requirement and still use ordinary loading if the game has not implemented the API.
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DirectStorage 1.1 introduced GPU decompression capabilities, but GPU decompression is a separate, more advanced path. The DirectStorage version, game, runtime, GPU, driver, and asset format all need to support the relevant implementation. A DirectStorage-compatible PC does not automatically use GPU decompression in every title.
Can Windows show a DirectStorage compatibility report?
There is no universally authoritative Microsoft consumer report that labels every machine “DirectStorage ready” while also verifying the specific game, physical installation drive, controller path, GPU, and implementation.
Some Windows builds and Xbox-related utilities may expose gaming-feature indicators, but their labels and availability can change. Treat an Xbox Game Bar or Xbox Insider Hub indicator as a convenience check, not as a substitute for the manual checks above. Microsoft Q&A has discussed Xbox Insider Hub validation, but that guidance is not equivalent to a current formal Microsoft support specification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if a check fails
The game is on a SATA SSD or HDD
Move or reinstall the game to an internal NVMe SSD. After moving it, confirm the launcher’s library path and repeat the physical-disk check. Having an NVMe boot drive does not help if the game remains on another disk.
The M.2 drive is actually SATA
Check the exact model and PowerShell’s BusType. If it is SATA, it does not meet the NVMe storage condition. Replacing it is only worthwhile when the game’s requirements and your motherboard or laptop support the upgrade.
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The controller is behind RAID or vendor storage software
Do not casually uninstall the driver, change BIOS storage modes, or force a different controller label. Consult the system manufacturer’s instructions and back up your data first. A vendor controller may prevent a definitive pass based on Microsoft’s stated wording, but changing it can create a larger problem.
The GPU reports DirectX 12 but Shader Model 6.0 is unclear
Write down the exact GPU model from DxDiag and verify Shader Model support through the GPU manufacturer’s official specifications. Integrated graphics may meet the nominal API requirement while still failing the game’s own minimum performance requirement.
You are using an external NVMe enclosure
An NVMe drive connected through USB should not be presented as equivalent to an internal PCIe NVMe installation. USB bridge behavior and controller exposure can differ, even when the enclosure contains an NVMe module.
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You are using a virtual machine or cloud PC
Virtual machines and cloud services may virtualize the storage controller or GPU. A reported NVMe disk and DirectX 12 interface do not prove that the complete DirectStorage path is exposed to the game.
Why DirectStorage may not make loading dramatically faster
Passing the compatibility checks means the prerequisites are present; it does not guarantee a measurable improvement. A game may use DirectStorage only for in-game asset streaming rather than its initial boot sequence, or it may remain limited by CPU work, shader compilation, network authentication, background applications, RAM, level design, or storage thermals.
Do not use a single loading-time comparison as proof that DirectStorage is or is not active. Game patches, save files, background processes, thermal throttling, and test conditions can all change the result. Advanced users can look for developer-documented logs or use ETW/GPUView analysis, but ordinary Windows menus generally do not provide definitive per-game confirmation.
Likewise, do not choose an SSD solely by its advertised sequential-read speed. A premium PCIe 5.0 drive is not automatically better for a DirectStorage title than a good PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive, especially when the motherboard supports only PCIe 4.0 or the game is CPU-bound.
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Quick DirectStorage checklist
- ☐ Windows 11, or a Windows version explicitly supported by the game and DirectStorage implementation.
- ☐ The game is installed on the actual internal NVMe SSD, not merely on a SATA SSD or HDD.
- ☐ PowerShell reports the game drive’s bus type as
NVMe. - ☐ Device Manager shows the relevant Standard NVM Express Controller, or the system’s vendor configuration has been verified against its documentation.
- ☐ The GPU supports DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0.
- ☐ The game’s official documentation says it implements DirectStorage.
If all six checks pass but loading does not improve, the most likely explanation is game implementation or another bottleneck—not a missing Windows toggle.
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