How to Fix the “DX11 Feature Level 10.0 Is Required to Run the Engine” Error on Windows
Does your favorite game crash when you run it because of the error “DX11 Feature Level 10.0 is required to run the engine”? As the error states, the application or game was unable to access Direct3D hardware feature level 10.0. The question is why?
Several factors can play a role, e.g. For example, the GPU doesn’t meet the game’s requirements or doesn’t support Feature Level 10.0, the graphics driver isn’t up to date, or the game doesn’t use a dedicated GPU.
If this error is preventing you from playing your favorite game, here are some fixes you can try.
But try these quick fixes first…
Before implementing the main fixes, you should first try restarting both the program encountering the error and your PC. If that doesn’t work, check that your GPU is properly seated in your motherboard and that your PC recognizes that it’s connected.
If none of these apply, it’s time to try the bigger fixes.
1. Update your graphics drivers
Using outdated graphics drivers can prevent the game from accessing the level of functionality it needs to run smoothly. Therefore, before trying any other solution, you need to update your graphics driver to ensure that outdated drivers are not to blame. See our article on how to update your graphics drivers correctly.
As discussed in the article, it is recommended that you download and install the latest drivers from your manufacturer’s website rather than updating them directly from Device Manager. The article section detailing how to update drivers for each GPU manufacturer will walk you through the process.
Update drivers for discrete and integrated graphics cards if you have more than one.
2. Check if your device is using the latest DirectX version
Windows automatically installs the latest DirectX runtime environment when it’s available, but sometimes an update or two is missing. So make sure your device is running the latest DirectX version. Here’s how:
- Press victory + R to open the To run Command.
- Type “dxdiag” and hit Enter.
- In which DirectX diagnostic toolnavigate to system Tab.
- Check which DirectX version is listed under system information Blackboard.
As of this writing, DirectX 12 is the latest DirectX runtime environment. If you have the same version next to the DirectX version, your device has the latest DirectX version. When the latest version has been installed, continue to the next step.
However, if you see an older version, you may have paused the system updates. Therefore, you should manage your Windows updates and download any pending patches before proceeding.
3. Make sure your GPU supports Feature Level 10.0
If you have the latest DirectX version installed, make sure your GPU supports Feature Level 10.0. How to check:
- Press victory + R to open the To run Command.
- Type “dxdiag” and hit Enter.
- In which DirectX diagnostic toolnavigate to advertisement Tab.
see if 10_0 is written next to it functional levels in which driver panel in the right pane. If this is the case, your GPU supports feature level 10.0. If it’s missing there, the following fixes won’t work, and you’ll have to buy a new dedicated GPU that supports that feature level.
4. Check if the problem only occurs with one game or program
If your GPU supports Feature Level 10.0 and your device is running the latest DirectX version, you should check if this error only occurs when running a specific game or program, or if it is system-wide. So try running other games and programs that require less graphics intensive processing than the one you are currently booting and see if you get the same error.
If the issue is isolated to a single game, the following two steps will help you find the issue:
- Choose advertisement Tab in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to check your graphics card specifications and compare them to the system requirements of the game experiencing the error. You need to update your GPU if your GPU does not meet the minimum gaming requirements. If it meets the requirement, go to the next step.
- Using outdated versions of games can also cause unforeseen problems. So make sure the game you are running is up to date. The best way to do this is to visit the game’s official website, check if the developer has released any new patches, and update the game if necessary.
5. Double check which GPU the program is using when booting
If your GPU meets the minimum gaming requirements and you’re running the latest game version but still getting the same error, the game may not be using the dedicated GPU for graphics processing. Instead, it may use the built-in.
Sometimes your operating system’s power settings are configured to force the game to use an integrated GPU to use fewer resources and help your device use less power. If your integrated GPU does not support the 10.0 feature level or does not meet the requirements of the game, the error is thrown.
The only way to rule out this possibility is to force the game to use a dedicated GPU. For more information, see our article on choosing your favorite GPU in Windows.
This switch will likely prevent the game from showing the same error. However, if the game is already using the dedicated GPU or the change doesn’t help, move on to the next solution.
6. Check for optional Windows updates
The Windows operating system does not install all updates automatically. Instead, some of them remain optional. If none of the fixes worked so far, check the list of optional updates to see if your GPU manufacturer released an optional update that wasn’t automatically installed that is causing the error to occur.
If you don’t know where to find and install these optional updates, see our article on installing optional updates in Windows.
Fix the error “DX11 Feature Level 10.0 is required to run the engine”.
Hopefully, following the steps outlined in the article will help you identify the cause of the error and fix it. If nothing seems to work even though your GPU meets the game requirements and supports Feature Level 10.0, it is best to have your GPU checked by a technician to rule out physical problems.
If your GPU doesn’t meet the minimum requirements and you decide to buy a new one, we recommend going with a decent device. Luckily, there are plenty of great budget-level GPUs that you can buy that will work just fine.