What is dxdiag? How to Open & Run Dxdiag on Windows 11/10?

The dxdiag tool, also known as the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, is an essential built-in Windows utility used to analyze and display detailed information about a computer’s system hardware, display drivers, sound devices, and DirectX components installed on a computer.

The dxdiag tool is available in almost every modern version of Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows 11. It helps users identify problems related to DirectX features, drivers, or multimedia performance. Whether you want to check your GPU model, verify DirectX functionality, or generate a diagnostic report for technical support, dxdiag can provide the information quickly.

In this guide, you will learn what DXDiag is, why it is important, and how to open and run DXDiag on Windows 10 and Windows 11 step by step.

So let’s learn in detail!

Table of Contents

What is dxdiag? What does it do? What are its Features?

What is dxdiag? How to Open & Run Dxdiag on Windows 11/10

dxdiag stands for DirectX Diagnostic Tool, a built-in Windows utility designed to collect and display detailed information about the DirectX components and system hardware installed on a computer.

DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces or APIs developed by Microsoft that allow software applications, especially games and multimedia programs, to interact with the graphics card, sound card, and other hardware components. These APIs help software deliver smooth graphics rendering, sound processing, and multimedia performance.

The dxdiag tool analyzes these components and provides a structured report about the system’s configuration. It displays information across several categories such as system information, display devices, sound devices, and input devices.

The tool is particularly useful when users experience problems such as game crashes, graphical glitches, driver conflicts, or multimedia playback errors. By running dxdiag, users can verify whether the DirectX installation is functioning properly, identify outdated drivers, and check hardware compatibility.

Another useful feature of dxdiag is the ability to save a diagnostic report as a text file. This file can be shared with technical support teams, developers, or troubleshooting forums when diagnosing system problems.

The dxdiag tool typically shows the following types of information:

System information, including Windows version, processor, RAM, and DirectX version
Display information, including graphics card model, VRAM, and driver details
Sound device details, including audio drivers and hardware configuration
Input device information, such as keyboard and mouse drivers

Because the tool is built directly into Windows, it is completely safe to use and does not require downloading additional software.

How to Open and Run dxdiag on Windows 11/10?

To open and run dxdiag on Windows 10 or Windows 11, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type dxdiag and press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool will launch and begin analyzing your system. Once opened, you can view detailed information about system hardware, graphics card, sound devices, and DirectX components.

Below are the detailed steps to open and run dxdiag on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the Run Dialog Box

The first step to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool is opening the Run dialog box.

Press the Windows key and the R key together on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut quickly opens the Run window, which allows you to execute system commands.

The Run dialog box is a built-in Windows feature designed to launch programs, system utilities, and administrative tools directly by typing their commands.

Once the Run window appears on your screen, you will see a small text field where you can type the command for the program you want to open.

This method is one of the fastest ways to launch dxdiag on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 2: Type the dxdiag Command

After opening the Run dialog box, move your cursor to the text field.

Type dxdiag in the input field exactly as written. The command represents the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Once the command is entered, press the Enter key or click the OK button in the Run window.

Windows will immediately start loading the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. During the initial launch, Windows may briefly verify the digital signatures of DirectX drivers installed on the system. This helps ensure that the drivers are authentic and functioning correctly.

After this verification process finishes, the dxdiag window will open and begin displaying system information.

Step 3: Allow the Tool to Analyze Your System

When the dxdiag window opens, the system automatically begins gathering information about the hardware components and DirectX configuration.

This process usually takes a few seconds. During this time, the tool collects data about the processor, memory, operating system, graphics card, audio devices, and driver versions.

Once the analysis completes, the System tab will appear first. This tab displays general information about the computer, including:

Operating system version
Processor model
Installed RAM
BIOS version
DirectX version

These details help users quickly understand the basic configuration of their system.

Step 4: Check the Display Information

Next, click the Display tab at the top of the dxdiag window.

The Display tab contains detailed information about the graphics card installed in the computer. This section is particularly important for gamers and users working with graphics-intensive applications.

The information shown in this tab includes the GPU model, manufacturer, graphics memory, driver version, and supported DirectX features.

Users can also check whether certain DirectX acceleration features, such as DirectDraw Acceleration, Direct3D Acceleration, and AGP Texture Acceleration, are enabled.

If there are any problems related to the graphics driver or DirectX functionality, they will often appear in the Notes section located near the bottom of the window.

Step 5: View Sound and Input Device Information

After reviewing the display information, you can explore additional tabs within the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

The Sound tab provides details about the audio hardware installed on the system. It includes information such as the sound device name, driver provider, driver version, and driver date.

This section can help diagnose audio-related issues, especially when sound drivers are outdated or incompatible.

Another important section is the Input tab. This tab lists all input devices connected to the computer, including keyboards, mice, and gaming controllers.

The information displayed here includes driver details and device status, which can help identify hardware conflicts.

Step 6: Save the Diagnostic Report

One of the most useful features of DxDiag is the ability to generate a diagnostic report file.

To do this, click the Save All Information button located at the bottom of the dxdiag window.

Windows will ask you to choose a location where you want to save the report. After selecting the folder, click Save.

The system will create a text file containing detailed system information, including all hardware and driver details detected by dxdiag.

This report is commonly used when contacting technical support, game developers, or troubleshooting forums, as it provides complete system configuration data.

FAQs

What does dxdiag do?

dxdiag is a built-in Windows tool that provides detailed information about DirectX components, system hardware, graphics drivers, sound devices, and multimedia configuration.

Is DxDiag safe to use?

Yes, DXDiag is completely safe. It is an official Windows utility that only displays system information and does not modify any settings or files.

Does dxdiag work on Windows 11?

Yes, the DirectX Diagnostic Tool works on Windows 11, as well as earlier versions like Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

Can DxDiag fix system problems?

The dxdiag tool itself does not fix problems, but it helps identify issues related to DirectX, drivers, graphics cards, or sound devices, which can then be resolved through updates or troubleshooting.

How do I check my DirectX version using dxdiag?

Open dxdiag, then look at the System tab. The DirectX version installed on your computer will be displayed near the bottom of the system information section.

Can I export dxdiag results?

Yes, you can export the results by clicking Save All Information in the dxdiag window. This creates a text report containing all system details.