Is there a keyboard shortcut for DxDiag?

There's no dedicated shortcut, but Windows + R followed by typing dxdiag and pressing Enter is the fastest method — it takes about 3 seconds. You can also create a desktop shortcut and assign a custom hotkey to it through its properties.

Why is the dxdiag command not recognized?

If you get "Windows cannot find dxdiag," the System32 folder may be missing from your PATH, or the file is corrupted. Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair it. If that doesn't work, follow up with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

Do I need admin rights to run DxDiag?

No. DxDiag runs under standard user privileges. It only reads system information and makes no changes. You don't need to right-click "Run as administrator" unless a specific Group Policy restriction has been applied.

How long does DxDiag take to load?

Usually 5–10 seconds. You'll see a green progress bar at the bottom while it scans DirectX components, queries your GPU driver, and enumerates audio and input devices. Older systems or systems with many devices may take slightly longer.

Can I run DxDiag remotely?

Yes. Use dxdiag /t \\server\share\dxdiag.txt in a remote PowerShell session or through a remote management tool. The /t switch saves the report silently and exits, so it works well in scripts and remote shells.

How do I run the 64-bit DxDiag?

On 64-bit Windows, typing dxdiag already launches the 64-bit version. If you specifically need the 32-bit version (rare), run C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxdiag.exe. The 64-bit DxDiag button inside the old 32-bit interface is no longer needed on modern Windows.

How to Run DxDiag on Windows 11 and 10 (Every Method)

Six ways to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool — from the 3-second Run box to silent command-line export — plus fixes when the dxdiag run command doesn't work.

Updated September 2026

To run DxDiag, press Windows + R, type dxdiag, press Enter. If it's your first time, a prompt will ask whether to check digitally signed drivers — click Yes. The tool loads in 5–10 seconds, showing a green progress bar while it scans. On 64-bit Windows, this launches the 64-bit version automatically. For a silent export, run dxdiag /t C:\dxdiag.txt from Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Fastest DxDiag Run Method: Win + R

This is the method every tech support agent will tell you. The dxdiag run command takes exactly four steps:

Press Windows + R on your keyboard. The Run dialog opens.
Type dxdiag in the text field.
Press Enter or click OK.
If prompted, click Yes to check for digitally signed drivers.

DxDiag opens in about 5–10 seconds. You'll see a green progress bar at the bottom while it queries your hardware.

Pressing Windows plus R to open the Run dialog and entering dxdiag — The Run dialog: type dxdiag and press Enter.

5 More Ways to Open DxDiag

From Start Search

Click the Start button (or press the Windows key), type dxdiag, and click the "dxdiag Run command" result. This works on both Windows 10 and 11.

Start menu search showing the dxdiag run command result — Windows Search finds DxDiag as a Run command.

From Command Prompt (the dxdiag command)

Open Command Prompt and type dxdiag, then press Enter. The tool launches just like it does from the Run box. To save a report without opening the GUI, use dxdiag /t filename.txt.

Command Prompt window with the dxdiag command entered — Running the dxdiag command in Command Prompt.

From PowerShell

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and type dxdiag. For a silent text report: dxdiag /t "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\DxDiag.txt".

From File Explorer (System32)

Navigate to C:\Windows\System32, scroll to dxdiag.exe, and double-click it. This is rarely needed, but it proves the file exists if someone claims it's missing.

With a Desktop Shortcut

Right-click the desktop → New → Shortcut → type dxdiag as the location → name it "DxDiag" → Done. You can then assign a custom hotkey through the shortcut's properties.

Handy DxDiag Command Switches

Switch	What It Does	Example
`/t file.txt`	Save report as text, then exit	`dxdiag /t C:\dxdiag.txt`
`/x file.xml`	Save report as XML, then exit	`dxdiag /x C:\dxdiag.xml`
`/whql:off`	Skip the WHQL signature check	`dxdiag /whql:off`
`/64bit`	Force 64-bit mode (legacy)	`dxdiag /64bit`
`/dontskip`	Don't skip any tests	`dxdiag /dontskip`

PowerShell running dxdiag with the /t switch to save a text file — Using dxdiag /t in PowerShell to save a report silently.

Run Command Not Working? Fixes That Work

If you get "Windows cannot find 'dxdiag'" or the command is not recognized, try these fixes in order:

Run SFC: Open an elevated Command Prompt and run sfc /scannow. This checks and repairs protected system files including dxdiag.exe.
Run DISM: If SFC reports issues it can't fix, follow up with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
Check your PATH: Make sure C:\Windows\System32 is in your system PATH environment variable.
Check Group Policy: Some corporate environments disable the Run dialog. Ask your IT admin.
Try a new user profile: If the above fail, create a new local user account and test there.

Error message saying Windows cannot find dxdiag and the sfc scannow fix — The "cannot find dxdiag" error — SFC usually fixes it.

What Happens on First Launch

The first time you run DxDiag, Windows asks: "Do you want to check if your drivers are digitally signed?" Click Yes — this enables WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) signature checking, which helps identify unsigned or potentially problematic drivers.

After that, you'll see a green progress bar sweep across the bottom of the window as DxDiag scans each component. This takes 5–10 seconds on most systems. Once it finishes, all tabs are populated and ready to read.

Run DxDiag on Windows 7 and 8.1

The same Win + R → dxdiag → Enter method works on every Windows version back to XP. The interface looks slightly different, but the tabs and fields are the same. On Windows 7, you'll see the old Aero-glass window frame; on 8.1, it matches the flat Metro style.

On 32-bit Windows 7, DxDiag shows a "Run 64-bit DxDiag" button if you're on a 64-bit OS. On Windows 10 and 11, this is handled automatically.

Can You Run DxDiag on a Mac or Linux?

No. DxDiag is a Windows-only utility that depends on DirectX, which doesn't exist on macOS or Linux. Here are the alternatives:

macOS: Apple menu → About This Mac → More Info (or System Report on older versions). This shows your CPU, RAM, GPU, and macOS version.
Linux: Use lspci | grep VGA for GPU info, glxinfo | grep OpenGL for graphics details, and lscpu or cat /proc/meminfo for CPU and RAM.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no dedicated shortcut, but Windows + R followed by typing dxdiag and pressing Enter is the fastest method — it takes about 3 seconds. You can also create a desktop shortcut and assign a custom hotkey to it through its properties.
If you get "Windows cannot find dxdiag," the System32 folder may be missing from your PATH, or the file is corrupted. Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair it. If that doesn't work, follow up with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
No. DxDiag runs under standard user privileges. It only reads system information and makes no changes. You don't need to right-click "Run as administrator" unless a specific Group Policy restriction has been applied.
Usually 5–10 seconds. You'll see a green progress bar at the bottom while it scans DirectX components, queries your GPU driver, and enumerates audio and input devices. Older systems or systems with many devices may take slightly longer.
Yes. Use dxdiag /t \\server\share\dxdiag.txt in a remote PowerShell session or through a remote management tool. The /t switch saves the report silently and exits, so it works well in scripts and remote shells.
On 64-bit Windows, typing dxdiag already launches the 64-bit version. If you specifically need the 32-bit version (rare), run C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxdiag.exe. The 64-bit DxDiag button inside the old 32-bit interface is no longer needed on modern Windows.

Now Read What It Shows

You've opened DxDiag — now what do all those fields mean? Head to the system information guide to learn what every tab, field, and number is telling you. Or jump straight to the homepage Report Reader to decode your saved report.

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