How to Run DXDiag on Windows

DXDiag is already installed on your Windows PC. The fastest way to open DXDiagis to press Windows + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool opens in under 3 seconds. No download is needed. This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Method 1 — Run Dialog (Fastest, Recommended)

The Run dialog is the quickest way to run DXDiag. It requires no mouse navigation and works on every version of Windows from XP toWindows 11.

1
Press Windows + RHold the Windows key and press R at the same time. The Run dialog box appears in the lower-left corner of your screen.
2
Type dxdiagType dxdiag in the Open field. Do not add spaces, capital letters, or extra characters. The command is always lowercase.
3
Press EnterPress Enter or click OK. A loading dialog may appear briefly. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window opens within 1 to 3 seconds.
4
Wait for it to finish loadingWatch the bottom of the DXDiag window for a progress bar. Once it disappears and the status bar reads 'No problems found' or shows a specific message, DXDiag has finished loading all information.

Type this exactly in the Run dialog:

dxdiag

Method 2 — Windows Search Bar

If you prefer using the mouse, the Windows Search bar is an easy alternative. This method works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

  1. Click the search bar at the bottom of your screen (Windows 10: the search box next to the Start button; Windows 11: the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar).
  2. Type dxdiag.
  3. Click dxdiag or DirectX Diagnostic Tool in the search results. The tool opens immediately.

Method 3 — Command Prompt

You can also run DXDiag directly from Command Prompt or PowerShell. This is useful if you want to run DXDiag as Administrator or if the Run dialog is disabled.

  1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt.
  2. Type dxdiag and press Enter.

Command Prompt / PowerShell command:

dxdiag

To run DXDiag without WHQL driver signature checking (loads faster):

Skip WHQL check (optional, loads faster):

dxdiag /whql:off

Method 4 — Direct File Path

DXDiag is a standard Windows executable located in the System32 folder. You can run it directly from File Explorer or by typing its full path in the Run dialog.

Full path (paste this in Run dialog or File Explorer address bar):

C:\Windows\System32\dxdiag.exe

What to Do After DXDiag Opens

Once DXDiag opens, wait for it to finish scanning. A small text in the status bar at the bottom reads Loading information... while it scans. Wait until it disappears before reading or saving the results.

The tool opens on the System tab by default. Click the tabs at the top — System, Display, Sound, and Input — to view each category of hardware information.

To save a copy of everything DXDiag shows, click the Save All Information button in the lower-left corner. This saves a plain text file named DxDiag.txt that you can open, read, or send to technical support.

Running DXDiag on Windows 10 vs Windows 11

The process for running DXDiag is identical on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The same keyboard shortcut, the same command, the same result. The DXDiag window itself looks the same on both operating systems.

The only difference you may notice is in the System tab: Windows 11 will show your OS as "Windows 11" and may show a higher DirectX version than older Windows installations. Both versions of Windows support DirectX 12, which is the current version as of 2026.

For Windows version-specific guides: How to run DXDiag on Windows 10 | How to run DXDiag on Windows 11

DXDiag Shortcut Options

There are two keyboard shortcuts commonly used to reach DXDiag quickly:

  • Windows + R then type dxdiag — the standard Run dialog method. Works on all Windows versions.
  • Windows + S then type dxdiag — the Search bar method. Available on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Full guide to DXDiag keyboard shortcuts →

Frequently Asked Questions

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