FIX: DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine by Bas Wijdenes

Intro

I keep the intro short, because I think the tutorial is more important.
I chose Fortnite as an example, but this solution can also work for other games.
This tutorial is about error message: “DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine”


Let’s fix “DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine“.

First let me say that the tutorial is from Answers.microsoft.com, but because I want to explain it more fully, I made a tutorial myself.

The tutorial consists of 2 parts. The first part is for the techies among us, and the second part is for the dummies among us.


What DirectX version are we using?

First let’s see if we use the correct DirectX version.

Go to Start and type in dxdiag, or press Windows + R and type in dxdiag.

The directX version is at the bottom.
Do you not use the correct version? Then go directly to step 3.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

The tutorial for the techies among us.

The tutorial consists of 3 different options.

  1. Install the latest game patches.
  2. Update your graphics driver.
  3. Check Windows updates.

Install the latest game patches for techies.

The first option is a fairly easy option. It may be that your computer game has not been updated to the latest version and therefore generates this error message.
Check if you can update the computer game. Often this can be done in the game itself or via the website.


Update your graphics driver for techies.

Go to start and type in Device Manager. Open the application.
Or press Windows + R at the same time and type in Devmgmt.msc.
Click OK.
Device Manager now opens.

Look for Display Adapters in the list. Often there are two different drivers, your built-in graphic drivers and your dedicated graphic drivers.
If there are two graphic drivers, right-click on the dedicated graphics driver and choose Update Driver.
Otherwise pick the one that’s in the list.

Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.

If automatically doesn’t work, you can always download it from the manufacturers website.
You can also do this for both drivers. It sometimes happens that your integrated graphic cards is used instead of your dedicated one.

For NVIDIA cards you can adjust this in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Go to Control Panel and search for NVIDIA Control Panel.
Open Manage 3D Settings and select the Program Settings tab.
Check that your game uses the correct graphic card.


Check Windows updates for techies.

DirectX is updated via the normal way: Windows Updates.
Could it be that you have not updated the PC for a long time and therefore you do not have the correct DirectX version?
Go to Start and look for Check for updates. Download and install the latest updates and try again.


The tutorial for the dummies among us.

The tutorial for the dummies also consists of 3 different options, but then with screenshots instead.

  1. Install the latest game patches.
  2. Update your graphics driver.
  3. Check Windows updates.

Install the latest game patches for dummies.

Same answer as the techies one:

The first option is a fairly easy option. It may be that your computer game has not been updated to the latest version and therefore generates this error message.
Check if you can update the computer game. Often this can be done in the game itself or via the website.


Update your graphics driver for dummies.

Go to start and type in Device Manager. Open the application.
Or press Windows + R at the same time and type in Devmgmt.msc.
Click OK.
Device Manager now opens.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

Look for Display Adapters in the list. Often there are two different drivers, your built-in graphic drivers and your dedicated graphic drivers.
If there are two graphic drivers, right-click on the dedicated graphics driver and choose Update Driver.
Otherwise pick the one that’s in the list.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

If automatically doesn’t work, you can always download it from the manufacturers website.
You can also do this for both drivers. It sometimes happens that your integrated graphic cards is used instead of your dedicated one.

For NVIDIA cards you can adjust this in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Go to Control Panel and search for NVIDIA Control Panel.
Open Manage 3D Settings and select the Program Settings tab.
Check that your game uses the correct graphic card.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

Check Windows updates for dummies.

DirectX is updated via the normal way: Windows Updates.
Could it be that you have not updated the PC for a long time and therefore you do not have the correct DirectX version?
Go to Start and look for Check for updates. Download and install the latest updates and try again.

DX11 feature level 10.0 is requires to run the engine
DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine.

Why do we need DirectX for games?

PCs and laptops almost never have the same hardware. This makes it difficult for game manafacturers to make applications for every hardware.
To draw gamers to Windows, Microsoft has created DirectX.
DirectX is an API that acts as an interface for your hardware and the computer game.


This is from Microsoft Answers

This post is from answers.microsoft.com.
I have expanded the existing tutorial with screenshots.

If you have questions regarding this topic, please go to the following page:
Why are you using forum posts from Microsoft Community?

Published by

Bas Wijdenes

My name is Bas Wijdenes and I work as a PowerShell DevOps Engineer. In my spare time I write about interesting stuff that I encounter during my work.

4 thoughts on “FIX: DX11 feature level 11.0 is required to run the engine by Bas Wijdenes”

  1. Hi,
    Have recently installed fortnite, and apart from upgrading Ram, software and everything else, seem to be stuck with the dx11 feature level 11.
    Laptop has a intel(R) graphics 3000, internal graphics, which is updated, but still cant seem to get it to work.

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