How to Fix D3dx11_42.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If installing DirectX doesn't fix the error, reinstall the program that needs this DLL file

By
Tim Fisher
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Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on November 14, 2022

D3dx11_42.dll issues are caused in one way or another by an issue with Microsoft DirectX.

The d3dx11_42.dll file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows based games and advanced graphics programs, d3dx11_42.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx11_42.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

D3dx11_42.dll Errors

D3dx11_42 DLL Error Message

There are several ways d3dx11_42.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common error messages you might see:

  • The file d3dx11_42.dll is missing
  • D3dx11_42.DLL Not Found
  • File d3dx11_42.dll not found
  • D3dx11_42.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.

D3dx11_42.dll errors appear when a software program, usually a game, is started. Some examples of games we've seen have issues with this file include Civilization, ArcheAge, and The Lord of the Rings Online.

How to Fix D3dx11_42.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the more likely fixes first.

Don't download d3dx11_42.dll individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of reasons why downloading DLLs like that is a bad idea. If you've already done so, remove it from wherever you put it and continue with these steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The d3dx11_42.dll error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the d3dx11_42.dll not found error.

    Microsoft often releases updates to DirectX without updating the version number or letter, so be sure to install the latest release even if your version is technically the same.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the d3dx11_42.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application DVD or CD. Usually, if a game or other program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of it on the installation disc.

    Sometimes, though not often, the DirectX version included on the disc is a better fit for the program than the latest version available online.

    As an example, if you're getting this error in LOTR Online, open dxsetup from the game's standingstonegames or Lord of the Rings Online folder, possibly within a troubleshooting subfolder. It'll help to use a file search tool to locate dxsetup.

  4. Uninstall the game or software program and then reinstall it again. Something might have happened to the files in the program that work with d3dx11_42.dll and a reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore the d3dx11_42.dll file from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your error, try extracting the d3dx11_42.dll individually from the DirectX downloadable package.

  6. Update the drivers for your video card. While it's not the most common solution, in some situations updating the drivers for the video card in your computer could correct this DirectX issue.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.

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