How to Fix D3dx9_25.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

A Troubleshooting Guide for D3dx9_25.dll Errors

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by Tim Fisher
Tim Fisher has 30+ years' professional technology support experience. He writes troubleshooting content and is the General Manager of Lifewire.
Updated March 09, 2019

There are a number of different ways that d3dx9_25.dll errors may display on your computer. Some of the more common d3dx9_25.dll error messages are listed here.

  • "D3DX9_25.DLL Not Found"
  • "Cannot find d3dx9_25.dll"
  • "The dynamic link library d3dx9_25.dll could not be found in the specified path [PATH]"
  • "The file d3dx9_25.dll is missing"
  • "D3DX9_25.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_25.DLL and try again"
  • "D3dx9_25.dll not found. Reinstalling the application might fix this"
  • "Error initializing the application because the file d3dx9_25.dll was not found"
  • "The application failed to start because d3dx9_25.dll was not found"

D3dx9_25.dll errors usually appear when a software program, typically a video game, is started. Occasionally, d3dx9_25.dll errors will show up after a game is loaded but right before the actual game starts.

In other applications, a d3dx9_25.dll error might show up before certain advanced graphics features are initiated.

Cause of D3dx9_25.dll Errors

D3dx9_25.dll issues are caused in one way or another by a single issue - some kind of problem with Microsoft DirectX.

The d3dx9_25.dll file is one of many files that make up the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows-based games, d3dx9_25.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Don't Want to Fix This Yourself?

If you're interested in fixing this problem yourself, continue with the troubleshooting in the next section.

Otherwise, 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 whole lot more.

How to Fix D3dx9_25.dll Errors

Do not, under any circumstances, download the d3dx9_25.dll DLL file individually from any DLL download site. There are a number of different reasons that downloading DLLs from these sites is never a good idea.

If you've already downloaded d3dx9_25.dll from one of those DLL download sites, remove it from wherever you copied it to and continue with these steps.

  1. The d3dx9_25.dll error might be a one-time problem and a simple restart could clear it up completely. It's unlikely this will fix the problem, but restarting is always a good first troubleshooting step.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version of DirectX will fix the d3dx9_25.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.

    The same DirectX installation program works with all versions of Windows including Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It will replace any missing DirectX 11, DirectX 10, or DirectX 9 file.


  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the d3dx9_25.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or another program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include an installable copy of DirectX on the setup disc.

    Sometimes, though not often, the DirectX version included on the disc will work better with the program than the latest version available online.

  4. Uninstall the game or software program and then reinstall it again. Something may have happened to the files in the program that work with the d3dx9_25.dll file and a simple reinstall could do the trick.

  5. Restore the d3dx9_25.dll file from the latest DirectX package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your d3dx9_25.dll error, try extracting the d3dx9_25.dll file individually from the DirectX 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.

Applies to

The d3dx9_25.dll error message could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, most commonly video games.

Some common games that have been known to generate d3dx9_25.dll errors include Heroes of Might and Magic, Battlefield, Age of Empires 3, Fable: The Lost Chapters, Zoo Tycoon 2, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, and more.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by d3dx9_25.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.