How to Fix Microsoft.directx.directsound.dll Errors

If a PC restart doesn't help, get DirectX, and then try a program reinstall

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 September 16, 2022

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

This 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, microsoft.directx.directsound errors usually show up only when using these programs.

According to Microsoft, DirectSound provides a system to capture sounds from input devices and play sounds through various playback devices.

Microsoft.directx.directsound.dll Errors

Microsoft.directx.directsound DLL error message in Windows

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

  • Microsoft.directx.directsound.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.
  • The file microsoft.directx.directsound.dll is missing
  • Microsoft.directx.directsound.DLL Not Found
  • File microsoft.directx.directsound.dll not found

The microsoft.directx.directsound.dll error message could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, but video games are the most common. The error might be seen at any point during the game or while using the software application, but it usually appears when the program or game first starts.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by this DLL problem and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, etc.

How to Fix Microsoft.directx.directsound.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're presented to try the simpler solutions first.

Don't download microsoft.directx.directsound.dll individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of reasons why downloading DLLs from these sites is never a good idea. If you've already done that, delete it immediately and then continue with the steps below.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The 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 will fix the microsoft.directx.directsound.dll not found error.

    If that version doesn't provide the correct DLL file, try DirectX SDK December 2006.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the microsoft.directx.directsound.dll error, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application DVD or CD.

    Sometimes the software developers will include a copy of DirectX on the installation disc if their game or program utilizes DirectX.

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

  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 microsoft.directx.directsound.dll, and a reinstall could do the trick.

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