Generally speaking, this error represents a problem with your computer initializing the graphics capability of your computer’s video card. There are many possible causes for this problem, from missing drivers and bad launch settings to disabled graphics services. Here is how you deal with these issues and fix this error.
Enable Graphics Services
The most common reason for getting a failed to create D3D device error is if your graphics services are not working. This can be due to a faulty configuration or manual error.
Reinstall Your Graphics Drivers
Another common reason for the “failed to create D3D device” error is missing or outdated graphics drivers. Often we forget to re-install the graphics drivers after a factory reset or a fresh Windows installation. Or you have been using outdated drivers and need to update them. Most guides will tell you to uninstall your device drivers and let Windows reinstall them for you. But we wouldn’t recommend that method as anything other than a temporary measure. The better approach is to go to the manufacturer’s website and download the drivers specific to your model. These drivers are guaranteed to be optimized for your machine and will give you the best performance.
By Undoing Recent Changes
Sometimes you can get the “failed to create d3d device” error due to conflicts with a newly installed application. It can be because the app is running in the background or because it made changes to the graphics settings of your computer. In these situations, a good thing to try is to undo these recent changes and try rerunning your game. If you don’t get an error, then that change was the problem. If an application fails to uninstall through this method, you will need to try other ways to properly remove it.
Modify the Launch Options of Your Game
If everything on your computer is perfectly configured – your graphics services are enabled, your drivers are installed and up to date – then your game settings might be an issue. The latest AAA games are often very demanding graphics, and your hardware might not be up to the task. However, you can try lowering the launch options of your game to be able to play it. If your hardware can run the game at all, it should launch now. Note that Steam has many potential issues of its own that can prevent a game from launching.
Fixing the “Failed to Create D3D Device” Error
The “Failed to create D3D device” error stems from the inability of the video card to interface with DirectX. The reasons are various. The lack of drivers, suspended graphics services, a conflicting application, or even extremely high graphical settings of a game. All of these problems have straightforward solutions. Just follow the steps outlined above to fix the problem and get your game running smoothly in no time.
