Some Valorant players are reporting that they can’t run the game due to the DirectX Runtime error. The full error reads: The following component(s) are required to run this program: DirectX Runtime

If you are experiencing the same problem and you have no idea how to fix it, this troubleshooting guide should help.

What is DirectX and what it’s important?

DirectX is a set of APIs or application programming interfaces that lets the operating system access hardware components. Simply put, DirectX is necessary, especially in gaming as it gives developers low-level access to features of certain hardware such as your graphics card in order to tweak, modify, or make improvements when designing games.

Without DirectX, developers will find it challenging to fine-tune their games on the PC as there are a wide range of graphics cards that anyone can use. Since each of these cards has different configurations and specifications, every game will have to be custom-designed, which is not ideal. DirectX eliminates the need for individual fine-tuning for every hardware component SO it’s an essential part of any computer today.

How to fix Valorant DirectX Runtime error?

Fixing the DirectX runtime error on Valorant is generally easy. These are the fixes that you can try:

Fix 1 :- Check for the latest graphics drivers.

The easiest way to fix DirectX runtime error on any game is to update your drivers, particularly for your GPU. By default, Windows PCs are set to automatically scan and notify the user if there are any available driver updates. If you are using a discrete GPU, you should also have NVIDIA GeForce Experience app (or a similar app for AMD) installed on your machine. This special software should help you ensure that your GPU receives the most recent driver versions all the time. Depending on the graphics processor that you have, click on any of the links below to update:

  • NVIDIA
  • AMD

If you’re playing on a laptop that does not have a discrete graphics card, you should ensure that you also update your Intel CPU.

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Fix 2 :- Ensure that your DirectX is Updated.

Valorant may not run properly, or may show a DirectX runtime error if your DirectX version is not up-to- date. To check, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, or select the Start button on the taskbar.

Step 2: Type in the word “check” and select Check for updates.

Step 3: Click the Check for updates button.

Step 4: Install any available updates. If your DirectX version is not updated, this should help you get the latest version.

Fix 3 :- Delete and Reinstall Riot Vanguard.

In case there’s a problem with the game’s anti-cheat program, you can try to remove and reinstall it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, or select the Start button on the taskbar.

Step 2: Type in the words “add or remove” and select Add or remove programs.

Step 3: In the Apps & features menu, search for Riot Vanguard.

Step 4: Click on the Riot Vanguard icon and click Uninstall.

Step 5: Confirm the uninstallation.

Causes of DirectX Runtime error in Valorant

Some Valorant players may be unable to run Valorant on their DC due to DirectX Runtime error. This error usually pops up when there’s a missing software component in the system, or when the current software version is not up-to-date.

Below are the known reasons for Valorant DirectX runtime error:

Old or outdated graphics card driver

Keeping your graphics drivers updated is an important first step in fixing DirectX issues in any game. This is often the main reason why incompatibility issues as well as unexpected crashes occur when playing a game.

There are three graphics car manufacturers SO you must ensure that you know which graphics card you’re using before you look for the steps on how to update the drivers. If your PC is designed mainly for gaming or video editing it must have a discrete graphics card from either NVIDIA or AMD. If you play games on your laptop, you can either have a discrete GPU, or an integrated graphics card from Intel, which comes in with your CPU.

An integrated GPU is typically less powerful than a discrete card but it still requires regular updates just like NVIDIA and AMD cards.

When it comes to DirectX runtime error, making sure to update the GPU drivers is almost always a sure fix.

The DirectX version needs an update

Just like any other software component in a computer, the DirectX version that your Windows os is using must be updated from time to time. This is to fix known bugs, smoothen inefficient codes, and to improve or add certain features.

At this time, the latest DirectX version is DirectX 12 but many newly released games including Valorant can still run without problems using the older DirectX 11 version.

Random game bugs

As games become ever more sophisticated, bugs and glitches become common as well. Some games may come with less bugs and glitches while others may be released with game-breaking ones, just like Cyberpunk.

With Valorant, there’s been no major issues by far for most people although some gamers claim that its anti-cheat client named Riot Vanguard, which is designed to run together with the game, can lead to problems such as crashes, slow performance, and certain errors.

If you think that there might be an issue with Riot Vanguard, try closing it and the Valorant, or simply reboot the PC. This may work if there’s a bug that developed after leaving the game and Riot Vanguard running for a long time.

Published by
Shruti