Fix: DirectDraw Error while playing games in windows 10

Recently, many Windows 10 users have been reportedly claiming about the DirectDraw Error while launching games. Even while opening graphics-intensive software, their system ends up showing DirectDraw Error with associated codes.

How to fix the “DirectDraw Error while playing games in Windows 10”?

The situation can be very frustrating; however, it is solvable, and there are enough fixes available for the same. If you are also experiencing the same, try the fixes mentioned in this article below and get rid of the “DirectDraw Error” while playing games in Windows 10. Let’s learn how:

FIX 1: Ensure that the DirectDraw and Direct3D are turned On:

The primary role of DirectDraw is to control the display drives via setting up the resolution and properties. Additionally, it also allows the applications (games) for direct access to the video’s memory.

In contrast, Direct3D is a three-dimensional graphics application programming interface that gets used to render 3D images to the DirectDraw surface while creating or destroying other Direct3D objects (if any used).

Now it is essential to ensure that both DirectDraw and Direct3D are turned on. For doing so,

Firstly, go to the desktop search bar, type “dxdiag,” and click on the relevant search result. It will open the DirectX diagnostic tool on your system screen.
On the DirectX diagnostic tool window, navigate to the Display tab from the vertical menu.
Hereunder DirectX features, check whether the options DirectDraw acceleration and Direct3D acceleration are enabled or not. If Enabled, then FIX 1 ends here. However, if the status is mentioned as disabled, follow the steps next:
Launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether, type “appwiz.cpl” in the empty text box, and then click on OK.
Now on the Programs and Features window, click on the Turn Windows features on or off at the left-pane menu.
In the next prompt, locate the option Legacy Components from the list, tick the checkbox located before it and then expand the same.
Tick the checkbox located before the option DirectPlay as well.
Click on OK to save the changes.
Finally, open the relevant program and check whether the DirectDraw error has got resolved or not.

FIX 2: Ensure whether you are running the latest version of DirectX:

The DirectDraw error while playing games in Windows 10 can also get triggered if the DirectX version you are using is old, corrupt, or missing. As DirectX is a part of Microsoft Windows, all its updates are introduced through Windows update only. Before looking for the latest update on Windows, check which version of DirectX is running on your system. For doing so,

Firstly, go to the desktop search bar and type “dxdiag” and click on the relevant search result. It will open the DirectX diagnostic tool on your system screen.
Now under the System tab, look for the DirectX version. You can search in Google for the latest version of DirectX. If you are using the latest version, then FIX 2 ends here. However, if not, then follow the next steps:
Open the Settings window and navigate to Update & Security.
Here on the right-pane menu, click on the Check for Updates tab.
It will install all the available Windows 10 updates, including the DirectX one as well.
Once done, restart your system, open the relevant program and check whether the DirectDraw error while playing games in Windows 10 got resolved or not.

FIX 3: Configure the screen resolution compatibility:

Incompatible screen resolution can lead to the DirectDraw error in Windows 10. Thus, configuring the screen resolution compatibility would help here in this case. For doing so,

Firstly, right-click on the game (which leads you to the said error) and then select the sub-menu Properties option.
On the Properties window, navigate the Compatibility tab from the vertical menu and then tick the checkbox located before the option Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution.
Lastly, click on Apply and then OK.
Once done, open the relevant program and check whether the DirectDraw error while playing games in Windows 10 got resolved or not.

FIX 4: Update the Video card driver

A corrupt, outdated, or missing Video card driver can also trigger the DirectDraw error in Windows 10. For resolving the situation, it is advisable to update the Video card driver. For doing so,

Launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether, type “devmgmt.msc” in the empty dialogue box and then click on OK.
Now on the Device Manager window, expand the option Display Driver.
Right-click on the driver from the expanded menu and click on the option Update driver.
From the next prompt, click on the option Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete the process.
Once done, re-run the program/ game showing you’re the DirectDraw error and check if it got resolved.

These are the top 4 fixes that have helped many suffered users get rid of the DirectDraw error while playing games in Windows 10. All the fixes mentioned in the list above are relatively easy and require only basic computer knowledge to proceed.

However, for updating the driver in the 4th Fix, you can also use any third-party automatic driver updating tool and save yourself from the entire manual process. Automated driver updating tools recognize your system and find the correct driver as required. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.