The D3D11.dll file is part of the DirectX11 distribution and is regularly utilized by games and applications that require a lot of graphical processing. Although most D3D11.dll errors are usually resolved after the user reinstalls the DirectX software collection, this particular issue is a little different. Most users encountering this error reported that reinstalling the redistributable collections has not been successful in resolving the issue. Warning: Do not attempt to replace your d3d11.dll version with a so-called “clean version” from DLL download sites. A lot of the files hosted there will contain malicious code that will leave your system exposed to future security attacks. In situations like this, the preferred approach is to go through the official channels. If you’re currently struggling with the “C:\Windows\SysWOW64\D3D11.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error“, the fixes below will most likely resolve the issue. We have managed to identify a few viable methods that will solve the problem posted by users that were in the same situation. Please follow the methods in order until you encounter a fix that resolves your situation.
Method 1: Running an SFC scan
Before we dive into the tech-heavy stuff, let’s see if a simple SFC scan can resolve the issue. Some users have reported that the issue has been resolved after they ran the System File Checker utility. Note: System File Checker is a locally-stored utility that allows users to scan and restore corrupt Windows system files. A scan by the SFC utility will look for any changes inside the protected system files. If any changes are spotted, the utility will replace any corrupted/tempered occurrences with locally stored fresh copies. Follow the steps below to perform a System File Checker scan and see whether it manages to resolve the “C:\Windows\SysWOW64\D3D11.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error” issue:
Method 2: Re-registering the D3D11.dll file
Regardless of the outcome in Method 1, let’s try to re-register all .DDL files on your computer and see if this manages to resolve the “C:\Windows\SysWOW64\D3D11.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error” issue. Some users have reported that the problem has been solved at the end of this process. Here’s a quick guide on re-registering the .DLL files on your computer (D3D11.dll included): If you’re still encountering the same error, move down to the final method.
Method 3: Replacing the d3d11.dll file with a local copy manually
If both of the methods above have proven to be a bust, let’s take a more drastic approach. Some users struggling with the same problem have managed to resolve the issue after taking ownership of the d3d11.dll file from the sysWow folder and then replacing it from a fresh copy from the winsxs folder. Note: Keep in mind that there are two different d3d11.dll files – one is located in the sysWOW folder and one in system32. The steps below will be performed on the d3d11.dll file located in the sysWOW folder. Warning: The steps below will get quite technical and if they’re not performed correctly might end up creating additional problems with your PC. Please continue with the following steps only if you’re confident in your abilities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to taking ownership of the d3d11.dll file ( from sysWOW), deleting it manually and then replacing it with a local copy from the winsxs folder:
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