How do I Uninstall DirectX?

When DirectX was first introduced, it was marketed to people involved in the gaming industry. It is now widely used by those who develop all types of graphical computer software.


DirectX is "backward compatible" software, allowing the user to install a newer version of DirectX, and still be able to play games created for an older version of the software.

As an application programming interface, DirectX increases the performance of hardware associated with audio and video animation. Nearly all of the latest video and sound computer hardware devices for PCs are manufactured to be DirectX compliant. However, Microsoft did not expect users to want or need to remove DirectX installations from their computers. Because of this, DirectX has no normal removal procedure. In situations where a problem with video or audio systems on your PC occurs, it is advised to reinstall a previous or updated version of DirectX. Modern versions of DirectX, such as versions packaged with Windows XP or newer Windows operating systems, do not need to be removed to resolve issues, however, since they have a built in repair facility. To repair these versions of DirectX, merely download DirectX software from Microsoft and install them over the top of your current installation. DirectX generally does not cause problems with your computer operating system, and once it is installed it is tightly integrated with Windows. Do not uninstall DirectX unless you have no other alternative to solving the problem you are experiencing.

DirectX is released by Microsoft, which advises creating a "System Restore Point," before installing DirectX. In this way, DirectX can be removed from your computer by restoring a previous configuration of your computer. If you did not create a system restore point previous to installing DirectX, you should not attempt this procedure. Be forewarned, everything you have installed between the time you created the system restore point and the time you choose to undo your system changes WILL BE LOST when you use this procedure.

Steps to Uninstall DirectX using System Restore
On the desktop, click the button.
Then click the menu item.
After the Help and Support window opens, Click "Undo Changes To Your Computer With System Restore" from the "Pick a task" section.
On the right hand side of the System Restore window, check "Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time."
Click the button.
The computer then gives you the ability to Select A Restore Point, by clicking a previous date on the calendar. This restore point should be a date occurring before DirectX was installed.
Click the button.
Click the button again to confirm your restore point selection.
After the restore has been completed, click the button to quit.
You may find methods documented on the World Wide Web on how to remove DirectX using the system registry editor. This is possible, however it is not recommended. Removing DirectX using registry tools has a high likelihood of leaving the system in an unstable state. You can also simply reinstall your Windows operating system, and choose not to install DirectX afterward, but this is pretty extreme. There are shareware tools available on the Internet to assist you if you do not have a system restore point created.

A popular example of a shareware program created to uninstall any version of DirectX is DirectX Happy Uninstall. This software gives the user the ability to remove any version of DirectX, while ensuring a stable computer environment. "DirectX Happy Uninstall" is compatible with Windows versions 98 and higher, giving the ability to not only uninstall DirectX, but to "restore" a current version or "rollback" to a previous version of DirectX as well.

Other software is available to remove DirectX from your Windows operating system, and it is best to investigate all of your options to find one that best suits your needs.