Table of Contents

How to Force DirectX 11 on Steam Deck: A Comprehensive Guide

Quick answer

This page answers How do you force DirectX 11 on Steam Deck? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

▶

The Steam Deck, a marvel of handheld gaming, sometimes requires a bit of tweaking to achieve optimal performance. One common adjustment is forcing a game to run using DirectX 11 (DX11) instead of its default DirectX 12 (DX12) or Vulkan API. While many modern games utilize DX12 for its enhanced features, some titles or older hardware, especially on the Steam Deck, may perform better with DX11. This is often due to the Proton compatibility layer which translates Windows API calls to Linux APIs on the Steam Deck. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to force DirectX 11 on your Steam Deck.

Forcing DirectX 11 via Steam Launch Options

The most reliable method to force DX11 is by using Steam Launch Options. This allows you to tell the game to use a specific DirectX version when it starts. Here’s how:

Open your Steam Library: Navigate to your library of games on your Steam Deck.
Right-Click on the Game: Select the game you wish to modify by right-clicking (or tapping and holding on the Steam Deck’s screen).
Select Properties: In the context menu, choose the “Properties” option.
Navigate to the General Tab: Within the game properties window, select the “General” tab.
Locate Launch Options: You will find a section labeled “Launch Options,” usually at the bottom of this tab.
Enter the DirectX 11 Launch Option: In the input box under “Launch Options,” type the following command: -force-d3d11 (without the quotation marks).
Close the Properties Window: Once you’ve entered the command, simply close the Properties window. There’s no need to save; Steam will automatically apply the changes.
Launch the Game: Launch the game. It should now use DirectX 11.

Important Notes:

This is the most reliable and recommended method to force DirectX 11 on the Steam Deck.
Make sure you type the command exactly as written (-force-d3d11), including the hyphen.
If the game still launches in a different API, there are further troubleshooting options, explored in the FAQs below.

Alternative Method: In-Game Settings (If Available)

Some games offer a built-in option to switch between DirectX versions in their settings menu. If this option exists, it might be more direct than using launch options. To check:

Launch the Game.
Navigate to Options: Enter the game’s main menu and find the “Options” or “Settings” section.
Look for Graphics Settings: Look for a subsection related to “Graphics” or “Video” settings.
Locate API Selection: Find a drop-down menu or setting that allows you to select the “Graphics API” or the “Graphics Hardware Level”.
Choose DirectX 11: If listed, choose the option that indicates “DirectX 11.”
Apply Changes: Save the changes and restart the game.

Notes:

Not all games will have a built-in API selector.
This approach is more game-specific and might not be universally applicable.

Understanding Why DX11 Might Be Preferable

While DirectX 12 is generally more feature-rich, it doesn’t always guarantee the best performance, especially on devices like the Steam Deck, which uses a specific compatibility layer. The Proton layer translates the Windows system calls to the Linux environment on the Deck, and that translation for certain games can run more efficiently on DirectX 11. This is because some games may have issues with Vulkan or DX12 under the Proton translation layer, leading to performance dips and instability.

Troubleshooting Tips

If forcing DirectX 11 through the steps above doesn’t work, consider the following:

Check the spelling of the command: Ensure there are no typos in -force-d3d11.
Remove any conflicting launch options: Ensure that no other launch options that could conflict with forcing DX11 are present.
Try forcing the game to run in compatibility mode: Using proton compatibility layers that are different from the default may improve game performance.
Consult community guides: Check online forums and community guides for the game in question. Other players might have discovered specific workarounds.
Update Steam: Make sure Steam and the Deck OS are fully updated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is DirectX, and why are there different versions?

DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) from Microsoft for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video on Windows platforms. Newer versions like DirectX 12 offer more advanced features and better optimizations, but older versions like DirectX 11 might be more compatible or efficient on some systems or through translation layers like Proton.

2. Is DirectX 11 better than DirectX 12?

Not always. DirectX 12 generally provides more advanced features and improved performance on compatible hardware. However, on the Steam Deck and some older systems, DX11 might offer better stability or higher frame rates due to compatibility or software quirks.

3. Does the Steam Deck support DirectX 11?

Yes, the Steam Deck fully supports DirectX 11. It’s often a preferred option over DX12 or Vulkan for many games on the Deck due to the Proton compatibility layer.

4. How can I check which DirectX version is installed on my Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck uses a Linux-based operating system with the Proton compatibility layer to run Windows games; thus the DirectX on Windows is not directly applicable. To know the DirectX equivalent the game is using: enable the Steam overlay on the game, and you can usually see an “API” used on the display.

5. Can forcing DX11 damage my game or system?

No, forcing DirectX 11 through launch options or in-game settings is safe and will not damage your game or your Steam Deck. It’s simply instructing the game to use a specific graphics API.

6. Do I need to install DirectX 11?

No, modern Windows (and by extension through the Proton translation layer on the Steam Deck) systems include support for all DirectX versions, including DirectX 11. There’s no need to install it separately.

7. What if the `-force-d3d11` launch option doesn’t work?

If the launch option doesn’t work, try the following:
* Ensure you spelled it correctly (-force-d3d11).
* Check for and remove any other conflicting launch options.
* Consider using a different Proton compatibility layer.
* Explore any specific game-related community troubleshooting tips.

8. How do I remove the DirectX 11 launch option?

Simply remove the -force-d3d11 text from the “Launch Options” field in the game’s properties, and the game will launch using its default API.

9. How do I force a game to use DirectX 12 on Steam Deck?

To force DirectX 12, use the launch option: -force-d3d12. Keep in mind that this may not always improve performance and may introduce instability depending on the game.

10. What is Vulkan, and how does it relate to DirectX?

Vulkan is another graphics API (like DirectX) that can be used for rendering. Some games utilize Vulkan and may not offer the option to use DirectX. Vulkan is generally used with Linux games by default. It’s not recommended to mix Directx and Vulkan.

11. Can I downgrade from DirectX 12 to DirectX 11?

There is no direct way to downgrade. The approach here is to tell the game to run using the DX11 API at launch. Newer DirectX versions are backwards compatible and typically install all the components of older versions, but the translation of calls by proton may be better with a different API.

12. Will forcing DirectX 11 improve my FPS?

It can, but it depends on the game and the specific setup on the Steam Deck. If a game experiences performance issues with DX12 or Vulkan through the Proton layer, switching to DX11 might result in smoother gameplay.

13. How to use the “-high” launch option on Steam Deck?

Just like with DirectX, you can use -high inside of the launch options field of the properties window. This tells the computer to give priority to the game in the allocation of resources.

14. What if the game crashes after forcing DX11?

If the game crashes, it may not be well optimized for DX11 and might perform better in another API. Remove the -force-d3d11 launch option, and try using another launch option or using a different proton compatibility layer.

15. Can I change the DirectX version outside of Steam?

While you cannot directly change the system-wide DirectX version, you can modify game launch properties via shortcuts and executable files outside of Steam. However, using Steam Launch options is generally the safest and most reliable way to force a game to run on a specific API.