Independent guide · not affiliated with the DXVK project or Valve · downloads always link to the official GitHub

Try: d3d9.maxAvailableMemory, DXVK_HUD, GTA IV, Failed to create Vulkan instance

EXPLAINER · FOR BEGINNERS · DXVK 3.1.1

What is DXVK, and do you need it?

DXVK is a translation layer: it replaces the Direct3D 8, 9, 10 and 11 DLLs a game loads and turns those calls into Vulkan, a different graphics API. On Linux and the Steam Deck you already use it whenever Proton runs a DirectX 8 to 11 game. On Windows it is optional and unsupported upstream, but it can fix stutter or crashes in some older games.
Checked
2026-11-07
On this page
  1. DXVK in one picture
  2. What the name means
  3. Where you already use DXVK
  4. Why use DXVK on Windows?
  5. What DXVK does not do
  6. Who makes DXVK
  7. Do you need DXVK? A 20-second check
  8. Versions in one table
How we checked this

DXVK in one picture

Normal Windows Game .exe Microsoft Direct3D GPU driver GPU With DXVK Game .exe DXVK DLLs Vulkan driver GPU
DXVK sits where Microsoft's Direct3D normally sits and turns the game's calls into Vulkan.

A game normally calls Microsoft’s Direct3D, which talks to your graphics driver. DXVK provides its own versions of those Direct3D files. The game loads them, DXVK turns the calls into Vulkan, and your Vulkan driver does the rest. Nothing changes in the game itself.

What the name means

“DX” is for DirectX, “VK” for Vulkan. We found no official expansion of the name, so we do not offer one.

Where you already use DXVK

Steam Play, Proton and the Steam Deck

Proton bundles DXVK for Direct3D 8 to 11 games. You do not need to install anything.

Lutris, Bottles and Heroic

The DXVK README says that tools such as Steam Play, Lutris, Bottles and Heroic handle its setup automatically. We have not tested how each does it. Usually you do not need to install anything.

Android emulators

Apps such as Winlator and GameHub ship their own community builds; DXVK has no first-party Android support. You choose it inside the app.

Plain Wine and Windows

Under plain Wine, you copy the DLLs into the prefix and set overrides (F03: without the overrides the files were ignored). On Windows you copy them next to the game (F02). Here you do install it, by hand.

Why use DXVK on Windows?

Reasons people try it: some older Direct3D 9 games are limited by the CPU, some games have driver-specific problems with Direct3D 9 on certain GPUs, and some mods expect it. Reasons not to: it is unsupported upstream on Windows (the DXVK wiki says so), online anti-cheat can treat swapped Direct3D DLLs as cheating, and overlays or vendor libraries can interfere. We have no game FPS measurements yet; the measured page will have them when we do. On bans, read the safety page.

What DXVK does not do

It does not handle DirectX 12 (that is vkd3d-proton), DirectDraw or Direct3D 7 and older (see dgVoodoo2) or OpenGL. It is not an emulator, and it is not a general performance mod.

Who makes DXVK

Philip Rebohle (doitsujin) made the first commit in October 2017, and he and contributors still develop it. Valve began working with him in 2018, according to Wikipedia and Ars Technica; we did not verify the terms. It uses the zlib licence. Two other projects were merged into it: D9VK in 1.5 (December 2019) and D8VK in 2.4 (July 2024).

Do you need DXVK? A 20-second check

Where do you play?

Show all paths
  • Where do you play?
    • Steam Deck or Linux with Proton →
    • You already use DXVK
    • Linux with Wine, Lutris or Bottles →
    • Your launcher or prefix usually handles it
    • Windows →
    • Which Direct3D does the game use?
      • Direct3D 8, 9, 10 or 11 →
      • Do you have a problem to fix, such as crashes, stutter or a mod that asks for it?
        • Yes →
        • It may be worth a try on Windows
        • No, the game runs fine →
        • You do not need it
      • Direct3D 12, or I do not know →
      • DXVK is probably not for this game

Versions in one table

DXVK version lines
LineNeedsNote
3.xVulkan 1.4-class driver; Wine 10.1 or newer on LinuxCurrent, 3.1.1
2.xVulkan 1.3Last is 2.7.1
1.10.3Vulkan 1.1Legacy, for older GPUs

Which one fits your GPU: the Version Picker. The files DXVK adds: the DLL page. How the translation works: how DXVK works.

Questions people ask

Is DXVK safe?

DXVK is open-source software published on GitHub. The real risks are fake download sites and bans in online games; see the safety page.

Does DXVK increase FPS?

It can in some CPU-limited older games and can lower FPS in others. We have no game FPS measurements yet, so we make no speed claim.

Is DXVK only for Linux?

No. It began as a way to run Windows games on Linux and also works on Windows, where its developers do not officially support it.

What is DXVK on Steam?

Proton, the compatibility layer Steam uses on Linux and Steam Deck, bundles DXVK for DirectX 8 to 11 games, so those games use it without you installing anything.

Is DXVK open source?

Yes, under the zlib licence. The licence file at version 3.1.1 names its copyright holders; the 'GPL' in the 2.0 release notes means Graphics Pipeline Library, not the GNU licence.

Sources

  1. DXVK README at v3.1.1 · accessed 2026-11-07
  2. DXVK LICENSE at v3.1.1 · accessed 2026-11-07
  3. DXVK repository history and releases · accessed 2026-11-07
  4. Ars Technica, Valve's Steam Play (2018) · accessed 2026-11-07

Related

windowsInstall DXVK on WindowsIf you decided to try it dllsDXVK's DLL filesThe five files and what they do is dxvk safeIs DXVK safe?Bans requirementsRequirements and the right versionCheck your GPU uninstallUninstall DXVKEasy to undo

Keep exploring

LearnHow it worksFrom Direct3D call to Vulkan LearnDXVK 3.xWhat changed, should you upgrade FAQFAQShort answers to the questions we get most. ToolsToolsSix free tools that run in your browser. FixNot workingSymptom-by-symptom fixes when DXVK misbehaves.