How to Fix DirectX Could Not Allocate Sufficient Memory Error on Windows 11

If you play PC games or run graphics-intensive software on Windows 11, you might come across a frustrating message like: “DirectX function ‘GetDeviceRemovedReason’ failed: Could not allocate sufficient memory.”

This error usually appears when launching or playing games that rely heavily on DirectX, such as Battlefield, FIFA, Call of Duty, or 3D rendering software. It typically means that your system couldn’t assign enough GPU or system memory to handle the task.

Fortunately, this problem can be fixed. In this guide, we’ll show you how to resolve the “DirectX could not allocate sufficient memory” error on Windows 11 using a series of practical methods.

1. What Causes the “Could Not Allocate Sufficient Memory” Error

This DirectX error usually indicates a graphics or memory allocation issue. Common causes include:

Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers
Insufficient video memory (VRAM) or system RAM
Overclocked GPU settings causing instability
Corrupted DirectX files or missing components
System file corruption
Game configuration issues (like high texture settings exceeding GPU limits)

Let’s go step-by-step to identify and fix the problem.

2. Restart Your PC and Close Background Apps

Before diving into advanced fixes, start with the basics.

Save your work and restart your computer.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Under the Processes tab, close unnecessary background applications — especially those using GPU or RAM (like Chrome, OBS, or Adobe apps).

This frees up system and video memory, which can resolve temporary allocation issues.

3. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or faulty GPU drivers are one of the most common reasons for DirectX memory errors. Updating them often fixes the issue immediately.

Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click your GPU (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) → select Update driver.
Click Search automatically for drivers.

Alternatively, download the latest drivers manually:

After installation, restart your PC and relaunch the game or app.

4. Reinstall or Repair DirectX

If your DirectX installation is corrupted or missing components, you can reinstall or repair it.

Visit the official DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.
Download and run the installer.
Follow the on-screen prompts to repair or reinstall missing DirectX components.

Once done, restart your PC.

Tip: Most modern games install their required DirectX version automatically. If not, reinstalling DirectX ensures compatibility.

5. Check and Increase Virtual Memory (Paging File)

Windows uses part of your drive as virtual memory (paging file) when physical RAM runs out. If your virtual memory is too small, DirectX may fail to allocate space.

Press Windows + S, type View advanced system settings, and open it.
Under Performance, click Settings → Advanced → Virtual memory → Change.
Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Select your system drive (C:).
Choose Custom size and set:
- Initial size: 1.5 × your RAM (in MB)
- Maximum size: 3 × your RAM (in MB)
  Example: For 8 GB RAM → 12288 MB initial, 24576 MB maximum.
Click Set → OK, then restart your PC.

This ensures Windows has enough memory space to handle demanding tasks like DirectX rendering.

6. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

If the error occurs in a specific game, the GPU might be running out of video memory (VRAM).

Try these adjustments:

Lower Texture Quality and Shadow Resolution.
Turn off Ray Tracing and Anti-Aliasing.
Reduce Resolution (e.g., from 4K to 1080p).
Limit Frame Rate (FPS) to avoid GPU overuse.

Tip: Keep VRAM usage below 80% to maintain stability in graphically heavy games.

7. Disable GPU Overclocking

Overclocked GPUs sometimes cause instability and memory allocation errors.

If you’re using tools like MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X1, or AMD Adrenalin, reset your GPU settings to default.

Open your GPU tuning tool.
Click Reset or Restore Defaults.
Restart your PC and test your game again.

If the issue disappears, the overclock was too aggressive for your hardware configuration.

8. Check System RAM and GPU VRAM Usage

If your system frequently runs out of memory, you may need to upgrade or optimize your RAM.

To Monitor Usage:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the Performance tab → check Memory and GPU.
If usage is near 100%, consider:
- Closing heavy background apps.
- Adding more RAM (16 GB is recommended for modern gaming).
- Using a GPU with more VRAM for high-end titles.

9. Repair Corrupted System Files

System file corruption can break DirectX and memory allocation mechanisms. Run Windows repair tools to fix it.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type these commands one by one: sfc /scannow dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Wait for both processes to complete and then restart your PC.

This ensures all Windows components related to DirectX and system memory are healthy.

10. Reinstall or Reset the Game/Application

If only one specific game or program triggers the error, its internal DirectX configuration might be corrupted.

Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
Find the affected game → click Uninstall.
Reinstall it from your game launcher (Steam, Epic Games, EA App, etc.).

Alternatively, you can verify integrity of game files (if using Steam or Epic Games):

Steam: Library → Right-click game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity.
Epic Games: Library → Click ⋯ (three dots) → Verify.

11. Update Windows

Ensure your Windows 11 installation is fully updated, as Microsoft often includes DirectX and GPU fixes in cumulative updates.

Press Windows + I → Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.
Install all available updates and restart your PC.

12. Perform a Clean Boot

Some third-party background programs or overlay tools (like Discord, NVIDIA Overlay, or RivaTuner) can conflict with DirectX.

Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
Under Services, check Hide all Microsoft services → click Disable all.
Open Task Manager → Startup tab → disable all startup apps.
Restart your PC.

If the error disappears, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit.

13. Reinstall or Repair GPU Drivers (Clean Install)

If nothing else works, perform a clean reinstallation of your GPU drivers to remove conflicts or corruption.

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from its official site.
Boot into Safe Mode.
Run DDU and select Clean and restart.
After reboot, reinstall your GPU driver from the official manufacturer’s website.

This completely removes old driver files that could interfere with DirectX.

14. Check for Hardware Issues

If you’re still getting DirectX memory errors, you may be dealing with a hardware limitation or defect.

Try the following:

Test your GPU in another system (if possible).
Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for RAM errors.
Monitor your GPU’s temperature with MSI Afterburner — overheating can cause instability.

If hardware diagnostics show issues, you may need to replace the component.

Wrapping Up

The DirectX “Could Not Allocate Sufficient Memory” error on Windows 11 usually happens due to memory exhaustion, outdated drivers, or corrupted DirectX components,

After following these steps, most users can get their games and graphics apps running smoothly again — without memory allocation errors or crashes.