XINPUT1_3.dll Missing? How to Fix the Error in Older PC Games

The XINPUT1_3.dll missing message commonly appears when an older Windows game expects a legacy DirectX component that is not installed. The solution is often to install the official DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010), rather than downloading an isolated DLL or replacing DirectX 12.

Why can XINPUT1_3.dll be missing on a new PC?

XInput is Microsoft's interface for controller input in Windows games. Windows includes newer XInput implementations, but older games may explicitly request XInput 1.3. Having a newer version of DirectX does not necessarily install every legacy side-by-side library a game expects.

Microsoft's DirectX End-User Runtimes download page states that its legacy package supplies optional components including XInput 1.3, D3DX, XAudio and XACT. It also explains that the package does not replace the operating system's built-in DirectX runtime.

How to fix XINPUT1_3.dll errors

Step 1: Check the game installation

Open the game in its launcher and use the Verify integrity or Repair function if available. Some games install legacy DirectX prerequisites from a bundled redistributables folder. Follow the publisher's official instructions before installing extra components.

Step 2: Install the Microsoft legacy runtime

Go to the official Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) page. Download the package from Microsoft, follow the installer's instructions, and reopen the game. Some versions of this downloadable package are self-extracting redistributables; extract them to a folder you control and run the included DirectX setup as instructed by Microsoft. Avoid downloading the DLL directly from random sites.

Step 3: Restart and test the game

Close other launchers and restart the computer if prompted by the installer. Start the game normally. If the message changes to a different missing file, record the new name rather than blindly adding more DLLs.

Step 4: Check game compatibility

An old title can fail for several reasons beyond XInput: outdated graphics APIs, unsupported copy protection, driver problems or incorrect game files. Check the publisher's compatibility notes and Windows requirements. Do not assume installing XInput will fix unrelated crashes.

What not to do

Do not replace an XInput DLL in a Windows system directory, copy a library found in a forum attachment, or disable Windows Security to launch an unfamiliar executable. Old game patches should be downloaded only from sources you can verify. Unofficial “DLL packs” are especially risky because they may contain unrelated executable components.

Does this change the DirectX version on Windows 11?

No. The legacy runtime adds certain optional, side-by-side components that older applications may use. It does not downgrade or replace the modern DirectX runtime included with Windows. This distinction is why newer hardware can still display an old XInput 1.3 error.

FAQ

Is XINPUT1_3.dll a virus? The filename refers to a legitimate Microsoft component, but any file bearing that name still needs a trustworthy source.

Why not use the newest DirectX alone? Different XInput library versions have different names and compatibility requirements.

Will this make every older game work? No. It only addresses one class of missing-runtime dependencies.