Windows Insider Build 27808 Causing Crashes for DirectX 9 Applications
DirectX 9 Games and Apps Crashing on Latest Windows Insider Build
Nvidia GPUs May Be Involved, But No Confirmation Yet
Windows Insider builds are known for their bugs since they are test versions where Microsoft experiments with new features. However, the latest build, 27808, which rolled out on March 7, seems to have introduced a particularly troubling issue. Users in the Canary channel are reporting crashes when running applications that use DirectX 9.
Microsoft has confirmed the issue in build 27808 in an update posted on its Windows Blog, as spotted by Neowin:
“[NEW] We are investigating a d3d9.dll crash which is causing multiple apps to fail to launch starting with Build 27802 for some Insiders.”
While older games relying on the DirectX 9 API are primarily impacted, the issue extends to any app using DirectX 9. Microsoft is currently working on a fix, but no timeline has been provided yet.
What’s Causing the Issue?
Reports from users suggest the crashes may be linked to Nvidia GPUs. Some have found that replacing the problematic d3d9.dll file with one from an older build resolves the issue. However, this workaround requires disabling the Nvidia GPU in Device Manager before swapping the DLL file.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft hasn’t confirmed Nvidia GPUs as the cause. However, Nvidia’s latest RTX 50-series graphics cards have faced several challenges recently, including hardware issues like burning power connectors and software problems causing crashes and black screens.
Who’s Affected?
Fortunately, this bug is limited to users running Insider builds in the Canary channel, which is known for receiving the earliest, most experimental versions of Windows 11, along with a higher number of bugs. If you’re on the general release version of Windows 11 or one of the more stable Insider channels, you won’t be affected.
For those in the Canary channel experiencing crashes, you have a few options:
- Replace the
d3d9.dllfile with one from a previous build (after disabling your Nvidia GPU). - Roll back to an earlier Canary build using our archive of Windows 11 updates.
- Switch to a more stable Insider channel.
What’s Next?
Microsoft will likely resolve the issue before rolling this build out to more stable Insider channels. Until then, affected users should either try the suggested fixes or wait for an official update.
Although Nvidia GPUs have been pointed out by users, this hasn’t been confirmed by Microsoft or Nvidia. Given the widespread use of Nvidia GPUs compared to AMD and Intel, confirmation bias may play a role in these reports.
For now, it’s clear that if you’re not on the Canary channel, there’s no need to worry. For those who are, it might be best to stick to older builds or stable channels until the issue is resolved.
