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    How to find out if a game will work on your Windows 10 device

    Here’s a checklist to help you determine whether your Windows 10 device is game-ready:

    • Check the system info for your device
    • Check the amount of free space on your device
    • Check which graphics card is installed and how much video memory is available
    • Check which version of DirectX is installed
    • Check the minimum system requirements for your game
    • Compare the game's minimum system requirements with your device

    Check the system info for your device

    On your PC, select the Startbutton, type About your PC, and then select About your PC to view the following system info:

    • Operating system (OS)
    • Version
    • OS build
    • Processor
    • Installed RAM (memory)
    • System type (for example, 32-bit or 64-bit operating system)

    If your device isn’t running the minimum (or later) version of Windows to run your game, you’ll need to install an update. See the Windows Update: FAQ  page to learn how to upgrade your device with the latest update.

    Note If you have version K or KN of Windows 10, you may need to download additional software. These are available as a free download. To do this, visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3099229.

    Check the amount of free space on your device

    The required disk drive space for a game will vary depending on the title and whether you’re playing on Xbox One or Windows 10.

    Xbox One

    To see if your Xbox One console has enough available disk space to install a game:

    1. Press the Xbox  button on your controller to go to the Home screen, and then scroll right to My games & apps.
    2. Check the available drive space displayed at the bottom-left corner of the screen. If you don't have enough space, you’ll either need to remove some of your existing games and apps, or add an external drive to your console.

    If you're using an external storage device with your console and want to change the default installation location:

    1. Double-tap the Xbox  button to bring up the guide.
    2. Select Settings > All settings.
    3. Select System > Storage.
    4. Under Manage storage, your default storage location is indicated by a triangle in the top-right corner.

    Windows 10

    To determine how much available disk space is on your Windows 10 device:

    1. Select the Start  button, then select Settings > System > Storage.
    2. You'll see the used disk space for each drive on your device. Make sure you have enough available space on your hard drive.

    If you’ve already installed a game and want to change the location from one drive to another:

    1. First, make sure the game is closed.
    2. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
    3. Select the drive to which you installed the game, and then select Apps and games.
    4. Select the game, select Move, and then choose the disk drive to which you want to move the game.

    Check which graphics card is installed and how much video memory is available

    If you don’t know which graphics card is installed or how much video memory it has, here’s how you can check:

    1. On your PC, select the Startbutton, then select Settings > System > Display.
    2. Scroll to the bottom and select Advanced display settings.
    3. Scroll to the bottom and select Display adapter properties. Adapter Type will display the name of the graphics card, and Dedicated Video Memory will display the video memory.

    Check which version of DirectX is installed

    If you’re not sure which version of DirectX you have installed, here’s how you can check:

    1. Press the Windows logo key+ R to open the Run dialog box.
    2. Type "dxdiag" and then press Enter to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
    3. On the System tab in the System Information window, look for the DirectX version listed.

    To check the feature level, on the Display tab for your video card, look under Drivers for the Feature Levels supported.

    Check the minimum system requirements for your game

    Now that you have the system information for your device, locate your game's minimum system requirements from one of the following places.

    Microsoft Store on Windows 10

    If you bought or want to buy your game from Microsoft Store, here's how to check the minimum system requirements for the game:

    1. On your Windows 10 device, select Start, then select Store.
    2. In Search, enter the name of the game you’re checking requirements for.
    3. Scroll down to the System Requirements section.
    4. Compare this information against the system information for your device to see if your device meets the minimum requirements to play the game.

    The online location where you purchased the game

    Most online retailers list the minimum system requirements needed to play the game. If you bought or want to buy your game from an online store other than the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, here's how to check the minimum system requirements for the game:

    1. Go to the website where you bought or will buy the game.
    2. Search for the game.
    3. On the game details or purchase screen, look for the system requirements.
      Note Some online retailers list suggested system requirements, which are the best systems for the game to run on. Your game will work as long as you meet or exceed the minimum requirements.
    4. Compare the game’s minimum requirements against the system information for your device to see if your device meets the minimum requirements to play the game.

    The game packaging if you purchased the game from a retail store

    When you purchase a game from a retail store, the minimum system requirements are listed on the packaging. Make sure your device meets these requirements.

    Compare the game's minimum system requirements with your device

    Now that you have the system information for your device and the minimum system requirements for the game, it's easy to find out if the game can run on your device.

    The following table shows an example of a device that does not meet the minimum system requirements for a game:

    Your Device

    Game: Minimum Requirements

    Operating System: Windows 10

    Processor: i5 CPU @ 1.7 GHz

    Memory: 4096 MB (4 GB)

    DirectX Version: 9.1

    Graphic Card Memory: 2048 MB (2 GB)

    Operating System: Windows 8.1 or higher

    Processor: i3 CPU @ 1.5 GHz

    Memory: 8192 MB (8 GB)

    DirectX Version: 11

    Graphic Card Memory: 2048 MB (2 GB)

    The following table shows an example of a device that does meet the minimum system requirements:

    Your Device

    Game: Minimum Requirements

    Operating System: Windows 10

    Processor: i7 CPU @ 2.1 GHz

    Memory: 16384 MB (16 GB)

    DirectX Version: 11

    Graphic Card Memory: 2048 MB (2 GB)

    Operating System: Windows 8.1 or higher

    Processor: i5 CPU @ 1.7 GHz

    Memory: 8192 MB (8 GB)

    DirectX Version: 11

    Graphic Card Memory: 2048 MB (2 GB)

    Related Issues

    Playing games for Windows 8 on a Windows 10 device
    How to get software and driver updates for Windows 10
    Hardware requirements for Game DVR on Windows 10
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