Microsoft released a public preview of DirectX Dump Files on June 18, 2024, to simplify GPU crash diagnostics for developers. This tool eliminates the need to manually correlate logs from multiple layers of the graphics stack. Developers can now capture GPU state, driver info, and application context in a single file. The feature targets users and creators who rely on stable graphics performance across different hardware vendors.
Unified diagnostic tool targets AMD NVIDIA Intel and Qualcomm GPUs
The new utility supports AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm GPUs. It creates files with the .dxdmp extension to store diagnostic data. Microsoft designed the system to work with Tier 2 hardware that supports zero-overhead mode by default. This allows crash data collection without requiring code modifications from developers.
The preview version requires Developer Mode and the Agility SDK 1.721.1-preview. It also demands specific Windows builds, including 24H2 or 25H2 with KB5089573 or later, or 26H1 with KB5089570 or later. AMD provided a minimum driver version of 26.10.07.02 for testing. The system allows up to 2MB of custom user-defined application data in each dump.
DirectX Dump Files introduce three overhead modes: No Overhead, Medium Overhead, and High Overhead. Tier 2 hardware activates the zero-overhead mode automatically to minimize performance impact. Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm driver release dates remain pending as developers contact respective teams. The full retail deployment is scheduled for Fall 2026 alongside Windows 11 26H2.
Microsoft announced this preview version to address graphics card driver crash diagnosis issues. The tool aims to unify the debugging process across all major GPU vendors. Developers can now access a standardized format for analyzing hardware failures. The feature will become more widely available when Windows 11 26H2 launches in 2026.
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