• Increase the Paging file size under Advanced System Settings > Performance > Virtual memory.
  • Launch the Disk Cleanup utility to clear the DirectX Shader cache manually.

Common Fixes

  • Launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool : Press the Windows key, search Windows Memory Diagnostic tool , and click to open it. Select ‘Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)’ and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Switch to a lower in-game graphic setting : Reduce the graphic quality by accessing the in-game settings.
  • Update DirectX and Windows 11 : The latest DirectX 12 Ultimate comes included with the Windows Update. Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select Windows Update, and install available updates.

Fix 1: Increase the Paging File Size

Windows kernel uses the paging file size for carrying out virtual memory operations. Increasing the paging file size boosts the virtual memory , eliminating the DirectX ‘Could not allocate sufficient memory’ error on Windows 11.

Step 1: Press the Windows key > search View advanced system settings > click to open it.

1 View Advanced System Settings on Windows - 1

Step 2: Switch to the Advanced tab > click Settings under Performance.

2 Advanced System Settings 1 - 2

Step 3: Select Change under the Virtual memory section.

3 Change Virtual Memory on Windows - 3

Step 4: Uncheck Automatically managing paging file size for all drives , highlight your desired drive, enable Custom size , and set your preferred Initial and Maximum size .

Note: The initial size should be 1.5 times the size of your RAM, and the maximum size can be up to 3 times the size of your RAM.

5 Increase Virtual RAM on Windows - 4

Step 5: Select Set to apply changes and click OK .

6 Increase Virtual RAM on Windows 11 - 5

Fix 2: Clear the DirectX Cache

A corrupt DirectX cache can often create an insufficient memory allocation error on Windows 11. Clearing it manually should fix the issue.

Step 1: Press the Windows key > search Disk Cleanup > click to open it.

7 Open the Disk Cleanup Utility - 6

Step 2: Select your Windows installation drive > click OK .

8 Disk Cleanup Utility - 7

Step 3: Check DirectX Shader Cache in the list > click OK to remove it. Select Delete Files when prompted to confirm the action.

9 Clear DirectX Memory Error - 8

Fix 3: Update or Reinstall the Graphics Driver

A corrupt cache and an obsolete graphic driver are common causes of DirectX’s ‘Could not allocate sufficient memory’ error. Update it manually to restore normalcy.

Step 1: Right-click the Start icon to open the Power User Menu and select Device Manager .

11 Open Device Manager on Windows - 9

Step 2: Expand Display adapters , right-click your graphic driver, and select Update driver .

If the error persists, uninstall the driver using Uninstall device and restart your PC to let Windows 11 install it afresh.

12 Update Graphics Driver on Windows - 10

Fix 4: Underclock the Chipset

If nothing works, you can underclock your CPU by accessing the BIOS settings. This decreases resource consumption and fixes the DirectX insufficient memory allocation error.

Caution: Reducing the CPU clock frequency may cause voltage fluctuations, making the processor unstable.

Step 1: Press the Windows + X shortcut to open the Power user Menu, select Shut down or sign out , and click Restart .

open the power user menu 1 - 11

Step 2: Open the BIOS setup by pressing the dedicated key ( e.g., F2 ) at the startup.

Step 3: Locate the CPU Clock Ratio or CPU Multiplier , lower its existing value, and save changes.

Note: These settings may differ on your Chipset.

lower CPU clock frequency - 12

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