[Win11 DX12] Why is UE4x & EpicGamesLauncher requiring XINPUT_3.dll (DX10) to start? "XINPUT1_3 not found"

Development Getting Started & Setup
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  1. Why are Epic exes requiring a gen 10 DirectX file on a DirectX 12 system?
  2. And how to fix (how to safely get DirectX 10 files? Do I really need to install an old DX / is it even possible when I have DX 12 installed?)

Im on a Win11 DX12, 13th Gen Intel, Offline install (no internet connected).

I have EpicGames and UE installed on an external drive. Im trying to launch the Launcher or UE4x from that drive.
But get an error of missing:

  • XINPUT_3.dll (which is a DirectX 10 file)
  • and D3DCOMPLIER_43.dll

Notes: I originally installed EpicGames and UEditor [on this external drive] but from a Win10 PC #0 (which might have had DX10.)

  • But last month, I connected this drive to a new Win11 PC #1, and the Launcher started fine. (Perhaps because when I started EpicLauncher, it did an update and refreshed its install? But Win11 PC #1 also has DX12 and never had DX10. So if the DX10 files were not on the External drive (not C drive), then how did the Launcher start on Win11 PC #1?)

  • Current issue: But now I connected this drive to another Win11 PC #2, and I cannot start the Launcher (fails to start with errors of 2 missing dlls).

  • (I even copied Epic related AppData, ProgramData from Win11 PC #1 [C drive] to #2 [C drive], but #2 [exes on External drive] still will not start.)

    • This is also why Epic should not install anything on my C drive!: So that Im not hard refed to a C drive of another computer! I hate CastTo and want everything installed on my separate External drive so that I can move independently. Ty.
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Update: I fixed it and the Exes run now. But Epic should fix their 2024 dependencies.

Fix solution (these are not my files nor links, but a YT vid showed them being used https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts2E0zKHkGI):

  1. Download these 2 dll files: (get the 64 bit version if your PC is 64 bit, and not 32 bit)
  1. Extract the zips anywhere so you only have 2 dlls.
  2. For a 64 bit PC: Drag those 2 dlls into Windows\System32 (Read the notes at the dll website, if you have a 32bit sys > where to put the files.)
  3. Yer done. Dont forget to like comment and subscribe.
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Thanks bro. I got the “XINPUT1_3 not found” error on another computer. So I came here to remember the solution > links > get files.

  • Updated thread topic to fix the name of the dll and aid exact search:
  • specifically: “XINPUT1_3 not found”

Update notes: to install/use Epic Games launcher / projects on a new computer with a portable drive (which has the project files, but for some reason Epic installs files on C drive, which we need) - do the following:

  1. Before you move computers > go to the C drive > copy these Folders (files) to your portable drive, to [later] copy to the new C drive of your new computer:
  2. C > Users > your user > AppData > Roaming > copy “Unreal Engine” (needed)
  3. C > Users > your user > AppData > Local > copy “EpicGamesLauncher” (might be needed, but I think it worked to do only #2)
  4. C > ProgramData > copy “Epic” (might be needed, but I think it worked to do only #2)