How to Fix Direct3d11 Error 0X087A0001 on Windows 10

Some Windows 10 users are reportedly seeing the Direct3D11 Error 0X087A0001 (Can’t Set Video Mode) when attempting to run certain resource-demanding games or when running various benchmark tools.

After we’ve investigated this particular issue thoroughly, it turns out that there are several different underlying scenarios that might be triggering this error code. Here’s a shortlist of potential culprits that might be creating this particular error code:

Now that you are aware of every potential culprit that might be responsible for this particular issue, here’s a list of verified methods that other affected users have successfully used to get to the bottom of this issue:

Method 1: Installing the Latest Stable GPU driver version

According to a lot of affected users that were encountering this error when attempting to run certain resource-demanding games, you might be dealing with a driver issue.

In most cases, the issue is either caused by an outdated driver graphics card version or due to an unstable GPU driver.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to get the issue resolved by reinstalling the GPU drivers that you’re actively using.

Note: The steps of doing so will be different depending on your GPU manufacturer. In order to accommodate both AMD and Nvidia users, we created two separate guides that will help you uninstall and reinstall your GPU – whether you’re using AMD or Nvidia graphics cards.

Follow the guide that’s applicable to your GPU manufacturer to resolve the Direct3D11 Error 0X087A0001 on Windows 10:

A. Reinstalling the GPU drivers on NVIDIA

1. Start by pressing Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘appwiz.cpl’ inside the text box and hit Enter to open up Programs and Files menu.

   

2. Inside the Programs and Features menu, proceed by clicking on the Publisher tab to order the list of installed programs by their publisher.
    
3. Next, your job is to find the entries published by NVIDIA Corporation and systematically right-click on them and click on Uninstall every item using the context menu.

   

4. Next, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
   Note: Do this systematically with every driver that shows up as published by Nvidia Corporation.
5. After every Nvidia driver is uninstalled, reboot your computer and wait for the next startup to complete.
6. Once the next startup is complete, visit the Nvidia GeForce Download page and install GeForce Experience by clicking on the Download Now button and following the on-screen instructions.

   

   Note: This utility will automatically find and recommend the drivers that you need to install according to your GPU model.

7. Next, open Nvidia Experience, sign in with an account and then install the recommended drivers from the Drivers page.

   

8. After every recommended driver is installed, reboot your computer once again and see if the issue is resolved at the next computer startup.
9. Launch the game that was previously triggering the 0X087A0001 error and see if the issue is now resolved.

B. Reinstalling the GPU drivers for AMD

1. Visit this link download page for the AMD Cleanup utility and download the latest version.
2. After the AMD Cleanup utility is downloaded, double-click on its executable, then click Yes at the confirmation prompt to run the utility in safe mode and uninstall every AMD driver.

   

   Note: This utility is designed to thoroughly remove any installed AMD drivers, registry entries, and driver store signatures – Saving you from searching and uninstalling every driver file manually. To ensure that you’re not leaving behind any leftover files, ensure that you run the utility in safe mode.

3. To start the utility, click Ok at the second prompt to start the AMD cleanup process. After you do so, the utility will run in the background.
   Note: During this operation, your display might flicker or turn black for a couple of seconds. This is absolutely normal as the display components are being removed.
4. Once you see the success message, click on Finish, then restart your computer manually if you’re not prompted to do so automatically.

   

5. Once your computer boots back up, visit the download page of the Auto-Detect GPU page, then scroll down to the Auto-Detect and Install Radeon Graphics Drivers for Windows and click on Download Now.

   

6. Once the executable is downloaded, open it by double-clicking and follow the on-screen instructions to install Radeon Adrenalin.

   

7. Note: You can change the default destination folder again if you want, but this is not recommended.
8. Once the download is complete, the utility should automatically launch itself in an attempt to detect the installed AMD graphics product and operating system. Wait patiently until this process is complete.

   

9. After the tool successfully detects your system configuration and the drivers that you need, install both the Recommended and Optional driver packages by selecting both and clicking on Install.

   

10. Next, accept the EULA after reviewing the terms and conditions, then click on Install to start the installation.
11. After every needed driver is installed, restart your computer and attempt to launch the game once the next startup is complete to see if the issue is now resolved.

In case the same Direct3D11 Error 0X087A0001 still occurs even after you ensure that you’re using the latest GPU drivers, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Launching the Game via the Launcher (if applicable)

If you’re encountering this issue while attempting to launch a legacy game that is officially supported on Windows 10, you should ensure that you launch the game through the launcher where you purchased the game from (E.G. from Steam, GoG, Origin, Epic Games, etc.)

This is important because the launcher typically makes the game renderable on Windows 10 through a series of parameters that stabilizes the game for the latest Windows iteration.

So if you find yourself in this particular scenario, open Steam, GoG Galaxy or Epic games and launch the game that was triggering the 0X087A0001 via the library menu.

Once you locate the game inside the Library menu of your launcher, open it up and see if the problem is now resolved.

If you still end up seeing the 0X087A0001 error code even when launching the game through the launcher, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 3: Enable Reduced Color Mode (if applicable)

As it turns out, another fairly common instance that will trigger the Direct3D11 Error 0X087A0001 is a scenario in which the game was not originally designed to support 32-bit color depth (which is usually forced by default on Windows 10).

Several affected users that were also dealing with this issue when trying to launch legacy games have reported that they finally manage to fix the issue by modifying the properties screen of the executable that they use to launch the game so that Reduced Color Mode: 16 bit is enabled.

Note: This workaround was confirmed to be effective by a lot of users encountering this issue with Red Alert 2, Yuri’s Revenge, and a lot of legacy games.

If you’re looking for specific instructions on how to enable reduced color mode for the game that is failing with the 0X087A0001 error, move down to the next potential fix below:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location that contains the executable you use to launch the game.
2. Once you get to the correct location, right-click on the executable and choose Properties from the context menu that just appeared.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Properties screen, select the Compatibility tab from the menu at the top, then check the box associated with Reduced color mode (under Settings) and set the drop-down menu below to 16 bits.

   

   Note: Keep in mind that newer applications will not support the modification of the default color mode – In this case, the option will be greyed out.

4. Save the changes by clicking on Apply to save the changes, then launch the legacy game once again and see if the problem is now fixed.

If this method was not applicable or you’re still encountering the same 0X087A0001 error code even after you modified the default color mode, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 4: Overriding High DPI Scaling (if applicable)

In case reducing the color bit mode didn’t produce an effect or the architecture of the game didn’t allow you to enforce this type of change, the next thing you should do is to modify the high DPI settings behavior of the game.

Several affected users that were also dealing with this problem have reported that they finally manage to fix the issue and launch the game without the same error code by using the Compatibility tab to force the High DPI scaling to override to be performed by the System instead of the application.

If you haven’t tried this fix yet, follow the instructions below:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the game executable is located.
2. Once you get to the correct location, right-click on the game executable and click on Properties from the context menu that just appeared.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Properties screen of the game executable, access the Compatibility tab from the menu at the top, then click on the Change high DPI settings button (under Settings).
   

   

4. Once you’re inside the High DPI calling override window, check the box associated with Override high DPI scaling behavior. 
5. Next, change the Scaling performed by the drop-down menu to System (Enhanced) and click on Ok, then Apply to save the changes and make them permanent.

   

6. Launch the game or application once again normally and see if the error is now fixed.

In case you are still seeing the same 0X087A0001 error code (Can’t Set Video Mode) when launching the game or application and see if the problem is now fixed.

Method 5: Change the Application Resolution (if applicable)

As it turns out, another fairly common instance that will produce the 0X087A0001 error code is an instance in which the legacy application was not originally designed to support the resolution that your system is currently configured to run the game on.

Several affected users that found themselves in a similar situation have reported that the issue was finally resolved after they modified the behavior of the legacy’s app executable so that the lowest resolution is forced upon startup.

If you think this scenario might be applicable, follow the instructions below to force the game to launch the application resolution:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the legacy application is installed.
2. Once you get to the correct location, right-click on the executable that you use to launch the game and click on Properties from the context menu.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Properties screen, click on the Compatibility tab from the menu at the top, then check the box associated with Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution.
4. After you check the correct box, click on Apply to save the changes.
5. Launch the legacy application normally and see if the problem is now fixed.

In case the same error code is still occurring after trying this fix or this method was not applicable, move down to the final potential fix below.

Method 6: Running the Program in Compatibility Mode

If none of the methods above have proven to be effective in your case, you should start considering that the game’s old age is a problem because of the incompatibility with Windows 10. This is an even bigger issue if the Anniversary Update is installed on Windows 10.

Fortunately, using the compatibility mode, you can change the perceived Windows on which the game is running on. Some users recommended using Windows 95 as the Compatibility OS when running legacy games developed in the 2000s era.

Follow the steps to see how to change it:

1. Right-click on Diablo 2’s icon on your desktop, and open the Properties menu.
2. Select Compatibility, then go to Compatibility mode and check the box where it says ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:’.
    
    
3. After checking the box, it will unlock a list of other versions of Windows, select the list and click on Windows 95.

   

4. Finally, click on Apply and launch the game to see if the error code has been resolved.