Enable DirectPlay on Windows for Older Games

Games
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Enabling DirectPlay on Windows 10 & 11

Older games that rely on DirectPlay may not function correctly on modern Windows systems, as this legacy feature is disabled by default. To resolve this issue, follow the steps below to enable DirectPlay.

Method 1: Enable DirectPlay via Windows Features

  1. Open the Start Menu and search for Windows Features.
  2. Select “Turn Windows features on or off” from the search results.
  3. In the Windows Features window, locate Legacy Components and expand the category.
  4. Check the box for DirectPlay.
  5. Click OK and allow Windows to install the feature.
  6. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

Method 2: Enable DirectPlay via Command Line

For users who prefer a command-line approach, DirectPlay can be enabled using PowerShell:

  1. Right-click the Start Menu and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Enter the following command and press Enter:
   dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:DirectPlay /all
  1. Once the process is complete, restart the computer.

After completing these steps, DirectPlay will be enabled, allowing older games that depend on it to function properly.

2 Likes
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Great shout out, really important step lol.