DirectPlay is an old Application Program Interface (API) that was a part of the DirectX. Although, In benefit with the Windows Live games, Microsoft abandoned DirectPlay.
Many users still prefer DirectPlay, as some older games require DirectPlay. If a game requires DirectPlay, a dialog box is popped on your screen reporting “An app on your PC needs the Windows feature DirectPlay.”
If you face this error in your Windows 10 system, here’s how you can enable DirectPlay Windows 10:
1. Install The DirectPLay Feature
- To open Run window, press Windows + R Key
- Then select Control Panel in Run and click the OK icon
- Select Programs and Features to direct to the Uninstaller utility
- Click on Turn Windows Features On or Off
- Double-click and expand Legacy Components from the list
- Tick on the DirectPlay check box to activate directPlay on windows 10,
- Install DirectPlay and Restart your system
2. Use the Compatibility Mode setting to Run the game
According to many users, you can merely use Compatibility mode setting to run the older versions of games. Compatibility mode enables the game to use earlier Windows OS setting.
To Run the program in Compatibility mode in Windows 10, do as follows :
- On the Windows 10 taskbar, hit the File Explorer button
- Open the game exe folder
- Right-click on the game’s exe and go to Properties in the menu
- Click on Compatibility tab to open Compatibility settings
- Select the “ Run this program in Compatibility mode.”
- In the drop-down menu, select a previous Windows OS that was the latest version when the game started
- Also, select the Run this program as an administrator option
3. Disable Your Anti-Virus software
Windows 10 directly won’t install at times, as some of the users face an error code 0x80073701 during the installing process. In this case, mostly the anti-virus software blocks the DirectPlay installation.
You can temporarily withdraw the anti-virus software from your system. To do so, follow the steps given below:
- Open Task manager
- Select the Start-up tab and open the list of programs in the Windows startup
- Search and select your anti-virus software package and hit the Disable button
- Reboot your PC and try to install DirectPlay
4. Use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
The Program Compatibility Troubleshooter is a Windows program that may help you to fix the game compatibility issues. To open this troubleshooter, do as follows:
- Go to the Cortana button on the taskbar
- Choose Run programs made for earlier versions of Windows
- Click on the Advanced option and select Run as administrator
- Now, press the Next icon
- Then select the Listed or Non-listed games, click Next and hit the browse button to fix a game
- Press the Next button to process the troubleshooter
That’s it!, now you can enjoy and enable your DirectPlay games in Windows 10. Let us know which of these methods works well for you in the comment section below
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