What is DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED?
DirectStorage not available on this system (DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED) is a medium-severity fault affecting the Windows operating system. A game requires DirectStorage (GPU decompression) but it is not available, causing long load times or a launch failure. It's also often linked to windows 10 version below 1903 or Windows 11 required for full GPU path. Work through the steps below in order.
Common Causes
- NVMe SSD required (not SATA)
- Windows 10 version below 1903 or Windows 11 required for full GPU path
- GPU driver lacks DirectStorage support
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Ensure game is installed on an NVMe SSD
This step, "Ensure game is installed on an NVMe SSD", specifically rules out nVMe SSD required (not SATA).
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2
Update Windows to the latest version
This step, "Update Windows to the latest version", specifically rules out windows 10 version below 1903 or Windows 11 required for full GPU path.
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3
Update GPU driver to version supporting DirectStorage (NVIDIA 522.25+ / AMD 22.40+)
This step, "Update GPU driver to version supporting DirectStorage (NVIDIA 522.25+ / AMD 22.40+)", specifically rules out windows 10 version below 1903 or Windows 11 required for full GPU path.
Commands & Diagnostics
winver
dxdiag
Frequently Asked Questions
The leading cause of DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED is nVMe SSD required (not SATA), though windows 10 version below 1903 or Windows 11 required for full GPU path and GPU driver lacks DirectStorage support also show up in our reports.
The fastest fix is "Ensure game is installed on an NVMe SSD". Only move on to the later steps if DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED keeps coming back.
As a medium-severity issue, DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED is more of a stability annoyance than a hardware risk — the steps above should clear it up.
You shouldn't need to. Work through the guide above first — a reinstall is only worth considering if none of those steps help.
Sometimes. Microsoft regularly releases patches that fix known BSOD triggers including DIRECTSTORAGE-NOT-SUPPORTED. Make sure Windows is fully up to date via Settings → Windows Update before attempting more advanced fixes.
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