Devices Find Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) Version in Windows 11


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Display_adapters_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to find the current Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version you have in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) is the graphics display driver architecture introduced in Windows Vista (WDDM v1.0). WDDM is required starting with Windows 8 (WDDM v1.2). The WDDM design guide discusses WDDM requirements, specifications, and behavior for WDDM drivers.

WDDM provides the functionality required to render the desktop and applications using Desktop Window Manager, a compositing window manager running on top of Direct3D. It also supports new DXGI interfaces required for basic device management and creation. The WDDM specification requires at least Direct3D 9-capable video card and the display driver must implement the device driver interfaces for the Direct3D 9Ex runtime in order to run legacy Direct3D applications; it may optionally implement runtime interfaces for Direct3D 10 and higher.

WDDM versions for quick reference:

Operating System​
Supported WDDM Version​
Windows VistaWDDM 1.0
Windows 7WDDM 1.1
Windows 8WDDM 1.2
Windows 8.1WDDM 1.3
Windows 10 build 10240WDDM 2.0
Windows 10 version 1607WDDM 2.1
Windows 10 version 1703WDDM 2.2
Windows 10 version 1709WDDM 2.3
Windows 10 version 1803WDDM 2.4
Windows 10 version 1809WDDM 2.5
Windows 10 version 1903WDDM 2.6
Windows 10 version 2004WDDM 2.7 and WDDM 2.8
Windows 10 version 20H2WDDM 2.9
Windows 10 version 21H1
Windows 11		WDDM 3.0
Windows 11 build 22262 version 22H2WDDM 3.1
Windows 11 build 25xxx version 23H2WDDM 3.2

References:
docs.microsoft.com

WDDM Overview - Windows drivers

The Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) is available starting with Windows Vista and is required starting with Windows 8. This section discusses requirements, specifications, and behavior for WDDM drivers.
docs.microsoft.com

Windows Display Driver Model - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org


Here's How:

1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type dxdiag into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

The first time you use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, you might be asked whether you want to check if your drivers are digitally signed. It is recommend that you select Yes to help ensure that your drivers have been signed by a publisher that has verified their authenticity.


2 Click/tap on a Display tab you want to check in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. (see screenshot below)

3 You will see the WDDM version (ex: "WDDM 3.1") to the right of Driver Model in the Drivers section.

dxdiag_WDDM.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


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Thanks! (y)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro (Beta Build 22635.3500)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware
(y)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen3200G
    Motherboard
    ASRock A320M
    Memory
    16
    Graphics Card(s)
    VegaRadeon 8
Brink said:
Windows 10 version 21H1
Windows 11		WDDM 3.0
Windows 11 build 22262 version 22H2WDDM 3.1
Windows 11 build 25xxx version 23H2WDDM 3.2
Click to expand...
As per the Clean Install Windows 11 tut, I checked my WDDM driver. My current version of Win 11 is 22H2, which according to the above info should have WDDM 3.1; however, my version is 3.0. I will be clean installing Win 11 23H2 soon, which should have WDDM 3.2.

However, as per the HP software and driver support page for my laptop model, only drivers for Win 21H2 are listed, which is WDDM 3.0. Nothing newer is available.

This is particularly interesting to me because as my HP laptop restarts, I'm seeing a single, very quick blink of brightness just before the Lock Screen appears. This wasn't present until I had my BIOS updated very recently. The BIOS update was considered critical but was for 21H2.

Is there any other way to update my WDDM driver? Or should I leave it as is and wait for HP?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2 22621.2428
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY Laptop 17-ch0xxx
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Insyde F.16
    Memory
    2 * 16GB SK Hynix 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" Integrated Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD Samsung NVMe
    PSU
    Unknown
    Case
    Unknown
    Cooling
    Unknown
    Keyboard
    Integrated Keyboard
    Mouse
    M650 Logitech (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    Unknown
    Browser
    Edge is default, but I browse with Chrome 99.9% of the time.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I purchased this CTO laptop directly from HP in December 2021. However, I didn't unbox it and set it up until August 2023. Thus, in spite of its older specs now, it is a new laptop to me... along with all of Windows 11's learning curves and problems.
Hello @JDHinAL, :alien:

Only by updating Windows.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
You will likely get WDDM 3.1 with Windows 11 23H2. It is on mine with 23H2 and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Hardware is a factor as well not mentioned in that table which is supported versions for the OS.
On older hardware you won't get what is listed.
It is all trivialities anyway. Think in terms of ground up/hardware up, not the other way.
Also think consumer versions of Windows 11, not development/insider versions like the last entry in that list.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Helmut said:
You will likely get WDDM 3.1 with Windows 11 23H2. It is on mine with 23H2 and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Hardware is a factor as well not mentioned in that table which is supported versions for the OS.
On older hardware you won't get what is listed.
It is all trivialities anyway. Think in terms of ground up/hardware up, not the other way.
Also think consumer versions of Windows 11, not development/insider versions like the last entry in that list.
Click to expand...
@Helmut

Thank you bunches for your detailed explanation. My take-away is that the table provides general guidance, not hard and fast rules. Thus, I have no reason to be concerned. Awesome!

Also helpful:
Think in terms of ground up/hardware up, not the other way.
Click to expand...

Again, many thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2 22621.2428
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY Laptop 17-ch0xxx
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Insyde F.16
    Memory
    2 * 16GB SK Hynix 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" Integrated Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD Samsung NVMe
    PSU
    Unknown
    Case
    Unknown
    Cooling
    Unknown
    Keyboard
    Integrated Keyboard
    Mouse
    M650 Logitech (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    Unknown
    Browser
    Edge is default, but I browse with Chrome 99.9% of the time.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I purchased this CTO laptop directly from HP in December 2021. However, I didn't unbox it and set it up until August 2023. Thus, in spite of its older specs now, it is a new laptop to me... along with all of Windows 11's learning curves and problems.
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