<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001715933</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TCW Direct Lending VII LLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001727198</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NLGI US Private Debt Fund I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MUFG FUND SERVICES (CAYMAN) LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>90 NORTH CHURCH STREET, PO BOX 609</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>E9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>KY1-1107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CAYMAN ISLANDS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000905591</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIPPON LIFE INSURANCE CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1-6-6 MARUNOUCHI</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CHIYODA-KU</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOKYO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>M0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>100-8288</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>JAPAN</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>860000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is filed jointly by NLGI US Private Debt Fund I, a Cayman Islands Unit Trust (the &quot;Fund&quot;), and Nippon Life Insurance Company, a Japanese mutual life insurance company (&quot;Nippon&quot;).   The Fund is the direct owner of 860,000 Common Units of the Issuer.  Nippon holds a majority of the equity interests in the Fund.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>NIPPON LIFE INSURANCE CO By: /s/ Akitoshi Yamada</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>NLGI US PRIVATE DEBT FUND I By:  MUFG FUND SERVICES (CAYMAN) LIMITED acting solely in its capacity as trustee of the NLGI US Private Debt Fund I By: /s/ Sophia Graham, /s/ Jason Perras CPA, CA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
