Apps Enable or Disable Run App in Compatibility Mode in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:

Program_Compatibility_Troubleshooter_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable always running an app in compatibility mode for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Most apps (and other programs, like games or utilities) that were created for earlier versions of Windows will work in the most recent version of Windows 11, but some older ones might run poorly or not at all.

You can use compatibility mode to run the program using settings from an earlier version of Windows. Try this setting if you know the program is designed for (or worked with) a specific version of Windows.

Reference:

Make older apps or programs compatible with the latest version of Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how to get older apps or programs to run on Windows 10 or Windows 11 by adjusting compatibility settings.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com


You cannot use compatibility mode for Microsoft Store apps.

Compatibility mode settings per app are saved to the registry keys below:

(current user)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

OR

(all users)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Run App in Compatibility Mode for Current User
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Run App in Compatibility Mode for All Users




Option One

Enable or Disable Run App in Compatibility Mode for Current User


1 Right click or press and hold on the executable file (ex: EXE, MSI) or shortcut for the app, and click/tap on Properties.

2 Do step 3 (enable) or step 4 (disable) below for what you want.

3 Enable Compatibility Mode for App

A) Click/tap on the Compatibility tab. (see screenshot below)​

B) Check Run the program in compatibility mode for:.​

C) Select the version of Windows (ex: "Windows 8") the app is known to support or work with in the drop menu.​

D) Click/tap on OK.​

Enable_compatibility_mode_for_app_for_current_user.png

4 Disable Compatibility Mode for App

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Compatibility tab. (see screenshot below)​

B) Uncheck Run the program in compatibility mode for:.​

C) Click/tap on OK.​

Disable_compatibility_mode_for_app_for_current_user.png




Option Two

Enable or Disable Run App in Compatibility Mode for All Users


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.


1 Right click or press and hold on the executable file (ex: EXE, MSI) or shortcut for the app, and click/tap on Properties.

2 Click/tap on the Compatibility tab. (see screenshot below step 3)

3 Click/tap on the Change settings for all users button. (see screenshot below)

Compatibility_mode_for_app_for_all_users-1.png

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Compatibility Mode for App

This will override and prevent users from using Option One.


A) Check Run the program in compatibility mode for:. (see screenshot below)​

B) Select the version of Windows (ex: "Windows 8") the app is known to support or work with in the drop menu.​

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Compatibility_mode_for_app_for_all_users-3.png

6 Disable Compatibility Mode for App

This is the default setting, and will allow users to use Option One.


A) Uncheck Run the program in compatibility mode for:. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Compatibility_mode_for_app_for_all_users-2.png

7 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Compatibility_mode_for_app_for_all_users-4.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


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Last edited:
Click to expand...
Note: Personally I don't have any programs that were designed for one certain type of windows. Windows showed some automatically backwards compatibility properties. If it runs on Windows XP it also runs on Windows 7. Now with Windows 11 24H2 I never use program that were designed in the XP era; to old and can't cope with modern systems. We may have used an LPT (25-pin) port for a printer or an Serial port (9-pin) or a PS/2 port (6-pin DIN) for a mouse back then but we all progressed to modern motherboards and USB ports etc. we know today that interfaces with our modern auxiliary products. (mouses, printers, storages etc.) That drives us also forwards into time. (In some cases if you have a PC from 1981, the software that came with it and auxiliary equipment and it runs; That combination will still run today. (if nothing is defective) That's fine!)

And yes some badly designed software can cause problems which can be solved by trying this and maybe solve it by using this solution. But to be honest; I don't use software that came out when Windows 95 did. To ancient. Never needed had to try this solution. But yes; it's there to use it if you need it.

All it does is to hide things so to fool the software when it it's looking arround. It can go crazy if it finds stuff that the software when it was designed never expected to see. It don't know what to do with the findings. Some leaps are just there for our understanding; there are the same things going on when you choose the settings of Windows 95 or Windows 98/ME. They all belong to the same kind of family suit with some minor differences. Don't think those different libraries are there of 95, 98, ME in Windows 11. A general one? Yes. ME had to cope with software designed in the 95, 98 era. backwards compatibility. Other wise you had to buy each time new software for every new version. That's why Win 11 have to deal with older software. So far pretty good and in some cases; this solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 24H2 Build 26100.3476, RHEL 9,5
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-12700KF 12th Gen.
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z690-A, BIOS v4101
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 5600-36 Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    PCIe5.0 Asus NVIDIA RTX3060Ti
    Sound Card
    Onboard; Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    34" LG 34UC79G-B Curved 21:9 144Hz
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080 (No HDR)
    Hard Drives
    250Gb Samsung 870PRO NVMe
    1Tb Samsung 980PRO NVMe
    1Tb Samsung 970EVO NVMe
    4Tb WDC WD40EZRZ SATA (Int.)
    4Tb WDC WD40EZRZ USB3.0 (Ext.)
    256 Samsung 840PRO SSD (RHEL 9,5)
    PSU
    Coolermaster 850W V2 Gold with internal 12cm exaust fan
    Case
    Inter-Tech B-48 ATX
    Cooling
    2x be quiet! 12cm "Silent Wings 4" casefans, 1x Arctic Freezer i35 CPU towerblock
    Keyboard
    Logitech LG-19
    Mouse
    Logitech G-502 Hero
    Internet Speed
    1Gb
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    F-Secure
    Other Info
    No Noise system.
    256Gb Kingston Travler USB 3.0 drive.
    8Gb Philips USB 3.0 drive. (Win. Inst.)
    8Gb Philips USB 3.0 drive. (Rescue disk)
    2Tb WD USB 3.0 Passport drive.
    External USB 3.0 C.A. CD/DVD* burner.
This is a big help for those of us who still have disks with games from back in the day and try to run them on Windows 11. I had a heckuva time trying to get a couple to run and the new troubleshooters for Windows 11 were no help at all.
This will help in the future if I decide to dust-off a couple more.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version 24H2 OS build 26100.3194
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8960
    CPU
    13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700 2.10 GHz
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770 / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2421H / Dell SE2222H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C: Crucial CT1000P5PSSD8
    D: Seagate ST2000DM008
    E: Seagate ST4000DX005
    Keyboard
    Logitech K650
    Mouse
    Logitech M650L
    Internet Speed
    200 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox/Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4541
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3880
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Memory
    24 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2421H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C:\ - Crucial 1 TB NVME SSD
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