3 Ways to Run Old Programs in Compatibility Mode on Windows 11
Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.
Method 1: Modify Program Properties
You can configure a program to run in compatibility mode by modifying its properties. Here’s what you must do.
Step 1:PressWindows + Ekeys to open File Explorer and navigate to the program you wish to run in compatibility mode.
Step 2:Right-click on the program or app’s executable file and selectProperties.
Step 3:Switch to theCompatibilitytab and tick the box forRun this program in compatibility mode for.
Step 4:Use thedrop-down menuto select the right Windows version from the list. Optionally, if your program isn’t rendering properly on your PC, change DPI settings, screen resolution, and other settings.
Step 5:After making the preferred changes, clickApply, followed byOK.
Double-click the program file, and Windows will run it with the specified compatibility settings.
Method 2: Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
If you don’t know which version of Windows is necessary to run the program correctly,use the Program Compatibility troubleshooter. This will allow Windows 11 to choose the appropriate compatibility settings for the software. Here’s how.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app and head toSystem>Troubleshoot.
Step 2:Go toOther troubleshooters.
Step 3:Scroll down and click theRunbutton forProgram Compatibility Troubleshooter.
Step 4:The tool will show a list of programs. Select yourold programand clickNext.
Step 5:If you can’t find your program on the list, selectNot listedto add your program manually.
Step 6:The tool will automatically suggest a few compatibility settings for your program. ClickTry recommended settingsto continue.
Step 7:ClickTest the programto launch your program in compatibility mode.
Step 8:After testing the program, clickNext.
Step 9:If the program runs without a problem, clickYes, save these settings for this program. If the program fails to load correctly, selectNo, try again using different settings.
Step 10:Select the problem you’re facing and click onNext.
Step 11:Windows will recommend different compatibility settings based on the problems you’re facing and ask you to test the program again.
Method 3: Use Command Prompt
You can also run an app or program in compatibility mode by executing a single command. To achieve this, you must know thefile path of your program.
Step 1:PressWindows + Ekeys to open the File Explorer and navigate to the program you wish to run in compatibility mode.
Step 2:Right-click on the program file and selectCopy as path.
Step 3:Right-click on theStart iconand selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.
Step 4:In the Command Prompt window, run the following command:
ReplaceFilePathin the above command with the actual path of the program copied in Step 2. ReplaceValueDatawith the value associated with the Windows version. Here are the values for different Windows versions:
So, for instance, if you want to run an old game in a Windows 7 environment, enter the following command and pressEnter:
After you run the command, Windows will change the default compatibility settings for your program, and you can run it without any problems.
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Last updated on 08 May, 2024
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