How to Turn Compatibility Mode On or Off for an App in Windows 10

To turn compatibility mode on or off in Windows 10, open the app’s Properties, select the Compatibility tab, and change the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” setting. Check the box and choose a Windows version to enable it; clear the box to disable it. Click Apply and OK, then reopen the app to check the result.

This setting is intended for classic desktop programs with an executable file. It applies compatibility adjustments to that program; it does not start a separate copy of an older Windows release, and it cannot fix every app problem.

Before you change compatibility settings

First check the app publisher’s website for a Windows 10 update or a version-specific fix. Compatibility mode is most useful when an older desktop app opens incorrectly, displays errors, or behaves differently from how it did on an earlier Windows version. If a recent update caused the problem, check for a newer patch before changing Windows settings.

Use the app’s main .exe file when possible. If you apply a setting to a launcher, installer, or shortcut, it may not affect a different executable that the app uses after installation. Some apps, including certain Microsoft Store apps, do not expose the classic Compatibility tab.

Enable compatibility mode

1. Find the program file. Open File Explorer and browse to the app’s installation folder. If you are not sure where it is, right-click the app’s desktop or Start-menu shortcut and choose Properties. If the Compatibility tab is missing, use Open file location when available, then open Properties for the app’s main executable.

   

2. Open the Compatibility tab. In the Properties window, select Compatibility. The tab includes the compatibility-mode checkbox and other per-program settings.

   

3. Choose a target version. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for:, open the list, and select the Windows version recommended by the software publisher. Available versions can vary. If you do not have a recommendation, try the version the app was designed for, then test the app before trying another option.

   

4. Save and test. Select Apply, then OK. Launch the app in the usual way and check the feature that was failing. If the change makes the app less reliable, return to the same tab and clear the checkbox.

   

Apply the setting for every user

Compatibility settings may be set separately for your account and for all accounts on the PC. In the Compatibility tab, select Change settings for all users if you need the change to apply system-wide. Windows may ask for administrator approval. Set or clear the compatibility checkbox in that window too, then select Apply and OK. If the app still starts in compatibility mode after you turn it off for your account, check this all-users setting.

Disable compatibility mode

1. Right-click the same app executable or shortcut and choose Properties.

   

2. Open the Compatibility tab and clear Run this program in compatibility mode for:.

   

3. Select Apply, then OK. If the setting was also enabled in Change settings for all users, clear it there as well.
4. Open the app again. With the checkbox cleared, Windows runs that program without the manually selected older-version setting. You do not need to choose Windows 10 from the list.

If the app still will not run

If the Compatibility tab is unavailable, confirm you opened Properties for a classic desktop app’s executable rather than a document, web app, or unrelated launcher. If the tab is present but you are unsure which option to use, run Windows’ Program Compatibility Troubleshooter: select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, find the troubleshooter, and select Run. Follow its prompts, then test the app. Some Windows 10 builds show the troubleshooter under Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.

Compatibility mode cannot provide missing drivers, libraries, or hardware support, and switching between older Windows targets is not a substitute for an app update. If a change does not help, undo it, install a publisher-supported version, or contact the publisher. Microsoft’s older-app compatibility guide covers updates and the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. The Windows 10 Compatibility Cookbook explains Microsoft’s broader app-compatibility approach.