On Windows 11, you can run old programs designed for the previous version of the operating system using compatibility mode, and in this guide, you’ll learn how.
Although you can install and run almost any application on Windows 11, sometimes a program designed for an older version of Windows may refuse to run properly for various reasons. If you have an old app that has compatibility issues with Windows 11, you can use the “compatibility mode” feature to mitigate the issues and get the program working.
“Compatibility mode” is a feature that emulates an older system’s environment to run applications designed for an older version of the operating system. Usually a newer version of Windows is built with backward compatibility in mind. However, if the program had poor development or relied on specific components or technology, it may not work on Windows 11 or higher versions.
This guide will teach you the steps to run an old program in compatibility mode on Windows 11.
Run old software on Windows 11
In Windows 11, you can enable compatibility mode for an old program in at least two ways, manually and automatically.
Manual compatibility mode
To configure an older app to run on Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Open To start up on Windows 11.
2. Find the old app, right-click on the top result and select the option “Open file location”.
3. Right-click on the application (executable) and choose the option Properties.
4. Click on the tab Compatibility.
5. Check the option Run this program in compatibility mode in the “Compatibility Mode” setting and select the compatibility mode including Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7 or 8.
6. (Optional) Check the option Reduced color mode and choose one of the available options, 8 or 16 bit. Quick note: You will only use this feature if the issue is graphics related.
7. (Optional) Check the option Run at 640 x 480 screen resolution if the program was designed for old technology screens.
8. (Optional) Check the option Run this program as administrator if the app does not work with standard permissions.
9. Click the button Apply.
10. Click the button OK.
Once you complete the steps, the app should be able to run normally without issues or crashes.
Automatic compatibility mode
To use the Compatibility Troubleshooter to make an older program compatible with Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Open To start up.
2. Find the old app, right-click on the top result and select the option Open file location.
3. Right-click on the application (executable) and choose the option Properties.
4. Click on the tab Compatibility.
5. Click the button Run Compatibility Troubleshooter.
6. Click on the option Try recommended settings.
7. Click the button Test the program.
8. Check if the old program works as expected in Windows 11.
9. Click on the option “Yes, save these settings for this program”. Or click on the option “No, start over with different settings” if the application still does not work properly.
After completing the steps, the old program should be able to work normally on Windows 11.
Alternatively, you can also run the troubleshooter from Settings > System > Repair > Other convenience storesClick on the button Execute for the “Troubleshoot program compatibility” option, select the program and continue with the wizard to enable compatibility mode.
While this feature should make virtually any app compatible with the operating system, that’s not always the case. If you need to continue running an application designed for an older version of Windows, consider creating a virtual machine with the required OS version and then installing the older program for better compatibility.
If you have any questions or suggestions, let us know in the comments. Also check out this guide if you want to learn how to troubleshoot app compatibility issues.
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