Compatibility Mode

How to Run a Program in Compatibility Mode in Windows 7​

   Information

Compatibility mode allows a older program written for an earlier versions of Windows to possibly run in Windows 7. You can also use Compatibility mode to always have a program to Run as an administrator.

   Note

32 bit Windows has emulation for 16 bit programs built in. 64-bit Windows only has emulation for 32 bit programs. If the program ran on 32-bit Windows 7 and not 64 bit, then chances are it's a 16 bit program and you may have to use something like DosBox or XP Mode to be able to run it in 64-bit Windows.

   Tip

If changing the Compatibility settings does not fix the problem, go to the program manufacturer's website to see if there is an update for the program.

To see if your software is compatible with Windows 7, check it here: Windows 7 Compatibility Center home

   Warning

Do not use Compatibility mode on antivirus programs, firewall programs, disk utilities, or other system programs because it could cause data loss or create a security risk.

You only want to use these type of programs for the Windows listed in their system requirements.

OPTION ONE

To Set Compatibility Mode of Application in Properties Page

1. Right click on the program's shortcut (LNK file), .EXE file, BAT file, CMD file, or MSI file.

2. Click on Properties.

3. Click on the Compatibility tab. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the Compatiblity options are grayed out, then it is a 64 bit program and cannot be changed.

4. To Run a Program in Compatibility Mode in Only your User Account
NOTE: Runs the program using settings from a previous version of Windows. Try this setting if you know the program is designed for (or worked in) a specific previous version of Windows.A) Check the Run this program in compatibility mode for box. (see screenshot below)

B) Click on the drop down menu arrow and select which version of Windows the program was made for. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Always pick the latest Windows version the program was written for to have a better chance of it running properly in Windows 7.

   Warning

MSI files (right screenshot below) will only have the Previous version of Windows option available for it. This option will allow Windows 7 to automatically use the previous version compatibility mode it thinks is best for the MSI file to run properly as. You will not be able to do steps 5 and 6 below.

5. To Change the Settings for a Program in Only your User Account
NOTE: These settings will be grayed out and not available for 64-bit programs.A) Check or uncheck the settings you want for the program. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: See the table below the screenshot for a description of each setting.

Setting	Description
Run in 256 colors	Uses a limited set of colors in the program. Some older programs are designed to use fewer colors.
Run in 640 × 480 screen resolution	Runs the program in a smaller-sized window. Try this setting if the graphical user interface appears jagged or is rendered improperly.
Disable visual themes	Disables themes on the program. Try this setting if you notice problems with the menus or buttons on the title bar of the program.
Disable desktop composition	Turns off transparency and other advanced display features. Choose this setting if window movement appears erratic or you notice other display problems.
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings	Turns off automatic resizing of programs if large-scale font size (DPI) is in use. Try this setting if large-scale fonts are interfering with the appearance of the program.

6. To Change the Privilege Level of a Program in Only your User Account
NOTE: Runs the program as an administrator. Some programs require administrator privileges to run properly. If you are not currently logged on as an administrator, this option is not available.A) Check or uncheck the Run this program as an administrator box to enable or disable this option. (see screenshot below)


7. To Change These Settings for All Users
NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this step. A) Click on the Change settings for all users button. (See screenshot below)

B) Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 in this new window to apply them to all users on the computer, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Changes made here will override and gray out the same setting in the window used in step 4, 5, or 6 above.


8. Click on OK to apply the changes. (see screenshot below step 3)

OPTION TWO

Set Compatibility Mode of Application using "Troubleshoot compatibility"

NOTE: This option opens the Program Compatibility Assistant wizard to let Windows 7 help decide what is best to try and make the program compatible.1. Right click on the program's shortcut (LNK file), .EXE file, BAT file, CMD file, or MSI file, and click on Troubleshoot compatibility. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will not have the Troubleshoot compatibility option available for pinned items in the Start Menu or on the taskbar. You will only have the Troubleshoot compatibility option available for 3rd party programs in the Start Menu - All Programs area instead.

2. You will see this for a moment while Windows 7 is detecting what the issues may be with the program. (see screenshot below)

3. The wizard will now give you a list of choices to choose from. Select the option you would like to try, then follow the rest of the onscreen instructions until you are through troubleshooting the compatibility issue with the program. (see screenshot below)

OPTION THREE

To Set Compatibility Mode of Application in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to each location below one at a time and do the steps below for each location. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

4. To Run a Program in Compatibility ModeA) In the right pane of Layers, right click on a empty area and click on New, then on String Value. (see screenshot below)

B) Type in the full path of the program's exe file and press Enter, then right click on the full path and click on Modify. (see screenshot below)

C) Type in a single or combination of Data values (see tables below) for how you want to run the program as, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you use more than one Settings, then you must add them in the order they are in the table below.

[Compatibility Mode (only one)] + space + [Settings (one or more with a space inbetween)] + space + [Privilege Level]

   Tip

EXAMPLE ONE:
To run a program as if it was in Windows Vista SP2 (Compatibility Mode), and Run in 256 colors (Settings), and to run as administrator you would type:

VISTASP2 256Color RUNASADMIN

EXAMPLE TWO:
Say you also wanted to Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution (2nd Settings) with the above example, you would type:

VISTASP2 256Color 640x480 RUNASADMIN

Compatibility Mode	Data Value
Windows 95	WIN95
Windows 98 / Windows Me	WIN98
Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 5)	NT4SP5
Windows 2000	WIN2000
Windows XP (Service Pack 2)	WINXPSP2
Windows XP (Service Pack 3)	WINXPSP3
Windows Server 2003 (Service Pack 1)	WINSRV03SP1
Windows Server 2008 (Service Pack 1)	WINSRV08SP1
Windows Vista	VISTARTM
Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)	VISTASP1
Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)	VISTASP2
Windows 7	WIN7RTM

Settings	Data Value
Run in 256 colors	256Color
Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution	640x480
Disable visual themes	DISABLETHEMES
Disable desktop composition	DISABLEDWM
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings	HIGHDPIAWARE

Privilege Level	Data Value
Run this program as an Administrator	RUNASADMIN

5. To Stop a Program from Running in Compatibility ModeA) In the right pane of Layers, right click on the full path Name and click on Delete. (see screenshot below)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)


6. Close regedit when done.
NOTE: Some programs may require you to restart the computer for this to be applied.



That's it,
Shawn Brink

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn Internet Explorer Compatibility View On or Off for a Website
• How to Display All Websites in Compatibility View in Internet Explorer
• How to Disable Desktop Composition for a Program
• How to Create a Program Compatibility Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Program Compatibility Assistant
• How to Add or Remove "Troubleshoot compatibility" from the Context Menu in Windows 7
• How to Add "Run as administrator" to VBS File Context Menu
• How to Add "Run as administrator" to MSI File Context Menu
• How to Add or Remove "Compatibility" Tab in Properties Page in Windows

 

[Brink]

i cant change my compatible mode i dont know why but it show me
compatible with window vista and i cant change it :! i need help . the file which i want to run is fifa11.exe file and i have hp pavilion dv6 laptop :!

Hello Hernickless, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Will the program still run with it set like this? If so, then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Hernickless]

thank you

yes i cant change it .. Compatibility's option is disable for me :!

 

[Brink]

Is that yes the program runs without issue set like this?

 

[jenniferH]

is there any way to fix the compatibility when the file isn't installed? I am trying to fix my sims 2 game but it won't install in the first place, so I have no way to change the compatibility - any suggestions? much appreciated

 

[Brink]

Hello Jennifer, and welcome to Seven Forums.

According to the WIndows 7 Compatibility Center at the links below. The Sims 2 is compatible with Windows 7. You might see if having the Run this program in compatibility mode for box checked on the installation file itself may allow it to install.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Search.aspx?l=en-us&type=Software&s=sims%202&os=64-bit

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/co...aspx?l=en-us&type=Software&s=sims 2&os=32-bit

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[AlteredMango]

Compatibility mode problems

Hi,
I have been experiencing a problem with a program that i downloaded about 3 months ago. I downloaded the program on windows 7 home premium x64 and i am still currently running on that. For some reason the program will not open. I looked in the compatibility section and noticed that it keeps trying to run in window XP(service pack2). I clicked on the down bar under compatibility mode, and i do not see window 7 as an option. The previous versions only go up to window vista.
Please help!

 

[Brink]

Hello AlteredMango, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Windows 7 wouldn't be available in the list unless you have SP1 installed. However, if you uncheck the Run this program in compatibility mode for box and click on OK, the program will no longer run in compatibility mode and run in Windows 7.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[allie489]

Needs help...

I am trying to play a video game for windows 95/98 on my windows 7 computer. I tried all 3 of these methods and none seems to work for me. The game opens and starts to play but then freezes and the program closes.. How can i fix this and get it to work properly. Am i doing something incorrectly?

 

[Brink]

Hello Allie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, compatibility mode doesn't always work to make a program/game designed for a older version of Windows to work in Windows 7. Sometimes they are just to outdated and incompatible.

If you like though, please create a new thread for this issue in the Gaming forum area with the name of the game to see if someone that may have this game may know of a workaround that may help allow you to run it.

My guess, is that you may need to create a Windows 98 virtual machine in Windows 7 to run the game in the virtual machine.

I hope that you get a solution soon.

 

[allie489]

help

Who would i ask on how to create a windows 98 virtual machine in windows 7?

 

[Brink]

Who would i ask on how to create a windows 98 virtual machine in windows 7?

Allie,

That would be a question that would be best posted in our Virtualization forum area since it's going off topic from this tutorial.

However, basically you would first need a Windows 98 ISO file to use to install Windows 98 to a virtual machine. Depending on what edition (ex: Ultimate) of Windows 7 you have, you would need to install a program like Windows Virtual Machine, VMWare Player, or Virtual Box to create the virtual machine with, then install Windows 98 on the virtual machine.

 

[brewerg]

Great article, but I have a followup question. I read about setting the properties of the .exe to run in compatitibility mode, but how do you get those settings to stick when moving that .exe to another computer? I.e. it worked fine on my own pc, and still reflects the properties after the install, but if I copy the exe to a flash drive and move it to another computer to do another install, the properties are gone...
Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Brewerg, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, the compatibility mode settings for the EXE do not transfer over when copied to another computer. It must be set to how you want it on the new computer as well.

 

[Maddie]

I don't have a compatibility option with the program I am trying to install. Here's a screenshot.

 

[Brink]

Hello Maddie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but your screenshot is of the properties page of your CD drive and not of a program's installation file. You will need to right click on the installation file itself instead.

 

[jlusen]

Hi. I was hoping you could provide a brief explaination of the pros & cons of compatability mode vs. XP mode.

Thank You

 

[Brink]

Hello jlusen, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Compatibility Mode has Windows 7 run the program as if it was running in XP.

XP Mode is XP virtual machine (a separate OS running in Windows 7 as a window) that runs inside the Windows Virtual PC program in Windows 7. Programs installed in the XP Mode virtual machine can have a shortcut in the Windows 7 Start Menu to be able to run the program as if it was running in the XP Mode virtual machine.

The pros and cons really depends on your needs and if the older XP program will run fine or not by just using Compatibility Mode. XP Mode will have no problem running XP programs, but requires you to install "Windows Virtual PC" and "XP Mode". Afterwards, install the XP program in XP Mode.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mojonba]

Brink,

I am trying to disable Desktop Window Composition for AutoCad Lt 2013 on w7 x64. I have done it via the compatibility tab as well as the registry option with no avail. I am doing it right as it works with other executables. It just doesnot work with AutoCad LT 2013. Any ideas on how to force this?

Thanks,

 

[Brink]

Hello Mojonba,

The program may be overriding it. I don't know of any way to force it if that's the case.

 

[yankeesdrums2]

For Brink, ? about all my old games

Hello "Brink," I have seen the info. and help you have been able to give to others. Based on that I was wondering if you or someone else could help me. I am trying to reinstall my older games like Star Wars Empire At War and the C&C Generals and Zero Hour games. Every time I try to install they get locked on a Data Audio English MEG file, even after tried this whole compatibility thing and still not sure if I am doing it right. I have Vista 64 bit. Gave all of my computer info. to register for this forum. With that info. could you or someone actually walk me through how to get these damn games to work! I would call myself computer stupid, I don't understand all this lingo. Not sure what to do next except of course to go with Apple where my wife never has any computer issues.