How to change Windows Compatibility mode?
Compatibility mode is a feature in Windows that allows older software programs to run as if running on an older version of Windows. This is useful for more senior software programs designed for use on an older version of Windows but may not work properly on newer versions. If a program is not working correctly or won't run on your current Windows version, using compatibility mode may help.
To change the compatibility mode of a program in Windows, you can follow these steps:
- Right-click on the program's shortcut or .exe file and select Properties from the context menu.
- Click on the Compatibility tab in the Properties window.
- Under Compatibility mode, select the checkbox next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
- From the dropdown menu, select the version of Windows that the program was designed for. If you need help deciding which version to choose, try different versions until the program runs correctly.
- You can adjust other compatibility settings, such as display settings or privilege level, by checking the appropriate boxes if needed.
- Once you've made changes, click Apply and OK to close the Properties window.
Your program will now run in the selected compatibility mode. If you experience any issues or errors, you can return to the Compatibility tab and select a different compatibility mode or adjust the other settings.
Note: While compatibility mode can help older software programs run on newer versions of Windows, it may only sometimes solve all issues or compatibility problems. In some cases, you may require a virtual machine or other solution to run the program in a dedicated environment that emulates the older version of Windows.
Turn off compatibility mode:
If you want to turn off compatibility mode for a program in Windows, you can follow these steps:
- Find the executable or shortcut file for the program you want to change. The executable file is the file that launches the program, while the shortcut file is a file that points to the location of the executable file.
- Right-click on the executable or shortcut file and select Properties from the pop-up menu. This will open a window with various tabs.
- In the Properties window, press the Compatibility tab. This tab contains settings that can make older programs run on the latest versions of Windows.
- Under the Compatibility mode region, uncheck the box for the "Run this program in compatibility mode" option. This option tells Windows to run the program as if it was running on an older version of Windows. If you uncheck this box, the program will run normally.
- Press the OK button to save these settings. Once you've finished this, you can launch the program, and it should run without compatibility mode.
Compatibility mode can be helpful if you're trying to run an older program on a newer version of Windows that isn't officially supported. However, it can also cause issues if the program isn't designed to run in compatibility mode or if you have other programs that conflict with the compatibility settings. Turning off compatibility mode can help resolve these issues and allow the program to run normally.