Setting compatibility mode in Windows. What does compatibility mode mean in Excel (how to exit, remove, remove) What does compatibility mode mean in Excel

If you encounter a problem when legacy application refuses to work in a new one operating system from Microsoft, use compatibility mode in Windows 10 to launch it. This article will teach you how to run programs and old games in the top ten that refuse to work in the latest OS environment, crash or function with errors.

Windows 10 prompts you to activate Compatibility Mode when running applications whose previous running session has crashed or been terminated due to an error or process termination. But this does not happen in all cases.

Activating compatibility mode manually through the shortcut properties or executable file is not always available, and sometimes requires running the troubleshooting tool. Let's look at both methods, and also figure out how to disable compatibility mode in Windows 10.

Enable the mode in the properties of the executable file shortcut

The first way to activate Compatibility Mode in Windows 10 is by using Properties exe file or application shortcut.

To do this, call “Properties” target object via the context menu or the “Alt+Enter” key combination.
Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
In the “Compatibility Mode” section, check the box next to its name.
Open the drop-down menu and select the version of the operating system for which the application is intended or in which it works without failures.

Compatibility is disabled by removing the check mark next to the only option in the “Compatibility Mode” section.

When using applications created for XP that were released about 10 years ago, you can try running the program in a lower resolution, using 256 colors, or without visual design. You can also tell the operating system to this application should be run as administrator each time in order to save the time required to call the file's context menu to select the appropriate launch mode.

Enable the mode through troubleshooting

In order to start compatibility mode, you need to call the troubleshooting tool, which in the “top ten” is called “Running programs designed for other versions of Windows.” You can call the tool through the “Troubleshooting” applet, located one of the last in the Control Panel when its elements are visualized as icons, or through the search bar.

The application should be run with administrator privileges. This will allow you to detect additional factors, causing problems in the functioning of the program.

After waiting a little, we will see a list of those installed on the PC software products, in which you should select the problematic program.

If the target utility is not in the list, select the first item “Not in the list”, click “Next”, and then specify the path to the executable file.

After selecting an application or specifying the path to its launch file, you will be prompted to select a diagnostic mode. To select a specific Windows versions indicate the second mode “Program Diagnostics”, and for automatic detection compatible version of the operating system, you should stop at the first point.

After selecting the operating system edition, a window will appear with options for problems that were noticed while the application was running in the “ten”.

If you know which version of the operating system the application worked properly in, indicate it or select “I don’t know.”

In the next dialog, click “Test program” to test whether it functions during startup with the specified parameters. If testing is successful, click “Next”.

To subsequently call the software with the specified parameters, select the first item in the last window, save the specified settings and close the window.

After searching for additional problems, close the tool or view additional information about the problem.

If the application refuses to work in compatibility mode with the selected Windows, try a different OS edition or use the recommended settings. As a last resort, you can always ask for help in resolving your issues by sending a report about the problem to Microsoft representatives or looking for an answer on the forums.

If you decide to find out how to enable or disable compatibility mode in the operating system Windows system, then you have definitely come to the right place. But first, let's answer this question: what is compatibility mode? What might it be needed for?

So, compatibility mode in Windows 7 or 10 is special function, which allows you to launch an application designed for previous versions operating system. Perhaps this description turned out to be quite complex for you, so let's look at this in more detail using a specific example.

So, a certain developer (let's call him Valery) created the VolterSide program (the name of the program was taken arbitrarily) and released this product for the Windows XP operating system. For users of this software, everything was fine until it was time to update your computer or laptop to a more advanced version of the OS under named Windows 7 (or 10). As it turned out, VolterSide does not open in installed system. Users involuntarily begin to wonder: why the application does not work on the new modern system when the old one opens everything perfectly?

The fact is that Valery did not release an update for his product that would introduce support for new operating systems. His program remained to live in the past. But what should those people do who need modernity in terms of the operating system? They won’t use Windows XP, for example, because VolterSide only works in this version Windows systems. This is where compatibility mode in Windows 7 or 10 can come to your rescue.

But it is also worth paying attention to the fact that this function will help not only in the operation of applications, but also drivers. That is, if you have speakers (keyboard, monitor - whatever), and for some reason they stopped working after updating the OS, then you can try to launch and install their drivers in compatibility mode.

How to enable compatibility mode in Windows 7 or 10?

Troubleshooting

Well, we have reached the main issue of today's discussion. Let’s not delay for too long and move straight to your actions:

We find a shortcut (or original file) for launching a program or driver that you could not launch.
Right-click on it and go to “Troubleshoot Compatibility Problems.”
Now you need to carefully read what the help windows offer. First, we select the operating mode of our assistant: program diagnostics. Click “Next”.
A window asks you what problems you noticed during startup. In our case, the first option about running the application in previous versions of Windows is suitable.
Next, we select the same version of the operating system in which everything was great for you. For example, it was Windows Vista. So we click on it, and then click “Next”. If you are not sure which version was suitable for the software (for example, when downloading the application to your computer for the first time), then you will have to try each one.
Now the troubleshooting window will show a small report about what we have chosen. If everything is correct, then click on the “Launch program” button.
After successfully launching the application, be sure to save these settings for the program. Otherwise, try other solutions or send a report to Microsoft. Unfortunately, the chance that they will answer you is very small. But if there are enough such letters to them, they can fix the problem in future updates.

Changing settings manually. We enable or disable the mode ourselves

The previous method, of course, has not been canceled, but it takes some time. If you do not need the system to analyze and test the program itself, then you can configure the parameters yourself manually. The method is practically no different from the previous one in terms of how to set compatibility mode in Windows 7 or 10. You can also not only enable it, but also safely disable it. So let's begin:

As in the previous instructions, right-click on the shortcut or original program. But now you will need to select the last item “Properties”.
In the window that appears, open the “Compatibility” tab and click the checkbox next to the item about running the program in compatibility mode.
In the field located just below, you need to select the operating system version.
You can set some parameters as needed (Use 256 colors, special screen resolution, and others). This may also play a role when running in compatibility mode.
Click “Apply” and then “OK”. Now you can try to run the program or driver.
To disable this function, you just need to uncheck the box that you checked in the second step.

Doesn't help? No problem!

In fact, this mode helps in isolated cases. Because well-known manufacturers and developers immediately prepare almost all of their programs to work with new operating systems. Otherwise, it may happen that the problems are not at all due to the fact that the software is intended for other versions of the OS. Then you can try to carry out diagnostics (first instructions, second point). Only this time we choose not the first option, but put a tick in front of the others. So, by the method of elimination, you can identify the real problem.

Results

To summarize today's discussion of how to enable or disable compatibility mode in Windows 10 or 7, we can say the following: the function is really useful and necessary. It can help when other means are either unavailable or powerless. Therefore, do not underestimate the built-in capabilities of the operating room Microsoft systems and put a cross on them. Share in the comments: were you able to run the program or driver in compatibility mode? If not, which method helped you?

Unfortunately, for many users, not all programs work equally well on different versions of Windows operating systems. In order to solve this problem, Microsoft employees were able to create an option such as compatibility mode, which allows you to use files and other components of older versions of the system in a newer one.

For example, we can say that most of the programs that were written for Windows Vista can be easily launched in the seventh version of the operating system, but still some of them may give an error or not work at all. The same can be said about Windows XP, which either accepts or does not accept components and programs written for Windows 95, 98 and 2000. And for the normal operation of all files and other components, compatibility mode is required.

But it’s still worth figuring out how to launch this mode and fix any problems that arise. Let's describe the main points on Windows 7. If you decide to install the program from old version Windows, but when loading it does not work correctly, then first of all you need to run a special tool that will eliminate problems with the compatibility of certain files.

It is this that is capable of automatically detecting and eliminating the most common problems that prevent installation or the correct launch of programs from older versions of Windows. This way you will establish Windows compatibility 7 with components and files of previous versions of operating systems from Microsoft.

So, in order to run this remedy, which will find and fix all problems, you need to go to the Start menu. After this, select “Control Panel”, and then enter the word “problems” in the empty search field, then click “Troubleshooting”. Go to the “Programs” section and select the command that has a rather long name - “Run programs designed for previous versions of Windows.” And after that, wait until the tool finds errors and fixes them, that is, until the compatibility mode is turned on. When this happens, you can safely work with this program.

But sometimes it happens that the problem cannot be fixed automatically. And in this case, too, there is a way out, but you will have to perform all the steps yourself. And for this method you will have to clarify some data about certain programs and components. Recommendations for manual search and troubleshooting are given below:

1. You must change program compatibility settings manually. To do this, you will need more information about running older programs in more recent times. new version operating system.

2. You must independently check the compatibility of components with the version of the operating system in which you are working. To do this, it is best to go to the official website of the program and the system itself.

But I would like to note that this is quite labor-intensive work. And that is why it will be easier to find a similar program or file that will be intended specifically for your version of Windows.

If you still don’t quite understand what compatibility mode is, then you can give an example using the program Microsoft Excel. Let's say you launch a document that was created in a previous version of the system, but you cannot work in Windows 7, since you see the message “Mode” in the title limited functionality" And in order to ensure that you can work with this document using all the parameters and capabilities, you need to enable Excel compatibility mode.

For the same purposes, this mode is necessary in Microsoft Office and in other programs. And one conclusion suggests itself: compatibility mode is a very useful thing that is sometimes simply necessary.

Let's consider the operation of this mode on Windows example 10. This functionality is intended to help the user launch one or another software, usually outdated. Its operating principle is to monitor programs launched by the user, and if the program has known issues work with installed version Windows, the user will be notified about this. How to disable Windows Compatibility Mode if you don't need it - read on.

How to quickly disable Windows Compatibility Mode

It does not introduce any special difficulties into the operation of the system and programs. The reasons why you need to disable this mode can be assumed to be the following:

Load reduction for older computers;
Disabling “tracking” of running programs;
Are you annoyed by compatibility mode pop-ups?

The Program Compatibility Assistant service is responsible for this feature in Windows. It controls the work of the “assistant”, which sends you messages about known problems.

How to disable compatibility mode

The instructions assume that you have an idea of what it is Windows services and that thoughtlessly disabling them can lead to the operating system not working.

Go to the following path: “Control Panel” - “Administration” - “Services”. Find the "Program Compatibility Assistant" service in the list. Right-click on it and go to its properties. Click the "Stop" button, and in the "Startup type" field, select "Disabled".

Finally, click “Apply” and “OK”.

How to disable Windows Compatibility Mode - video instructions

Let's look at this instruction on how to disable compatibility mode in the Windows operating system. A special compatibility mode allows you to run older programs on the new version of Windows.

Many users use it to work on a computer software, the last releases of which were released quite a long time ago. It happens that the developer has stopped supporting the application, the program is not updated for some reason, and in the meantime a new version of the OS has been released. Until the transition to a new version of Windows, the program works and fully satisfies the user's needs.

After installing a new version of Windows or after installing from previous versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, it turns out that some programs do not work on the computer. To run older applications that work normally in previous versions of the operating system, Windows compatibility mode is used.

In some cases, the user needs to disable s. For example, released latest version applications that support a new version of Windows, or because this mode interferes with the operation of some programs.

Sometimes, messages appear stating that the program is running in compatibility mode, so the user is faced with the question of how to disable this mode separate program or disable the mode altogether on the computer.

Compatibility Mode Windows programs You can disable it in two ways:

disable program compatibility mode;
disable compatibility mode in the Windows operating system.

In the first case, compatibility mode will be disabled for the individual program. In the second option, the system service responsible for program compatibility on the computer will be disabled.

To disable Program Compatibility Mode in Windows, you can use several methods: from “Manage Services”, disable the “Program Compatibility Assistant Service”, disable it using the Local Editor group policy", or by disabling the service in the system configuration.

How to disable compatibility mode for a specific program (method 1)

To disable compatibility mode for a specific program, follow these steps:

Right-click on the shortcut or program file. IN context menu select "Properties".
In the Properties: Application Name window, open the Compatibility tab.
In the “Compatibility Mode” section, uncheck the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”, and then click on the “OK” button.

After this, the compatibility mode for this application will be turned off in the Windows operating system.

Disabling the Compatibility Assistant service in the System Configuration application (method 2)

The easiest way to disable the Program Compatibility Assistant service in Windows is to use system program System configuration.

Make the following settings:

In the search engine Windows line enter the expression: "msconfig" (without quotes), and then run the system utility.
In the System Configuration window, open the Services tab, find the Program Compatibility Assistant Service service.
Uncheck the box next to “Program Compatibility Assistant Service”, click on the “Apply” and “OK” buttons (In Windows 7, the service is called “Program Compatibility Information”).

Restart your computer.

After the computer starts, the Program Compatibility Assistant service will be disabled in the Windows operating system.

Stop the Program Compatibility Assistant service (3rd method)

Another method is to disable the Compatibility Assistant service in local services in the Windows operating system.

Configure the following settings:

Press the “Win” + “R” keys on your keyboard at the same time.
In the “Run” window, in the “Open” field, enter the expression “services.msc” (without quotes), and then click on the “OK” button to execute the command.
In the Services window, double-click on the Program Compatibility Assistant service.

In the Properties window: Program Compatibility Assistant ( Local system)", in the "General" tab, click on the "Stop" button if the service is currently running.
In the Startup Type setting, select Disabled and then click OK.

Disabling the Compatibility Assistant in the Local Group Policy Editor (method 4)

Users of the Windows operating system in editions: Pro, Enterprise, For educational institutions can use another method using the Local Group Policy Editor.

Go through the following steps:

Type "gpedit.msc" (without quotes) into the Windows Search box, and then launch Local Group Policy Editor.
In the “Policy” setting Local computer”” Open the “User Configuration” section.
Follow the path “Administrative Templates”, then “ Windows components", find the "Application Compatibility" policy.
Double-click on the Program Compatibility Assistant option.

In the Disable Program Compatibility Assistant window, select the Disabled option, and then click OK.

Conclusions of the article

If necessary, the user can disable Windows Program Compatibility Mode for an individual program or disable the Program Compatibility Assistant service in the Windows operating system in three different ways.