compatability mode not found in win 11

Question

compatability mode not found in win 11

shuswapbear 21

I recently "upgraded" to win 11. now some of my games won't work and i can not find the compatabilty mode setting to change which version of windows to run the game under.

what can be done to fix this???? I have tried the right click on executable and click properties like i always did in win 10, but the option of changing compatability mode is not an option in win11.

Fakey McFakerton 0 Reputation points

2023-04-19T01:55:23.4366667+00:00

I also have the same issue. I right click on ANY adobe app's .exe and select properties. But there is NO compatibility tab to even select. I literally fixed an issue with Photoshops colors being displayed wrong by using this same tactic, so I am not sure why it USED to be there but now it is not. I also tried to go into the security settings and make sure had full access, but that did not work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Shivam ‎ 0 Reputation points

2024-01-03T09:47:32.82+00:00

Permission issue, give FULL CONTROL to the users/administrators.

10 answers

Your answer

Fakey McFakerton 0 Reputation points

2023-04-19T01:55:23.4366667+00:00

I also have the same issue. I right click on ANY adobe app's .exe and select properties. But there is NO compatibility tab to even select. I literally fixed an issue with Photoshops colors being displayed wrong by using this same tactic, so I am not sure why it USED to be there but now it is not. I also tried to go into the security settings and make sure had full access, but that did not work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Shivam ‎ 0 Reputation points

2024-01-03T09:47:32.82+00:00

Permission issue, give FULL CONTROL to the users/administrators.

Answer 1

TimRockIt 20

Bumped into this same issue with Win11home. A game's 'setup.exe' program had limited property tabs due to security issues. Tried all kinds of crazy ideas, including those mentioned on here. Nothing worked. Finally I had a brain-fart that actually worked.

I copied the game's virtual drive to my hard drive into a New Folder.
I renamed the 'setup.exe' file to 'Install.exe'.
Checked the file properties again, and Yaaay! All tabs are available including Security and Compatibility.
Set the compatibility mode I needed.
Done! Program ran, and got an old game from the 1990's to run without any problems.

A bit aggravating, but solved my problem. That's what we're here for, right? Solving each other's problems, right?

Good day. Rock On! Rock On!

Ken Fowler 5 Reputation points

2025-03-30T21:09:48.1166667+00:00
TimRockit wrote:

Bumped into this same issue with Win11home. A game's 'setup.exe' program had limited property tabs due to security issues. Tried all kinds of crazy ideas, including those mentioned on here. Nothing worked. Finally I had a brain-fart that actually worked.

I copied the game's virtual drive to my hard drive into a New Folder.

I renamed the 'setup.exe' file to 'Install.exe'.

Checked the file properties again, and Yaaay! All tabs are available including Security and Compatibility.

Set the compatibility mode I needed.

Done! Program ran, and got an old game from the 1990's to run without any problems.

Glad to hear that your solution worked. I believe that I tried changing the name of the setup.exe for Visual Basic 6 but the renamed file also did not have the compatibility tab. In my case, I learned from another forum that I could just ignore the Windows warning about incompatibility. The failure to finish the installation was due to a missing JAVA dummy file in /Windows. Replaced it with a zero-byte file and the installation succeeded.
Edwin Howard 0 Reputation points

2025-08-19T01:30:06.5266667+00:00

This worked for me! I simply renamed 'setup.exe' to install.exe' and suddenly I had the Compatibility tab under right-click, properties. Weird but glad it's an easy workaround.

Thanks!
Tom Hammond 0 Reputation points

2026-06-03T19:15:51.4966667+00:00

This was such a simple solution. Thanks so much for posting it for us idiots. I will never, for the life of me, figure out why some developers arbitrarily remove functionality that is still needed. It make absolutely no sense to me.

Answer 2

For me, none of the above suggestions were successful. I realize that they were from 1 to 3 years ago and I think Microsoft has "fixed" compatibility with an update and by removing the Troubleshooters in 2024.

The properties>Security tab of the Setup.exe I'm having trouble with show that I have Full Control of the file as Administrator. And it doesn't matter whether I click on another file before selecting setup.exe.

I went through the exercise of modifying the Group Policies regarding Compatibility without success.

And it seems that the suppression of the Compatibility Tab is only enforced for certain files, suggesting that Windows has a database to blacklist them. One year ago, on another Windows 11 computer, I was able to run setup.exe in compatibility mode for Win XP, SP3 and the install was successful. Now, on that same computer, the compatibility tab is missing.

I hope that Microsoft can be persuaded to rescind their policy. If not, installation and use of the Microsoft Visual Basic Development System for Visual Basic 6.0 comes to an end.

Ken Fowler

Answer 3

Tim Young 35

Same problem, but I think I found something:

In Explorer, if my selection is on a different file and I hover-right-click > properties, then the Compatibility tab is missing (see picture #1). But when the file I want to look at is selected and I right-click, I finally get the Compatibility Tab (see pictures #2 and #3).

Screenshot 2023-10-08 160016

Screenshot 2023-10-08 160332

Screenshot 2023-10-08 160354

Scott Gilkeson 5 Reputation points

2023-12-04T23:25:00.01+00:00

Thanks! That's what worked for me. Now I feel like a retard for not seeing it.
Ethan Plaza 0 Reputation points

2024-05-06T20:44:05.2966667+00:00

This comment should be on the top of the list lol
SnekSnekSnek 0 Reputation points

2024-06-01T22:34:24.53+00:00

Thanks, finally worked.
Thomas Zhukov 0 Reputation points

2024-06-08T22:07:18.5133333+00:00

ty sir, i would love to know why this isn't on the top
John Gastreich Sr 0 Reputation points

2024-06-18T19:03:00.89+00:00

This works and as mentioned should be moved to the top. As stated you need to click on the file first then right click. Compatibility mode will show! Thanks for this sharing!
TheRealPoody 0 Reputation points

2024-07-18T20:45:20.1+00:00

Woooow! Thank you so much!
Luom Melton 0 Reputation points

2024-11-19T05:25:55.74+00:00

The Compatibility tab will be present in the Properties dialog box if the file is executeable. That tab will give the following dialog:
Ken Fowler 5 Reputation points

2024-11-19T06:57:16.03+00:00

Luam Melton,

Have you tried it lately? I'll bet that if you examine the exe files for older 16 bit SW, you will find cases where the Setup can not be run in compatibility mode because the compatibility mode is suppressed.

One year ago, I was able to run Setup for MS VB6.0 on a Windows 11 computer in compatibility mode for XP, SP3 and the installation was successful. Now this year, the compatibility tab on that computer and my new Windows 11 computer is missing and the setup cannot complete. Nothing has been changed on the older computer regarding file ownership and I do have Full Control permissions and Administrator status.

Ken Fowler
Luom Melton 0 Reputation points

2024-11-20T19:11:59.93+00:00

I was able to run the app (Diamond VC600 VHS capture) to the point of bringing up the main window in Vista mode but the old drivers for the USB device don't work and there don't seem to be any new drivers for this old device. So when you click the record button in the app, nothing happens.
Rylan Hulse 0 Reputation points

2024-12-11T06:33:11.1033333+00:00

This worked thank you! You just have to select it with the left mouse button before you right click it.
mika xd 0 Reputation points

2026-08-07T08:13:28.94+00:00

damn, i feel really really stupid for not figuring that out but u really saved me from my growing frustration in 2026!

Answer 4

Mateo Huerta 0

I'm having the same problem, and the tab for compatibility is gone windows 11 doesn't have the compatibility tab anymore, SteamVR doesn't work anymore

20230329_191339

0 comments

Answer 5

Thomas Beaulac 16

I know I'm about half a year late but after some testing I found out that it's a permission issue. If you go into properties then open the security tab you can edit permissions to allow full control. Once you apply full permissions the compatibility tab will now appear in properties.

Leslie 1 Reputation point

2022-12-23T04:33:32.36+00:00

I tried ThomasBeaulac-0502's advice, but this didn't work for me. I still can't get certain games to work. Ryan Jones idea is too complicated for me. Is there any other way I can get the compatibility tab back for specific games. It doesn't show up. I have tried everything I can think of, but I need more help. Thank you!
DMA Anderson 0 Reputation points

2024-06-05T16:11:59.53+00:00

This solved it for me another year+ later - thank you, @Thomas Beaulac