Sometimes doubts arise such as what is the process to install a 32-bit program on a 64-bit Windows computer or how to run old incompatible programs or applications in Windows 10 . In relation to the old programs, today we will show you the easiest methods to run them.

How to run incompatible programs or applications in Windows 10

The compatibility options that Windows 10 presents us are varied, although the most basic and that usually works in the best way, is the “Compatibility Mode” . Through this mode it is possible to run a program with the necessary compatibility dependencies for old operating systems.

The appropriate thing to do would be to select the operating system for which the old application incompatible with Windows 10 was prepared. In most cases, making this configuration allows the execution of old programs. But first, you need to activate the compatibility mode .

Enable compatibility mode for older operating systems

The process is very simple, you just have to go to the executable or the shortcut of the program. Once you locate it, right click on it and select the “Properties” option. Here are all the configuration options of the shortcut or executable, this time you must click on “Compatibility” .

Go to the “Compatibility mode” tab and enable the option “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” . Now you must select the operating system that best suits the application you want to run. Click on the “Apply” option and then on “OK”.

By carrying out the above process, you will be able to run old programs in most circumstances, being the most optimal option that is recommended in these cases.

Options present in the Windows compatibility options

The compatibility mode is not the only one present in the Windows “Compatibility” tab. In fact, there are other options that you can take into account and can help you to run old programs.

• Reduced color mode: Reduced color mode can help run very old applications. For this reason, if you have an application prior to 1995, try to enable one of these options if it does not work properly.
• Run with 640 X 480 screen resolution: old applications worked at a much lower resolution than current ones. For this reason, enabling this low resolution mode may help with some applications.

Other options to run incompatible programs in Windows 10

In addition to the everyday compatibility options, you can also try other methods of running older programs . Try the following in case the compatibility options above don’t work.

Execute as an administrator

It may seem like a very basic option, but many times a program does not run properly, because it requires administrator rights. Fortunately this solution is very basic. To run a program as administrator, you must right-click on the executable and select the option “Run as administrator . “

Keep in mind that most of the time when running a program as administrator, Windows will ask us for a confirmation. All you have to do is accept the request and in this way you can verify if the program is running properly.

On the other hand, if you want to configure the execution of programs as administrator permanently, you can enter the compatibility menu as we showed you before. There, select the option “Run this program as administrator” and save the changes.

Use emulators / virtual machines

If none of the above worked, there is always the possibility of using a virtual machine . To do this, you must install Windows in a virtual machine . Keep in mind that you can install any operating system in a virtual machine and in most cases run programs without problems.

It is also recommended that you know the basics, such as how to increase the size of the hard disk in a virtual machine . This could even help you to install many old applications incompatible with Windows 10

In turn, if you do not want to complicate yourself so much, remember that there is the possibility of running Android applications on PC , this is also true with programs from other operating systems. For this reason, investigate in order to verify if there is an emulator , something that always makes things easier.