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Steam is one of the most popular cloud-gaming libraries out there and offers users a plethora of titles to choose from. But, the Steam compatibility mode error has been driving users crazy.
This error is generally encountered when you have compatibility mode turned on in the launcher properties. And honestly, it’s quite simple to fix the error and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
But before we walk through the fixes for the Steam compatibility mode error, it’s imperative that you understand how the compatibility mode works.
How does the compatibility mode work?
Compatibility mode is a feature that allows you to run applications that were built for a previous version of Windows. This helps users if they encounter an error saying that the installed version of the OS can’t run that particular app.
So, if you see that a particular program is not running on the current version, simply switching to compatibility mode and choosing an earlier version that supports the program should work.
But, making the switch often leads to issues, as is the case here with the Steam compatibility mode error. Also, the Steam support recommends against running their program in Windows compatibility mode.
Now that you have a basic understanding of how compatibility mode works, let’s see how can eliminate the error.
How can I fix the Steam compatibility mode error?
1. Disable compatibility mode for Steam
- Press Windows + E to launch the File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar at the top, and hit Enter to navigate to it.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
- Locate and right-click on the steam.exe file, and select Properties from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the file, and hit Alt + Enter.
- Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
- Now, untick the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for and click on OK at the bottom to save the changes. Also, make sure that all the other checkboxes here are disabled.
This is the simplest and most direct fix since the error here is with running Steam in compatibility mode, and disabling it should most likely eliminate the issue.
2. Update Windows
- Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and select Windows Update from the list of tabs in the navigation pane on the left.
- Next, click on Check for updates on the right to scan for a newer version of the OS.
- If any updates are listed after after the scan, click on Download & install.
Running an outdated version of Windows is just as likely to cause the Steam compatibility mode error. So, it’s recommended that you always keep up-to-date with the latest version.
Also, with each update certain new features, performance enhancements, and patches for previously known bugs are introduced, which are bound to make your system do a lot better.
3. Modify the registry
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter regedit in the text field, and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
- Click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt that pops up.
- Now, paste the following path in the address bar and hit Enter.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
- Look through the various items in the navigation pane on the left, until you locate an entry with the path to the Steam launcher (steam.exe), and then right-click on it and select Delete.
- Now, click Yes in the confirmation prompt that pops up.
- Restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.
Since the method requires making changes to the Registry, we recommend you be extra careful here, since a minor lapse could damage the OS. Also, in case things go wrong, you can fix broken registry items by using specialized repair software.
After making the changes, check if the Steam compatibility mode error is fixed. In case it persists, head to the last method.
4. Reinstall Steam
- Press Windows + I to launch Settings, and select Apps from the tabs listed in the navigation pane on the left.
- Click on Apps & features on the right.
- Now, locate the Steam app, click on the ellipsis next to it, and select Uninstall from the flyout menu.
- Again, click Uninstall in the prompt that pops up.
- Once done, you can now download and reinstall Steam.
If there’s a problem with Steam itself, you have no option but to reinstall it, since you are unable to launch the app. And after you have reinstalled it, the Steam compatibility mode error should be fixed.
What do I do if Steam games are not launching?
Most users are not likely to face any issue launching games on Steam, but if that happens, the issue is easily fixable.
You can try reinstalling the game that’s not launching, updating the Steam app and the OS, running the app as administrator, or updating DirectX on your computer.
We have a dedicated guide to fix it when Steam games are not launching, so do check it. Though it’s for Windows 10, the methods listed there should work just as well on the latest iteration as well.
That’s it! By the time you reach this part of the article, the Steam compatibility mode error should be long gone, and you can start playing your favorite games on the platform.
In case your games don’t run smoothly, check what to do if games lag or run slow on Steam.
Tell us which fix worked and your favorite game on Steam, in the comments section below.
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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- How to Fix Steam Windows Compatibility Mode Error?
By Aurelie | Follow |
Last Updated
Facing Steam Windows Compatibility Mode error when gaming? Don’t know what to do with this error? MiniTool Website offers you this article to help you out. Try them one by one to find out the workarounds that you fancy most.
Steam Windows Compatibility Mode Error
Steam is one of the best game platforms in the world for game players to buy, download, upload, and discuss various games. Compatibility Mode is a useful feature of Steam that enables you to launch applications built for a former version of Windows.
However, while bringing convenience, it often drives you crazy because steam Windows compatibility mode error appears at times to destroy your game experience. Fortunately, fixing this error is quite easy and it doesn’t take you much time. Come and have a shot!
How to Fix Steam Windows Compatibility Mode Error?
Fix 1: Update Windows
Keeping the latest version of Windows is of vital importance because an obsolete Windows version is very likely to cause Steam Windows Compatibility Mode error. Therefore, it is highly recommended to update Windows in time.
Step 1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
Step 2. Scroll down to find Update & Security.
Step 3. In the Windows Update interface, click Check for updates.
This is an automatic but time-consuming process, and you need to wait for a while.
Fix 2: Tweak the Registry
If you have already updated Windows to the latest version, you can try tweaking your registry.
You are supposed to be very careful because even a tiny problem might damage the operating system radically. Of course, there’s a solution once you make some mistakes. Have a backup before you do by following the article – How to Backup and Restore Registry in Windows 10. Here’s how to modify the registry:
Step 1. Press Win + R at the same time to launch the Run dialog.
Step 2. Type regedit in the box and tap on Enter.
Step 3. Copy and paste the following command in the box and hit Enter.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
Step 4. In the left navigation bar, look for Steam Launcher (steam.exe), and then right-click it.
Step 5. Choose Uninstall and click Yes in the confirm message.
Step 6. Reboot your PC to examine if this fix works fine.
Fix 3: Disable Compatibility Mode for Steam
Since Steam Windows Compatibility Mode error is directly related to Steam Compatibility Mode, disabling it is the most effective way to resolve this issue. Some of you may ask, “How to disable Compatibility Mode Steam?” Don’t be worried, turning it off is not that complicated and you can follow the next instructions step by step.
Step 1. Press Win + E to run the File Explorer.
Step 2. Paste the next path in the address bar and hit Enter.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
Step 3. Scroll down to find the steam.exe file and right-click on it to choose Properties.
Step 4. In the Compatibility tab, uncheck Run this program in compatibility mode and click OK to execute this operation. You should also pay attention that whether all other checkboxes are disabled or not.
Fix 4: Reinstall Steam
If you change Compatibility Mode for Steam games but the error still persists, there is another possibility that Steam itself has a problem thus reinstalling it might be a fix to address Steam Windows Compatibility Mode error.
Step 1. Open Settings and choose Apps.
Step 2. In Apps & features, look through the apps list to find Steam.
Step 3. Click it and select Uninstall.
Step 4. Download and install Steam on the official website.
Final Words
If you find these solutions are helpful to you, welcome to share your joy with us at the comment area below. At the same time, maybe your knacks are better than those mentioned above and you can also show your causes here.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Aurelie is a passionate soul who always enjoys researching & writing articles and solutions to help others. Her posts mainly cover topics related to games, data backup & recovery, file sync and so on. Apart from writing, her primary interests include reading novels and poems, travelling and listening to country music.
In this article, we will see how to fix the Steam compatibility mode error in Windows 11.
Steam is one of the most crowded gaming platforms out there owing to the tons of games it has to offer its users to play. Despite, the wild popularity of the gaming platform, Steam keeps running into issues and errors from time to time. One such error is the Steam compatibility mode.
Generally, you only run into this issue when you enable compatibility mode on Steam but there is no need to be worried about it. You can get rid of the Steam compatibility mode in a breeze using the methods curated by us in this article.
So, if you are facing the Steam compatibility mode error on your PC, keep reading.
Also Read: How To Play Steam Games On Android TV
What is compatibility mode in Windows?
Compatibility Mode lets you use those apps that were built for older versions of Windows than the one you are using. If the app users want to run, throws an error saying the installed version of the OS can’t run that particular app, then running the program in compatibility mode will fix the error.
However, running programs in compatibility mode leads to certain issues from time to time as the one we are going to discuss here.
As a matter of fact, Steam Support does not recommend launching Steam in compatibility mode on Windows. But if you are using Steam in compatibility mode and looking for ways to fix the errors you are encountering, keep scrolling.
Also Read: Unable To Join Multiplayer Game Session On steam? Try These Fixes
Disable compatibility mode for Steam
- Launch the File Explorer on Windows PC using the Windows+E shortcut key.
- Now, copy-paste the following path in the address bar and hit the Enter key.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
- Here, look for the steam.exe file and then right-click on it.
- Choose the Properties option from the context menu. You can also use the key combination Alt + Enter to access its properties window.
- Here, remove the tick from the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode option and hit the OK button.
- Once done, launch Steam again and you won’t encounter errors anymore.
Update Windows
If your Windows PC is running on an old version of Windows, you will surely encounter the Steam compatibility mode error. So, updating your Windows PC at the moment is important as brings in new features, performance upgrades, and patches for bugs in the previous version of Windows.
- Launch the Settings app using the Windows+I shortcut and click on the Windows Update option located on the left navigation pane.
- Here, click the Check for updates button located on right to look for the new version of the Operating System.
- If any pending updates are listed here, press the Download and install button.
- Once done, try launching the Steam app once again. Most probably, you will not encounter a compatibility error.
Also Read: Fix: Steam Corrupt Disk Error When Downloading/Uploading Games
Modify the Windows Registry
- Launch the Run command using the Windows + R shortcut key. Type ‘regedit’ in the text field, and press the OK button.
- Press the Yes button in the User Account Control window that opens up.
- Type the following path in the address bar and hit the enter key.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
- Here, you will find several items in the left panel and then find the option located as a Steam launcher (steam.exe).
- Now, right-click on the Yes option in the pop-up.
- Now, reboot your PC to apply the changes.
Note: Do not follow this method if you are not sure how to handle making changes in Registry as any mistake can lead to severe consequences.
- Once the changes are done, hit the save changes button.
Also Read: Fix Steam Running Slow/ Lagging Games Issue 2022
Reinstall Steam
If the Steam game is still not launching on your Windows PC, all that’s left to do is to uninstall and then re-install the Steam app again. Here’s how to do it:
- Launch the Settings app using the Windows+I shortcut key and then choose Apps from the navigation pane on the left.
- Choose the Apps and Features option from the right pane.
- Next, look for the Steam app in the list of apps installed on your PC and then hit the ellipsis icon present next to it.
- Choose Uninstall option from the flyout menu and choose to uninstall option from the pop-up that appears on the screen.
- Once the app gets uninstalled, go ahead and reinstall the steam app again.
Also Read: Fixed: The No User Logon Steam Error On Windows 11
Wrapping Up
That’s pretty much it! Now we hope the Steam compatibility mode error is finally resolved on your PC. Which of the above methods worked for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Taiba Hasan
A tech enthusiast with a Post Graduate degree in Computer Applications, trying to make technology less complicated for novice users.
How To Disable Steam Compatibility Mode When it comes to purchasing games on PC, Steam is one of the most popular platforms and has been around for over 20 years However, that doesn’t mean your experience will always be glitch-free If you are getting the FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error on Steam, this post is for you Steam Broadcasting is a nice feature that lets you broadcast gameplays that
How To Disable Steam Compatibility Mode
How To Disable Steam Compatibility Mode
— Gaming
Sometimes when Steam crashes or there is a problem with it (or a game running from it) Windows 7 thinks that Steam needs to run in compatibility mode. This is a problem, because Steam doesn’t need to be in compatibility mode and shouldn’t be. Compatibility mode can cause issues with some games.
Unfortunately turning this off isn’t as simple as right-clicking on the Steam shortcut (or even the steam.exe file), viewing the Compatibility tab, and unchecking the Run this program in compatibility mode for option.
Fortunately I found this quick fix using a simple registry edit:
- Go to the Start menu and type “
regedit” into the search box and press Enter. If you have UAC enabled you’ll need to click Yes to continue. - Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers and delete the entry for the
steam.exefile.
Browse to the steam.exe registry entry that enables compatibility mode.
Right-click on the registry entry and delete it. 
Confirm that you want to delete the registry entry. - You should also see if there is an entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the same location and delete it as well. Failing that, check in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Persisted.
- Restart your computer. Steam should no longer run in compatibility mode.
I think it’s unfortunate that Windows 7 automatically applies compatibility mode without your consent and without a user-friendly way of turning it off, but at least it’s relatively easy to fix. If you’ve encountered this problem and have another solution or more information let me know in comments!
Comments
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this was a wonderful walk through on how to fix this issue. i say this because i just had this problem. or so i thought. for other users who might be having this problem i have some thing to say on top of what you just said. i did exactly what you said to do, only instead of having a steam.exe file to delete, i didnt have any thing at all. so what i did was right click on steam, clicked properties, clicked compatibility, checked «run this program in compatibility mode for:» clicked «apply» then immediately un checked the » run this program in compatibility mode for:» and then clicked apply once more and exited out. then i clicked on my steam icon and it is now working. so thank you for you time and help. i hope this helps any one who might need it.
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My question is how did steam all of a sudden start running in compatibility mode? I have never had this issue and it randomly showed up this morning
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Thank you, i just ran into this problem and found your well documented solution which is easy to apply and solves this issue. I wonder why Windows 7 put Steam into compatibility mode anyway. But i guess that will always stay a secret of Microsoft.
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Thank you!
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I tried this and unfortunately the warning still pops up after I restarted my computer.
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When i got to «Layers» in regedit the only thing there was «(Default)», so i dk what to do. Please Help!
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Did you try looking under HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?
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found it thanks
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Hey Josh,
when i am at this point: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlags, it only says compatibility assistant. PLEASE help me!-
Hi Theo,
Your issue may be caused by something besides the registry. Unfortunately I haven’t had to troubleshoot this issue beyond the solution I wrote about, so my advice would be to post to the Steam forums for more help.
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Hi, I have a slight problem. Layers is not present under Appcombatflags, any ideas?
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Sorry found layers under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE but here is the kicker, there is no steam.exe, mind=blown. Help?
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Try checking in HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsCompatibility AssistantPersisted
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I am having the same «issue» (if you will) as Kirby, and I did what you said in the reply. However, I do not have Persisted or steam.exe. Please help.
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i dont have a layers file on my CP/ what do i do to get steam out of compatability then?
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See my previous reply to Kirby.
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Thanks, this was detailed enough so I could fix the problem.
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Dude, Thanks a lot. I did it on windows XP and ran just fine.If you have time, please make one for XP because im not sure if this is all safe for the pc. THANKS AGAIN
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Unfortunately, this didn’t really help me. ]= My big issue is that when I got to the compatibility tab to turn it off, my computer has the box to uncheck shaded that no-clicking-milky-white so that I can’t click it. I’ve tried Registry edit and the basics, but I can’t really fix it. Steam still continues to think it’s running in compatibility mode.
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Thats the same problem for Me!
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Worked a treat. The problem was stopping me launching Big Picture mode using the guide button on a 360 pad. Works now.
Great advice, Josh. -
I was so irritated with Windows 7’s behavior on this that I built a .reg file in case it happens again. If you want to use it, feel free: Just create a new text document on your desktop, paste in the following and save it, then rename the file to have a .reg extension instead of .txt. Worked wonders for me, thanks for the info Josh.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"=- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"=- [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsCompatibility AssistantPersisted] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"=-
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Sorry for the double post, but it appears that the website may have automatically formatted the quotes to «smart quotes» (notice how they lean toward each other around those two words). If you create this .reg file you’ll have to remove and re-enter the quotes inside of Notepad so that they are the right format.
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No worries Derek, I wrapped your code in <pre> tags to prevent the smart quotes. Thanks for the contribution!
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A gentleman and a scholar.
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Hi Guys
I have downloaded a game and installed it. When I try to run it or to play the game there appears an error message » FAILED TO INITIALIZE STEAM». How do I fix this so that I can play the game?? -
ty sooomuch
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I have to give credit where credit is due, and you sir saved me a lot of work.
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I don’t wanna do this wrong I just want to check if i doing this right my Layers is in HKEY LOCAL and when i got to it it says that the data is VISTARTM is that normal
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If you see Steam.exe in there, you need to delete it. If you look at my comment on April 26th you can create a file which will do everything for you automatically, though if you’re more comfortable doing it manually more power to you.
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I love you! Thanks!
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Even though I followed the instructions on this webpage to the letter this still doesn’t work for me. I’m not playing the game that requires the compatibility anymore and I was wondering if there was any way I would be able to recover the compatibility files, without having to re-download steam and all of the games I have on there.
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merci ca marche
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TAHNK YOU searched all over the web for this, i think this might be the only one.
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i cant open the layer folder
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@coco123 — There are three different potential locations listed in the article. Make sure to look for them all, or scroll up a bit and find the contents for a .reg file I posted which may solve the problem for you. Note that this article only helps if you are seeing that exact «Running Steam in Windows compatibility mode is not recommended» message.
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So I had the same problem, and your fix worked great! Unfortunately Steam no longer starts when I boot-up my PC, and when I try to run TexMod (modding program) or FNC4GB (a program that enables Fallout New Vegas to use 4GB of memory for heavy modding) I get an error that says steam is not currently running or it simply fails to initialize. Any ideas on how to fix this? The error when starting Big Picture was annoying, but at least everything still worked properly.
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not sure if it mattes but the second program should read FNV4GB…
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doesn’T help me with RIPD — The Game, minidump.dmp error, just can’t start the game, crashes during loading screen
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You’re correct, it doesn’t. This post is only regarding the error in the first screenshot at the top. If you need help getting a Steam game to run I recommend the Steam forums.
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[…] Just Turn-Off the compatibility mode from Steam to fix this problem. Try this article to do this easily if you don’t […]
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Thanks so much…works like a charm ^_^
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I looked in both maps for a steam exe file. None found! I only find a steam exe file is in the Store. Can I delete it from there or is there annything I don’t see?
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If you are running in windows 8, put the RelicCoH2.exe with compatibility mode for Windows 8. The game will work fine.
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What do you do if you need to get it back
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I couldn’t find steam.exe folder in any of those files. As i did more searching i found that there was a Program File (x86)/steam/ steam.exe file under the «store» folder. Here is the file location.
Computer/HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsCompatibility AssistantStore
Comments are closed