Older Games not launching on Windows 10/11 PCs

Why older games can have problems

Some of the most popular games are the ones you've been enjoying for years. 

But as computers improve, older games may not run or display exactly as they once did, especially on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Many classic games were designed for earlier versions of Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows Vista. At that time, most monitors used a nearly square 4:3 shape. Today, most monitors are widescreen (16:9).

Because of these differences, older games may sometimes:

• Have trouble launching
• Display incorrectly on the screen
• Appear stretched, or not fill the screen properly

This happens because the game may be trying to use display or system settings designed for older computers. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try that often fix these problems.

1. Make sure Windows is up to date

Keeping Windows updated gives your computer the latest improvements for performance, security and compatibility with games.

1. Click the Start (Windows) icon.

2. Type Check for updates into the search bar.

   

3. Select Check for updates from the results. Windows will check whether your computer has the latest updates installed.

   

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2. Adjust the game's compatibility settings

If your computer is up to date but the game still won't launch or display correctly, try adjusting its compatibility settings. These let Windows run older programs using settings from earlier versions of Windows.

1. Right-click the game's desktop shortcut.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click the Compatibility tab.
4. Try one or more of these options:
   • Tick Run this program in compatibility mode for: and choose an older version of Windows, such as Windows 7 or Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
   • Tick Disable fullscreen optimizations, which can improve how older games display on modern computers.
   • Tick Run this program as an administrator, which can help if the game won't start or can't save your progress.
5. Click Apply, then OK, and launch the game again.

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3. Fix display problems on modern screens

Many newer computers have high-resolution screens, and Windows may automatically apply display scaling to make text and icons easier to read. This works well for most programs, but some older games weren't designed for it and may look stretched, blurry or the wrong size.

If your game launches but doesn't display correctly, see our Change Your Display Screen Resolution article for step-by-step fixes, including how to change the scaling for just one game.

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