4 Ways to Fix “This App Can’t Run on Your PC” Error in Windows 11

Quick Tips

• In most cases, running the program as an administrator or in compatibility mode should help fix the error.
• Scan your PC for corrupt system files and run it in a clean boot state to see if a third-party app or service is causing the issue.
• If you encounter this error while opening a specific app, try reinstalling it on your PC.

Try Basic Fixes

• Launch the app as an administrator: If an app lacks the necessary permissions to work on your computer, it could fail to launch and trigger the “This app can’t run on your PC” error. If that’s the case, running the app as an administrator should help.
• Reinstall the problematic app: If the “This app can’t run on your PC” error only occurs when you try to launch a specific program, you can try reinstalling it on your computer. This will help fix any issues caused by improper installation. To fix it, uninstall the problematic app from your PC and install it again.

Fix 1: Run the Compatibility Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a compatibility mechanism to let you run the apps in an older Windows version mode. For that, you can run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter on Windows to identify the suitable version.

Step 1: Right-click on the app that is failing to launch and select Properties.

Step 2: Under the Compatibility tab, click Run compatibility troubleshooter.

Step 3: Select Try recommended settings.

Step 4: Click on Test the program to launch your app in compatibility mode.

Step 5: If your app opens and works as expected, click Yes, save these settings for this program. If not, click No, try again using different settings to run the troubleshooter again.

Fix 2: Enable Developer Mode

Enabling Developer Mode in Windows 11 allows you to sideload and run apps from almost any source. You can try enabling this option to see if that gets your app to work.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and navigate to Privacy & security > For developers.

Step 2: Enable the toggle next to Developer Mode.

Fix 3: Scan for Corrupt System Files

Another possible cause of this error is corrupt system files. In that case, you’ll have to run the SFC (System File Check) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans on your computer to detect and repair any damaged system files.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.

Step 2: Type the following command in the console and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

Step 3: After the SFC scan is complete, run the following commands one by one, and press Enter after each command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait for the DISM scan to complete and then restart your PC. After that, try to open your apps again.

Fix 4: Try Clean Boot

When you run Windows in a clean boot state, it only loads essential services and programs. This can help you determine if a third-party program or service is interfering with Windows and preventing it from launching apps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type msconfig in the Open field, and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the Services tab and tick the box that reads Hide all Microsoft services box. Then, click the Disable all button.

Step 3: Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.

Step 4: Select a third-party app or program and click the Disable button. Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.

If your app loads normally during a clean boot, it is likely that one of your third-party apps or programs is causing the error. To fix it, you’ll need to remove any recently installed apps and programs individually.