How to fix 'This App Can't Run on Your PC' error on Windows 10

Fortunately, there are several fixes you can try. Let's refer and see how to fix the "This App Can't Run on Your PC" error on Windows 10 through the following article!.

1. Check the version of the application

If you have downloaded and installed an application without checking its properties, it may not be compatible with the system. For example, you cannot run an application that is compatible with the 32-bit version of Windows 10 and have it run smoothly on a 64-bit system.

Before downloading the application, you should review the system properties. Press Win + I to open Settings and select System. Then, from the menu on the left, click About.

The Device specifications section will give you information about your system, including the version of Windows you have installed on your computer.

2. Run the application in Compatibility Mode

You may get "This app can't run on your PC" error when trying to run an old app. To fix it, you should enable Compatibility Mode from the app's properties.

Right-click the application's executable file and select Properties. Open the Compatibility tab, select Run this program in compatibility mode for and select another version of Windows using the drop-down menu. Click Apply > OK to save the new settings and try running the application.

3. Run a copy of the executable

This is a bit of a strange trick but it can be helpful in fixing the error. Copy the application's executable file and paste it in a new location. Then run the copied file as you normally would.

4. Virus scan

Viruses can prevent an application from running as it should, even if the application is compatible with the system. You can use Windows' built-in tools to search for any virus on your computer. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Right-click Start and go to Settings > Update & Security.

Step 2: From the left menu, open Windows Security and click Virus & threat protection.

Step 3: Click the Quick scan button and wait until Windows 10 finishes the process.

5. Run an SFC . scan

If the Quick scan tool doesn't fix the problem, there's another Windows 10 feature you can use. The System File Checker tool will search for any corrupted or corrupted system files and automatically replace them.

Open Command Prompt with admin rights and enter sfc /scannow. To start the process, just press Enter. When the SFC scan is complete, it will display a message letting you know if it has found and replaced corrupted files on the system.

6. Use the Disk Cleanup tool

Computers often accumulate junk files, especially if you browse the Internet a lot. If these files take up a lot of space on the hard drive, they can cause application errors. The easiest way to delete these unnecessary files is to use Disk Cleanup.

Step 1: In the Start menu search bar, search for disk cleanup and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Select the file you want to delete. Disk Cleanup will tell you how much space is reclaimed.

Step 3: Click OK to start the process.

7. Reinstall the problematic app

If you're still getting the "This app can't run on your PC" error after trying everything on this list, you should reinstall the app. After you uninstall, go to the official website and download the latest version.

However, remember to clear your browser's cache before reloading any files. Browser cache makes browsing faster and reduces server latency by downloading website data. However, your browser's cache can corrupt downloads on your computer.

This error is not limited to third-party apps as you may encounter when trying to launch apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store itself. To prevent this from happening again, download the app from the official websites and constantly check the app and system for new updates.

Kareem Winters

Update 25 November 2021