Windows 10 has been available for a few years now, and even though, it’s been a bumpy ride with a number of bugs and numerous problems, Microsoft has managed to address most of them.
However, compatibility remains one of the big problems with Windows 10, because it’s not just up to Microsoft but also up to developers to make sure their apps, especially traditional (win32) apps are compatible with the OS.
Ready for Windows 10
If you want to find out an app is compatible with Windows 10, Microsoft has built an online tool called “Ready For Windows” that you can use to quickly check if an app is compatible.
Simply head over to the Ready For Windows website, type the name of the app or publisher, and hit Enter.
In the search result, you have the option to select a specific version of Windows 10 and sort the search by desktop app, store app, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11, Office Add-in, and you can even sort by software provider.
If the app is compatible, you’ll know immediately because of a green checkmark that reads “Supported on Windows 10”. In the case, the app wasn’t designed for Windows 10 but a number of users are using it without problems, then the label will show up as “Adopted”.
The online tool works thanks to the data Microsoft collects from users using telemetry. As more users install and adopt an application, then it means that it works on Windows 10 and then it’ll appear in the “Ready For Windows” list. If there is no enough adoption, then it could mean that the application is not working correctly on Windows 10, and it may not appear in the list or it’ll show up with a label reading not enough data.
It’s worth pointing out that this tool is more suited for traditional desktop programs, as those in the Windows Store are known to be compatible with Windows 10.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].