6 Solutions To Fix “This App Can’t Run On Your PC” Windows 10 (2023)

Published 2020-12-16

Sometimes things don’t just happen as we expect. For instance, a certain program or software may fail to launch on your computer while showing the error message “This app can’t run on your PC. To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher.”

It’s undoubtedly one of the most annoying errors and has affected thousands of Windows 10 users. It can appear while trying to access different kinds of applications, with pre-installed Windows programs, old gaming apps, or even third-party software. You can witness the error message in different formats, one of the most common ones are:

This app can’t run on your PC, check with the software publisher.
This app can’t run on your PC, access is denied.
This app can’t run on your PC, game error.
This app can’t run on your PC, batch file.
This app can’t run on your PC, Windows store error.
This app can’t run on your PC, Kaspersky, Avast, Bitdefender.

If you are also struggling with the same issue, here’s what you can do:

Fix “This App Can’t Run On Your Windows 10 PC”? (2023 Updated Solutions)

Follow these tried and tested fixes to troubleshoot the Windows 10 error.

Top Six Workarounds	{FIXED}: This App Can’t Run On Your PC
METHOD 1- Create a New Administrator Account	There can be a high probability that your current admin account has turned out to be corrupted. Hence, follow the step-by-step instructions to fix the issue:
METHOD 2- Download & Install The Right Versions Of Programs	Make sure you are trying to run the appropriate version of programs installed on your PC. If you are running outdated or incompatible software, you might face this issue.
METHOD 3- Disable SmartScreen	Sometimes, it can get too sensitive that it can stop apps from running properly. Hence try disabling it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.
METHOD 4- Enable App Side-Loading	Here’s another effective solution to fix the Windows 10 problem. To enable the Side-loading feature, all you have to do is:
METHOD 5- Update Drivers	And yet no success? Chances can be the problematic app may have trouble communicating with the hardware involved in functioning. Hence, the best bet is to update all your drivers and eliminate faulty and outdated ones.
METHOD 6- Disable Proxy Or VPN	There can be times when a particular Proxy or VPN service can block the outgoing connection to Microsoft Store servers and hence you might witness the problem: This app can’t run on your Windows PC.

Have queries about how to implement the workarounds mentioned above? Read the step-by-step procedure!

METHOD 1- Create a New Administrator Account

There can be a high probability that your current admin account has turned out to be corrupted. Hence, follow the step-by-step instructions to fix the issue:

Hit the Windows key & I altogether.
Navigate to the system settings and click on Accounts.
Head towards the Family & other users module.
Go to the Other users section.
Simply hit the (+) Add someone else to this PC option.
You need to select ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in information’.
At this point, click on the option ‘Add a user without a Microsoft account’.
Set the new credentials for the new admin account.
Now you should see a new account available in the Other users section.
Select it and hit the option Change account type.
Choose the Administrator option and complete the process by clicking the OK button.

Now that you have successfully switched to your new account, you should stop receiving the annoying error: This app can’t run on your PC!

METHOD 2- Download & Install The Right Versions Of Programs

Make sure you are trying to run the appropriate version of programs installed on your PC. If you are running outdated or incompatible software, you might face this issue.

Navigate to This PC icon and right-click to select its Properties.
In the new window, you can see the OS (32-bit or 64-bit) under the System header.
Simply right-click on the program which refuses to open and go to its Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab and check the options: Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8 (recommended) & Run this program as an administrator.
Hit the Apply button, followed by OK.

Additional Tip

PRO TIP: If you don’t have enough time to keep your software up-to-date, we suggest using Systweak Software Updater, a one-stop solution to update your Windows tools in just a few clicks. You can easily schedule scans, downloads, and installs regularly to ensure your system is always running the latest and compatible versions!

METHOD 3- Disable SmartScreen

Observing the malware & phishing scams getting more sophisticated than ever, reliable utilities helps to protect your system thoroughly. Talking about Windows 10, SmartScreen is a case in point. Sometimes, it can get too sensitive that it can stop apps from running properly. Hence try disabling it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

Hit Windows key + S altogether and type SmartScreen in the box.
Click on the result: App & browser control.
As soon as the Windows Defender Security Center appears, uncheck the option: Check apps and files.
Another pop-up may appear on your screen, hit the Yes button to continue.
Simply reinstall the application that you are unable to open.

Hopefully, this would resolve the Windows 10 issue: This app can’t be run on PC!

METHOD 4- Enable App Side-Loading

Here’s another effective solution to fix the Windows 10 problem. To enable the Side-loading feature, all you have to do is:

Go to the Windows settings and head towards the Update & Security module.
Head towards the For developers tab.
Under the same header select the option Developer mode.

Once the Developer Mode is activated, the side-loading feature will also be enabled. Hence, restart your PC and see whether you are still facing problems in running an application.

METHOD 5- Update Drivers

And yet no success? Chances can be the problematic app may have trouble communicating with the hardware involved in functioning. Hence, the best bet is to update all your drivers and eliminate faulty and outdated ones.

You can always take the help of the Device Manager to update drivers one-by-one. But it might be a time-consuming process, hence it is recommended to use a third-party utility like Smart Driver Care.
The driver updater software can quickly run a scan and list all the faulty, damaged, corrupted, old and incompatible drivers on your PC.
Once you’ve downloaded Smart Driver Care, click on the Start Scan now button. (using the registered version).
As soon as the list of faulty drivers appears, hit the Update All button, to replace all your current drivers with the newest and compatible versions.

Compatibility:	Windows 10, 8.1,8,7 (Both 32-bit & 64-bit)
Price:	USD 39.95 (Current Offer)
Review:	Smart Driver Care: No.1 Tool to Update Drivers
Help & Support	support@systweak.com

As soon as the driver updates are completed, you might not witness the “This app can’t be run on your PC” error anymore.

METHOD 6- Disable Proxy Or VPN

There can be times when a particular Proxy or VPN service can block the outgoing connection to Microsoft Store servers and hence you might witness the problem: This app can’t run on your Windows PC.

Launch Control Panel.
Go to the Internet Options.
Head towards the Connections tab.
Click on the LAN settings.
Simply uncheck the box ‘Use a proxy server for your LAN”.
Confirm the new changes and log in again!

Alternatively, you can try disabling your VPN service for time being to ensure, it is not causing the error “This app can’t run on your PC”.

Must-Check= 13 Best VPN For Windows 10, 8, 7 PC

Keep Your Computer Safe To Avoid “This App Can’t Run On Your PC” Error On Windows 10

We hope you might have resolved the notorious issue on your PC. To ensure you do not struggle with this error again in the future and face more damage, we suggest creating a system restore point & updating your operating system regularly. So, you always have an opportunity to get back to the previous state where everything was working properly. If you are new to the feature, we strongly recommend using a third-party tool like Advanced System Optimizer which can help perform a system restore in just a few clicks!