Why won't my compatability troubleshooter work?

Hello Dawn Polny

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

The issue you're encountering with the Compatibility Troubleshooter requiring the Microsoft WebView2 Runtime—even though it appears to be installed—is a common problem with a few potential solutions. Here's a step-by-step guide to resolve this:

1. Verify WebView2 Runtime Installation

• Check Installed Programs:
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
  • Search for Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.
  • If it’s listed, note the version (the latest stable version is 132.0.2957.140 or higher as of early 2025). If outdated or missing, proceed to reinstall it.
• Download the Standalone Installer:
  • Directly download the WebView2 Runtime from Microsoft’s official site:
    Microsoft WebView2 Runtime Download.
  • Choose the Evergreen Standalone Installer (auto-updates) or Fixed Version if the former fails.

2. Repair WebView2 Runtime

• If the runtime is already installed but corrupted:
  1. Uninstall it via Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
  2. Restart your PC.
  3. Reinstall using the standalone installer (linked above).
  4. Run the installer as Administrator (right-click the installer > Run as administrator).

3. Ensure Edge is Updated

• WebView2 is tied to Microsoft Edge. Even if you reinstalled Edge, ensure it’s fully updated:
  1. Open Edge > Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
  2. Let it check for updates and install them.
  3. Restart Edge and your PC.

4. Check for Windows Updates

• Outdated system files can cause conflicts:
  • Go to Settings > Windows Update.
  • Install all pending updates, including optional/driver updates.
  • Restart your PC.

5. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

• Corrupted system files might prevent the troubleshooter from working. Follow the steps to run System File Checker:
  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Run the following commands one by one:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth 
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth 
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  3. Run sfc /scannow and wait for the process to complete. Check if there are any detected errors.

6. Manually Repair Registry Permissions

• WebView2 installation can fail due to registry permission issues. Use these steps carefully:
  1. Download the official WebView2 Runtime Repair Tool from Microsoft (if available).
  2. Alternatively, reset registry permissions for WebView2 using tools like Microsoft’s SubInACL (advanced users only).

7. Check for Conflicting Software

• Antivirus/firewall software might block installations:
  • Temporarily disable third-party antivirus (e.g., Norton, McAfee).
  • Ensure Windows Defender isn’t blocking the installer (check Protection History in Windows Security).

Disclaimer: Temporarily turn off antivirus protection. However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn it on immediately once issue fixed. 

8. Use the Offline Installer

• If the online installer fails, try the offline WebView2 Runtime installer from the same Microsoft download page.

9. Event Viewer Logs

• Investigate why the installation failed:
  1. Open Event Viewer (search in Start).
  2. Navigate to Windows Logs > Application.
  3. Look for errors related to WebView2 or Edge around the time of installation.

10. Alternative Compatibility Workaround

• If the troubleshooter still won’t work, manually set compatibility settings:
  1. Right-click the app’s executable (.exe) > Properties.
  2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  3. Enable Run this program in compatibility mode for and select an older Windows version (e.g., Windows 8).

11. Reset or Repair Windows

• As a last resort:
  • Use Windows Reset (Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC) while keeping files.
  • Perform an in-place upgrade using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. An in-place upgrade is a method of reinstalling Windows. The principle of an in-place upgrade is to upgrade the system from the old version to the latest version while retaining the original system and user data, overwriting only the system files, and restoring the normal use of the system. The detailed steps are as follows.
    1. Visit the official Microsoft website, Download Windows 11 Download the Media Creation Tool from the website.
    2. Use the installation tool to create a USB installation disk or ISO file.
    3. Insert the USB installation disk or mount the ISO file, and then run setup.exe.
    4. Select the "Upgrade this PC" option and click "Next".
    5. Make sure to select the "Keep personal files and apps" option and click "Install".
    6. The process may take some time, please wait patiently for it to complete.
    Disclaimer: Let's try to perform an in-place upgrade, which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without deleting files or applications. But if there is important data on the computer, we still recommend backing it up in advance.

If the issue persists, we recommend you provide us with the Event Viewer logs for deeper diagnostics. Kindly please share your results with us. We will provide you with further assistance based on your feedback.

Best Regards,

William.Y | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hello Microsoft team,

I am trying to use Microsoft 365 new versions excel, word, and many other apps but when I try to work on that apps, they ask for payment. So kindly request you to allow me use old Microsoft version. I try so many time to run old Microsoft version but every time I got the **ERROR.** Please help to get old version of Microsoft.

Please respond me and suggest me how can i get old version.

Thank you,

parth

i have had the same problem and it repeats itself