Reduced color compatibility mode not working

Question

If I enable 'Reduced color compatibilty mode' for an application - Properties... Compatibility... Settings... Reduced color mode... 8-bit (256 color) - it appears to have no effect at all.  In previous versions of Windows this would emulate an 8-bit 'paletted' display, that is a display with one byte-per-pixel and a lookup table converting the 8-bit value to 24-bit RGB.  Notably, the AnimatePalette API function operates with a display of this sort.

Am I doing something wrong or is this functionality broken in Windows 10?

Answer 1

Hi Richard.T.Russell,

Got it, thanks. Does that mean that the "reduced color mode" is greyed out? What's the application's name?

For the interim, kindly follow exactly the settings on the screenshot provided. Reboot your PC & see if it makes a difference.

For more info, kindly refer to the below link.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ph/help/15078/...

I hope this helps. Let me know how you go. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paul A.

Independent Advisor

Answer 2

Hi Richard.T.Russell,

I understand. thanks. At this stage, I'd recommend sending a diagnostic to Microsoft's Feedback Hub, so developers will be able to work on a bug fix for future Windows updates release. That would definitely help heaps of users with similar requirements also.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/446823...

I hope I was able to provide some light. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Sincerely,

Paul A.

Independent Advisor

Answer 3

> What is your Windows version & build?

Version 1909, Build 18363.720

> "Run compatibility troubleshooter". Reboot your PC & test.

Compatibility troubleshooter recommends 'Windows 8'.  Rebooting makes no difference.

> If it won't work, try to check in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode the Compatibility settings are not available in the shortcut's Properties.

I should emphasise that the application does not require the 8-bit reduced-color mode, but it has capabilities that only fully work in that mode, so it can be helpful to be able to select it as an option.

Answer 4

Hi Richard.T.Russell,

I'm Paul, a fellow customer like you & an Independent Advisor. What is your Windows version & build? Kindly search the word winver.exe to find out. Thanks.

Kindly try these steps below.

1. Right-click an app icon in Desktop > click Compatability tab > click "Run compatibility troubleshooter". Reboot your PC & test.
2. If it won't work, try to check in Safe Mode if it works from there.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/...

I hope this helps. Let me know how you go. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paul A.

Independent Advisor

Answer 5

> Does that mean that the "reduced color mode" is greyed out?

No, I can select the option but it appears to have no effect.  This is happening on multiple PCs; I have asked my customers to check and they all report the same thing, 'Reduced color mode' does nothing at all in Windows 10.

> kindly follow exactly the settings on the screenshot provided.

Even with all those settings the one thing that doesn't change is the colour depth: it's still obviously a lot more than 8-bits-per-pixel.  Here's a screen shot of it running with all the settings you specified; there are clearly more than 256 colors present (and for extra proof I display the RGB value at the cursor position in the top-left corner)!