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Disable Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Impact: MinimumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Low
    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • 2 scripts
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This category covers disabling the Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) in Windows.

The PCA is designed to help users run desktop applications created for earlier versions of Windows by tracking and identifying known compatibility issues 1. When an issue is detected, PCA offers the user a recommended fix to help the app run better on Windows 1.

Privacy Implications:

  1. Tracking and Monitoring of Application Activities: PCA tracks the activities and behaviors of applications to identify symptoms of compatibility issues 1. Continuous monitoring could inadvertently collect user data, depending on the nature of the applications being monitored and the specifics of the compatibility issues. This persistent oversight could be seen as an invasion of privacy as users' application usage is consistently observed.
  2. Application and System Data Access: PCA accesses data about the application and system to determine appropriate compatibility modes and fixes 1. Access to application and system data might inadvertently lead to access to sensitive or personal information. The extent of PCA's access to such information is not clear from the official documentations, presenting a potential privacy concern.
  3. Automatic Modifications and Permissions: PCA automatically applies certain compatibility modes to resolve issues, such as giving applications administrative privileges or preventing an app from freeing a DLL from memory 1. Automatic changes in application permissions or behavior could potentially introduce security risks, as apps might gain access to resources or data they would not normally have access to. Users may not be fully aware of the extent of the changes applied, leading to unintentional security or privacy vulnerabilities.
  4. User Notification and Consent: While PCA does notify users and often requires their input to apply recommended settings, some fixes are applied silently 1. Users might not be aware of all the changes PCA makes to application settings and system configurations, limiting their control over their own system and potential impacts on their privacy.
  5. User Feedback and Data Sharing with Microsoft: At the end of each scenario, after the app is run with recommended compatibility settings, the Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) will ask the user a simple question to gather feedback on whether the app worked or failed with the compatibility setting 1. This data is sent to Microsoft 1. Users may have concerns about sending any kind of data to Microsoft. Some users might be wary of potential data mishandling or misuse. It's crucial to ensure that the data collected is securely stored and processed, and that users are adequately informed about what data is being collected and how it will be used.
  6. Detection and Mitigation Measures by PCA: The PCA automatically detects issues with applications and applies various mitigation measures 1. The automatic detection and mitigation by PCA imply that the system is continuously monitoring application behavior, which might be seen as invasive by some users. There could be concerns regarding what kind of data is accessed by PCA during this monitoring and whether any sensitive data could potentially be exposed.
  7. Downloading Missing Components for Apps: PCA provides a recommendation to download missing components and install them after the app terminates 1. This could involve downloading software from the internet, which may introduce security and privacy risks 1. Users might inadvertently download malicious software or software with privacy-invasive features if not adequately guided 1.
  8. Handling of Administrative Privileges: PCA handles various scenarios involving administrative privileges and User Account Control (UAC) dialogs, including applying the RUNASADMIN compatibility mode to certain installers and applets 1. This handling of administrative privileges could potentially be exploited by malicious software to gain elevated privileges without adequate user knowledge or consent. It is important to ensure that the mechanisms for handling administrative privileges are secure and not prone to exploitation.
  9. Using the Compatibility Troubleshooter: The Compatibility Troubleshooter allows users to apply recommended fixes to get apps working properly 1. Use of the Compatibility Troubleshooter involves sharing more data regarding app behavior and issues with Microsoft, raising similar concerns as mentioned above regarding data sharing.

By disabling PCA, these potential privacy and security concerns can be mitigated, giving users more control over their data and application behavior, and reducing the risk of unintentional data collection and sharing.

Safe for General Use
All actions in this script is recommended for all users. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.
Sources
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Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

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  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

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How to apply or restore "Disable Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Disable Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

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Explore This Guide​

  • 2 Privacy settings

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  • Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
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Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
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Same Goal​

Other guides in Disable Application Compatibility Framework See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
Disable Application Impact Telemetry (AIT)
Disable Application Compatibility Engine
Remove "Program Compatibility" tab from file properties (context menu)
Disable Steps Recorder (collects screenshots, mouse/keyboard input and UI data)
Disable "Inventory Collector" task

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
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About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

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