Find Windows-compatible programs

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

To find a list of programs that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo or the "Works with Windows Vista" logo, go online to the Microsoft Knowledge Base. There are many programs that are compatible and work well with this version of Windows that are not listed in the article. This is because such programs have not yet gone through the Windows Vista logo program or are still going through it. New programs are continually being added to the list.

Picture of the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo and the "Works with Windows Vista" logo
When buying new programs, look for the "Certified for Windows Vista" or "Works with Windows Vista" logo

Most programs written for Windows XP also work in this version of Windows, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If a program written for an earlier version of Windows doesn't run correctly, use the Program Compatibility Wizard to change the compatibility settings for the program, or use the program's Compatibility tab to change the settings manually. For more information, see Make older programs run in this version of Windows.

Notes

To find out if your programs (or programs you plan to buy) are compatible with Windows Vista, go online to the Windows Vista Compatibility Center. This website contains a comprehensive list of programs, computers, and devices that have been tested to work with Windows Vista.
If you are considering upgrading to Windows Vista, go to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor website to learn more about hardware and program compatibility.

Find Windows-compatible programs

See also