On a Snapdragon laptop, first update Windows and the app, then check whether its publisher offers a native Arm64 version. If an app or connected device depends on a driver, confirm that the developer provides a Windows on Arm driver: emulation can run many apps, but it cannot supply a missing driver. These checks help distinguish an Arm compatibility issue from a problem affecting the app more generally.
Start by identifying what is failing
Before changing settings, write down the exact app name and version, your Windows version and build, your laptop model or Snapdragon generation, and the complete error message. Note whether one app is affected or whether other apps and Windows itself are also slow. The symptom alone cannot identify a device-specific cause.
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If a peripheral is involved, note its make and model and whether Windows recognizes it. If the app fails only when a particular feature or device is used, include that detail when checking support or contacting the developer.
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Install available Windows updates first. Microsoft’s Surface guidance gives this route: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Surface-specific instructions may not match every Snapdragon laptop exactly, but the app and driver checks that follow are useful across Windows on Arm devices.
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For a Microsoft Store app, open Microsoft Store and check its Library for updates. For software installed from elsewhere, check the publisher’s website for a newer release and an explicit Windows on Arm compatibility notice. An update may fix a general app bug or add support for Arm; updating alone does not guarantee either outcome.
Check whether a native Arm64 version is available
When the publisher offers a version built for Arm64, prefer that version over an x64 build running under emulation. Microsoft Support says, “Apps rebuilt for Windows Arm-based PCs have the best performance.” Check the publisher’s download page or support information rather than assuming an installer is the best match just because it runs.
Microsoft lists native versions of Microsoft 365 apps and other common software, but availability can change. Its Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ also points to Works on Windows on Arm, a third-party, open-source compatibility list with data contributions from Microsoft. Treat a listing as a starting point and verify support for your app version with its publisher.
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Understand the difference between app emulation and driver support
Windows 11 on Arm can run many apps that were built for other Windows processor architectures. Windows 11 version 24H2 includes Prism emulation for applications that are not built for Arm. That does not mean every app or every part of an app will work: an application may rely on a hardware, game, or app driver that must itself be designed for Windows on Arm.
If an app will not start when a device is attached, a peripheral is missing, or a feature that uses a driver fails, ask the app publisher or device manufacturer whether your exact app version and the required driver are supported on Windows 11 Arm. A working main program does not establish that its device-dependent features will work. Emulation cannot create an Arm64 kernel driver that the developer has not supplied.
Some game anti-cheat systems that rely on unsupported drivers, certain customization or assistive apps, some third-party antivirus products, and Windows Fax and Scan are among the categories Microsoft identifies as having limitations. These are reasons to check the specific product, not to assume that all apps in a category—or all Snapdragon laptops—behave the same way. See Microsoft’s Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ.
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Run the compatibility troubleshooter for an older app
If the publisher has no update available, Microsoft recommends trying the built-in Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. It may help with some older-app compatibility problems, but it cannot replace a missing Windows on Arm driver.
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- Find Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, select Run, and follow its prompts to identify the app and try the suggested settings.
- Reopen the app and check whether the original problem remains. If it still fails, record the result and continue with the publisher and driver checks rather than repeatedly changing compatibility settings.
Microsoft’s guide, Make older apps or programs compatible with the latest version of Windows, describes this process. Microsoft also recommends updating drivers through Windows Update when an app malfunctions, such as opening with glitches or becoming unresponsive.
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If Windows does not recognize a peripheral, or an app that needs a kernel driver will not start, check with the hardware or software developer for a Windows on Arm driver. On Surface ARM-based devices, Microsoft notes that some printer manufacturer installers may not support Arm; adding the printer through Windows Settings may be an alternative. That is a printer setup option, not a general remedy for slow apps. See Using software and peripherals on Surface ARM-based devices.
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If you suspect Windows Driver Policy is blocking a driver, inspect the relevant log rather than disabling driver security. Open Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > CodeIntegrity > Operational. Microsoft describes event 3076 as an audited driver and event 3077 as a blocked driver in the policy process. These events can help you identify the issue to discuss with the developer; they are not a reason to bypass the policy. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows Driver Policy guidance.
Choose the next step based on the likely cause
| What you find | Best next step | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| A newer app release is available | Install it, then retest. | The update may fix an app bug or add Arm support; it does not guarantee either. |
| The publisher offers a native Arm64 build | Install the publisher-supported Arm64 version. | It is the preferred performance path, though it does not establish that every optional feature or peripheral will work. |
| The app or peripheral depends on a driver, and an Arm64 driver is unavailable | Ask the publisher or manufacturer whether support is planned or whether another supported setup exists. | Emulation or compatibility settings cannot provide the missing driver. |
| No app update is available and the problem appears to be legacy app compatibility | Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. | It may help with some older apps; it is not a fix for a missing driver. |
| The app opens but glitches or becomes unresponsive | Check Windows Update for driver updates, then consult the app publisher if the symptom continues. | A driver update may help, but the cause is not established by the symptom alone. |
Escalate with details that make diagnosis possible
If a supported app build and driver checks do not resolve the problem, contact the app publisher or laptop or peripheral manufacturer. Include the app name and version, Windows version and build, laptop or device model, exact error text, what you have already tried, and whether you can reproduce the failure. That information helps support distinguish an app defect from an Arm, driver, or device-specific limitation.
Microsoft’s Arm FAQ mentions App Assure as application compatibility support for developers. It is not presented as a general consumer troubleshooting channel for a single malfunctioning app.
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