General Information
This service checks a Microsoft maintained database for known problems with popular programs and automatically enables workarounds, either at first installation (using UAC) or at application launch.
Older “non-Vista or Windows 7 compatible” programs may need this service running. Turning off this feature may increase over all application responsiveness at launch time (due to avoiding the database look up), however, it will not fix application installation issues.
Windows 8.1
Default Description
Processes application compatibility cache requests for applications as they are launched.
Additional Information
This service is started upon system boot, but shortly after, it stops if not used.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 |
|---|---|
| Windows 8.1 x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8.1 x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8.1 Pro x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8.1 Pro x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8.1 Enterprise x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): AeLookupSvc
Display Name: Application Experience
Display Name: Application Experience
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
What service Application Experience needs to function properly:
- None (W8, W8P, W8E)
What other service require Application Experience to function properly:
- None (W8, W8P, W8E)
Windows 8
Default Description
Processes application compatibility cache requests for applications as they are launched.
Additional Information
This service is started upon system boot, but shortly after, it stops if not used.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 |
|---|---|
| Windows 8 x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8 x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8 Pro x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8 Pro x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x86 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x64 | Manual (Trigger Start) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): AeLookupSvc
Display Name: Application Experience
Display Name: Application Experience
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
What service Application Experience needs to function properly:
- None (W8, W8P, W8E)
What other service require Application Experience to function properly:
- None (W8, W8P, W8E)
Windows 7
Default Description
Processes application compatibility cache requests for applications as they are launched.
Additional Information
This service is started upon system boot, but shortly after, it stops if not used.
Currently, a bug may exist with this service disabled. The action I was able to duplicate is:
- Make a .zip file on the desktop
- Extract that same .zip file on the desktop
- Navigate into the extracted folder
- Close the resulting explorer windows
- Delete the file
A “permission denied” error results and even when allowing it to continue (or giving permission to delete the file), the action fails. This situation does not happen with Windows Vista (that I have been able to recreate).
As such, if this service and Group Policy is modified, I highly recommend to ensure that all of your software is updated to the latest version as well as be Windows 7 compatible along with proper architecture (32 or 64-bit).
You can also configure this behavior system wide using the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) which is available on Windows 7 Ultimate.
Group Policy Editor is launched from the “Run” box located in Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Run -> gpedit.msc
The settings are located in:
Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Application Compatibility
- Select Turn Off Application Compatibility Engine
- Select Enabled under the Settings tab
- Select Turn off Program Compatibility Assistant
- Select Enabled under the Settings tab
The settings listed above are system wide and will affect all users/accounts. If both settings are “Enabled,” it turns off the stated functionality. This also turns off “Compatibility Mode.” As such, if you use compatibility mode, you should leave these settings at the default value.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 Starter | Manual (Started) | Manual |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | Manual (Started) | Manual |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | Manual (Started) | Manual |
| Windows 7 Professional | Manual (Started) | Manual |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | Manual (Started) | Manual |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | Manual (Started) | Manual |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): AeLookupSvc
Display Name: Application Experience
Display Name: Application Experience
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
What service Application Experience needs to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
What other service require Application Experience to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
Windows Vista
Default Description
Processes application compatibility cache requests for applications as they are launched.
Additional Information
If this service and Group Policy is modified, I highly recommend to ensure that all of your software is updated to the latest version as well as be Vista compatible along with proper architecture (32 or 64-bit).
You can also configure this behavior system wide using the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) which is available on Vista Business and Vista Ultimate.
Group Policy Editor is launched from the “Run” box located in Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Run -> gpedit.msc
The settings are located in:
Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Application Compatibility
- Select Turn Off Application Compatibility Engine
- Select Enabled under the Settings tab
- Select Turn off Program Compatibility Assistant
- Select Enabled under the Settings tab
The settings listed above are system wide and will affect all users/accounts. As of March 9, 2008, I have both settings “Enabled,” which turns off the stated functionality. This also turns off “Compatibility Mode.” As such, if you use compatibility mode, you should leave these settings at the default setting.
Even if the service is disabled, the process continues to run and cannot be stopped.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Home Basic | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Home Premium | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Business | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Ultimate | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Enterprise | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): AeLookupSvc
Display Name: Application Experience
Display Name: Application Experience
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Application Experience needs to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
What other service require Application Experience to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
Additional Reading
Application Experience: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902196
