Part of AdSupport adware, Compatibilitychecksvc.exe is adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP) whom malware researchers recommend removing.
What Is Compatibilitychecksvc.exe?
Compatibilitychecksvc.exe is a typical adware that, once installed, will slow down your computer as it will be using 40% of its resources.
The PUP will then start displaying various pop-up advertisements that could be quite annoying as they will appear whether you want them or not.
In addition to these ads, several error messages related to Compatibilitychecksvc.exe may also appear. Such are:
→Compatibilitychecksvc.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Compatibilitychecksvc.exe – Application Error. The instruction at “0xXXXXXXXX” referenced memory at “0xXXXXXXXX”. The memory could not be “read/written”. Click on OK to terminate the program.
Compatibilitychecksvc.exe has stopped working.
End Program – compatibilitychecksvc.exe. This program is not responding.
Compatibilitychecksvc.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
Compatibilitychecksvc.exe – Application Error. The application failed to initialize properly (0xXXXXXXXX). Click OK to terminate the application.
What’s more, Compatibilitychecksvc.exe is capable of reaching your personal data, monitoring your browsing routine, collecting all that information and possibly share it with third parties without your knowledge again.
How Does Compatibilitychecksvc.exe Enters Your Computer?
Most PUPs enter your computer bundled with free programs you download from the Web. Bundling is a completely legal method of combining freeware with other programs in order to save on the cost of distributing that particular free program. The problem, however, is that most users are unaware that such method of distributing programs exist, mainly because it’s usually quite unclearly stated during the installation process of the freeware. As a result, most users bluntly click on “next” throughout the installation and end up with unwanted programs on their computers.
While Compatibilitychecksvc.exe is not a virus and could simply annoy you or reach your personal data, freeware is sometimes bundled with more unpleasant PUPs that could cause a real harm to your system and even your identity.
That is why, in order to be safe, simply watch out what you download from the Web, and always pay close attention to the installation process of any free program. Make sure to disallow the options you don’t understand, uncheck the recommended settings and opt for custom installation. You do not need to be a computer expert to protect yourself and your system from threats from the Web.
How Do You Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe?
If you already have Compatibilitychecksvc.exe, you must remove it as you practically have no benefit of keeping it on your computer.
It is, however, not easy to get rid of it. It’s best to run a full system scan with a legitimate anti-malware tool in order to make sure your PC will be fully cleaned.
Spy Hunter FREE scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the malware tool. Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
- Guide 1: How to Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe





Step 2: Uninstall Compatibilitychecksvc.exe and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:



Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Compatibilitychecksvc.exe on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Compatibilitychecksvc.exe there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:



Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Compatibilitychecksvc.exe and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Compatibilitychecksvc.exe, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Compatibilitychecksvc.exe will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Compatibilitychecksvc.exe from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.