How to enable or disable legacy console mode in Windows 10. Looking to run older programs or troubleshoot compatibility issues on Windows 10? You might need to enable legacy console mode, and in this video, we'll show you how. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to Ninja One's IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. What is legacy console mode? A console is an application that facilitates input and output between you and your system. Windows tools like command prompt and PowerShell work on this principle to operate and are modern evolutions of the classic Microsoft console. But sometimes certain programs just work better or only work on the old school legacy console. Here's how to enable it, starting with the first method, the command prompt. How to configure legacy console mode in Windows 10. First, open the command prompt by pressing win plus R, typing CMD, and hitting enter. Next, right click the title bar and go to properties. In the options tab, scroll to the bottom. Check or uncheck use legacy console, depending on your need, and click okay. Then restart the console window to apply the changes. This works for PowerShell too. Just open its properties window and repeat the same steps. Advanced users can use the registry editor to enable legacy console mode. A quick warning, editing the registry can cause system instability. Proceed with caution and consider backing up your registry first. First, open the registry editor by pressing win plus R, typing regedit, and hitting enter. Then go to this path, H key, current user, console, and look for force v2. Set its value to zero to enable legacy console mode or one to keep the modern console. Close the registry editor and restart your console window to apply the changes. Troubleshooting common legacy console mode issues. Finally, here are some troubleshooting tips for common issues. If the legacy console checkbox is grayed out, it's likely controlled by the registry. Make sure force v2 is set correctly and you're running as an administrator. If changes don't seem to apply, remember to restart the console window. Active sessions won't reflect the change until reopened. If modern features disappear, check for Windows updates. Still having issues? Delete the console registry key to reset to defaults. Legacy console mode is useful in specific scenarios, but it's best to enable it only when necessary. For safety, use the command prompt properties method or use the registry editor cautiously if you're confident. For more information, check out our official blog post on configuring legacy console mode linked in the description below.