Windows 7 Fan-Made Survival Guide
This is a list of applications, games, frameworks, updates, patches, etc. compatible with the Windows 7 operating system.
Software listed on this page can either be compatible with vanilla Windows 7 or it might require adding missing DLLs or other patches, to either the mentioned software or the entire OS.
There's no way I can possibly list all software ever made - but you can help!
If you find something is missing - be it your favorite game, a web browser, or a magic solution to run all modern apps - I'll be very happy to accept your contribution to this list.
Simply press Edit file, change what you need and press Commit changes. Then, create a pull request (PR) back to this repository.
Basically, everything that you're using daily. There are no strict rules - even software incompatible with Windows 7 can be added - who knows, maybe it will be patched one day.
That being said, this list is mostly for maintained, still developed software. So try not to add programs that haven't been updated for the past 15 years.
I'm also interested in any Windows patches or modifications! If you ported some software from a different version of Windows, feel free to add it to the list too.
Essentials:
- BypassESU (login required) - A project to install Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
- wufuc - Disables the "Unsupported Hardware" message in Windows Update
- Windows 7 ESU Patching by HackAndPwn - comprehensive list of official Windows updates and their meaning for
the most up-to-date installation possible - Simplix UpdatePack 7 [official website] - Update set for Windows 7 SP1 and Server 2008 R2 SP1
Tweaks:
- 7+ Taskbar Tweaker - Configure various aspects of the Windows taskbar
- Winaero Tweaker - The ultimate all-in-one app for tuning Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7
- AccentColorizer - Colorize Windows with accent color of your choice
Ported software/user modifications:
- SnippingToolEx - Win10 snipping tool ported to Windows Vista and 7
Patches:
- VxKex - Windows 7 API Extensions by vxiiduu
- [WIP] Windows 7 Extended Kernel by dotexe1337
- api-ms-win-core-path-HACK - Implementation of api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll for Windows 7 based on Wine code
- API-MS-WIN_XP - Microsoft API libs Windows 11/10/8/ to Windows XP
Other repositories:
- Windows 7 & Thorium - Unofficial builds of software based on the Thorium browser (Chromium fork), also some other patched software
- Compatibility List by the same author (Alex313031). Contains download links.
Meaning of used terms and symbols.
Versions:
- Official - last version officially supported on W7.
Supportedif still officially supportedNoneif it was never supportedDroppedif support was dropped with no clear info about latest working versionBrokenif support was dropped without announcement, i.e. it "just stopped working"
- Tested - latest official version verified to work on W7
- Compatible - unmodified version that "just works" on vanilla W7, despite dropping official support (usually empty)
- Patched - version that works after applying patches (i.e. DLLs) to either the software or the OS (i.e. extended kernels)
Fields you're not sure about should be left empty. Same if there are no patched versions.
Symbols:
- ❗ - having some issues
- ❓ - untested
- 🇵 - with patching either source code or binaries (include links below)
- 🇩 - with adding missing DLLs manually
- 🇻 - with VxKex
- 🇪 - with Windows 7 Extended Kernel
Programming languages, libraries and frameworks.
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electron | 22 | |||
| Go | 1.20 | 1.21.4 | ||
| Node.js | 12.22.12 | 16.18.1 | 19.9.0 | |
| Python | 3.8.18 | 🇵 3.12.2 |
- PythonWin7
- Node.js: use .zip binaries, v20.x doesn't work anymore. Installers may work with
NODE_SKIP_PLATFORM_CHECK=1
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox | 115 ESR | |||
| Firefox Developer Edition | 115 | 115.0b9 | ||
| Google Chrome | 109 | 109.0.5414.120 | ||
| Microsoft Edge | 109 | 109.0.1518.140 | ||
| Supermium (Chromium fork) | 121.0.6167.81 | |||
| Thorium (Chromium fork) | 109.0.5414.173 | |||
| Thorium-Win7 (Chromium fork) | 119.0.6045.214 |
- Google Chrome - latest MSI
- Supermium
- Thorium
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|
| | | |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discord | Dropped | 1.0.9032 | ||
| Caprine | Broken | 2.57.1 | 🇵 2.59.3 |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mozilla Thunderbird | Supported | 115.7.0 |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|
| | | |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Git | Supported | 2.40.1 | ||
| GitKraken | Dropped | 9.11.0 | ||
| Insomnia | Broken | 2022.6.0 | ||
| VS Code/VS Codium | 1.70.3 | 1.70.3 | 🇵 1.86.0 | |
| WakaTime | Broken |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolatey | Supported | 2.2.2 | ||
| Fing | 2.10.0 | |||
| Rufus | 3.22 | 3.11 | ||
| Syncthing | Broken | 1.27.0 | ||
| qBittorrent | 🇻 4.6.3 |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|
| | | |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCSX2 | 🇻 1.7.3256 | |||
| Steam | Dropped | 1705108172 |
| Name | Official | Tested | Compatible | Patched |
|---|
| | | |