Pcalua.exe is a system file developed by Microsoft Windows. However, many people don't know what it is and wonder if it is a virus. Don't worry. This post from MiniTool will show you what it is and whether you can disable it on your computer.
What Is Pcalua.exe
The process pcalua.exe is related to Program Compatibility Assistant, which is responsible for detecting known compatibility issues in older programs. If there is a serious compatibility issue, the Program Compatibility Assistant will fix it the next time you run the program or block the program from running.
Any application you download from the Internet for Windows OS should meet their compatibility standards. If not, it may cause compatibility issues. Pcalua.exe helps Windows support older versions of programs on its new operating system builds, which is very useful to get rid of compatibility issues.
Is Pcalua.exe a Virus
Some users may mistake the pcalua.exe for a virus. Actually, the authentic pcalua.exe file is not a virus. It is a part of Microsoft Windows. However, some viruses can disguise themselves as the pcalua.exe process by using the same name. How to distinguish the authentic pcalua.exe and the fake one?
Well, it is not difficult to identify the real one and the fake one. You may check its file location. The authentic pcalua.exe file should be located in C:WindowsSystem32. You can find the authentic pcalua.exe file in the System32 folder.
If the pcalua.exe is not in the System32 folder, you should pay attention to it. The one which is not located in the C:WindowsSystem32 folder could be virus. At this time, you should run a virus scan as soon as possible. If there important files stored on your PC, you should backup important files immediately to protect it from virus attack.
Can I Disable Program Compatibility Assistant
If the pcalua.exe is the authentic one, it is not recommended to disable the service, as it helps to check application compatibility issues. However, if the Program Compatibility Assistant causes problems on your PC, such as always popping up whenever you install a new application, you can consider disabling it.
Step 1. Press Windows + R keys on the keyboard to bring up the Run dialog box. Then type services.msc in the dialogue box and hit Enter.
Step 2. Locate to the Program Compatibility Assistant Service from the services list. Right-click Program Compatibility Assistant Service and choose Stop from the menu.
Step 3. Then right-click on Program Compatibility Assistant Service and choose Properties. Change the Startup type as Disable.
Step 4. Click Apply and OK to save changes and exit.
Step 5. Then restart your computer and check if the Program Compatibility Assistant is disabled successfully.
After disabling the Program Compatibility Assistant, you may lose the ability to run applications for previous versions of Windows. If this causes inconvenience to you, you can follow the same steps to enable it again.
Conclusion
After reading this post, now you should know what pcalua.exe is and how to disable it on a Windows PC. If you have different opinions toward the pcalua.exe process, you can share it with us by leaving a comment in the following comment zone.