Jun302012

Can Windows 8 Metro applications run on Windows 7 and older versions?

Mayur Godhani asks:

Recently I created one Metro application with Windows 8 developer edition.

But will it be possible for me to run a Metro GUI based app like this on Windows 7 or even Windows XP?


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9 Answers -

0 votes

jessemanalansan

June 30, 2012

I don’t think so. Maybe on Windows 7, but not on lower versions of windows.

0 votes

Laga Mahesa

June 30, 2012

Extremely unlikely, as the required libraries won’t be available for earlier versions. Perhaps some hacking around will get it working, but I doubt it – they rely on many ‘under the hood’ changes in the kernel, which isn’t compatible with previous generations.

0 votes

Alan Wade

June 30, 2012

You can download an app which makes Windows 7 look and act like Windows 8 metro but I havnt tried this personally. More details here: http://www.metro7app.com/

0 votes

Deepak Kapoor

June 30, 2012

Not possible, try dual boot.

0 votes

FIDELIS

June 30, 2012

Hello, I do not think that would be possible….Maybe later on when windows 8 is released that could become possible at least for windows 7. I doubt it very much for windows XP though.

0 votes

Shakirah Faleh Lai

June 30, 2012

can run on win7 never heard if the older version will.

0 votes

Oron

June 30, 2012

As metro is one of the major differentiators between Windows 7 & 8, it is very unlikely that MS will ever port it back to 7 as their interest is to promote the new version!

0 votes

Chris Hoffman

June 30, 2012

Nope!

What you can do is install Windows 8 in a virtual machine such as VirtualBox or VMware and run Metro apps in the virtual machine. See this guide for VirtualBox info:
http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/how-to-use-virtualbox

0 votes

someguythatcares

September 19, 2012

Another massive disappointment from Microsoft. In 2012, corporations are going to have XP, Win7 and Win8 machines. Completely useless to build a Windows 8 app in the next 1 to 3 years given it would force perfectly good computers to be thrown out and repuchased to run a single Windows 8 app for all users in a company. Old school WPF is the way to go. Microsoft – get your stuff together… users like START buttons and they like running their apps on all computers. You’re taking things away that we LIKE.