How to solve “You need at least Windows 10 Build 19041” version not supported error in God of War Ragnarok?

Imagine sitting down to play God of War Ragnarok, excited to explore the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus. You’re ready for battle, but suddenly, a frustrating error pops up: “You need at least Windows 10 Build 19041.” It’s a mood killer, right?

Here’s the good news—this error is common, and there’s a quick fix for it. I’ll guide you through the steps to get back to gaming, stress-free.

Why Does This Happen?

The issue is usually tied to compatibility mode settings in Steam or the game itself. Essentially, your system is treating the game like it’s running on an older version of Windows, which blocks it from launching properly. No need to panic. You can change that with a few clicks.

Solution 1: Turn Off Compatibility Mode for Steam

Sometimes, Steam thinks it’s doing you a favor by trying to run in a “safe” mode. But in this case, it’s just getting in the way. Here’s how to disable it:

1. Click the Steam logo in the top-left corner and select “Exit.”
2. Use Windows Search (the magnifying glass) and type “Steam.”
3. Right-click on the Steam icon and select “Open file location.”
4. Right-click on Steam again and select “Properties.”
5. Click the “Compatibility” tab and make sure “Run this program in compatibility mode for” is unchecked.
6. Hit “Apply” and then “OK” to save the settings.
7. Launch Steam again and try opening God of War Ragnarok.

Solution 2: Turn Off Compatibility Mode for God of War Ragnarok

If turning off compatibility mode in Steam doesn’t solve the issue, you might need to adjust the settings directly for the game. Here’s how:

1. Launch Steam and go to your library.
2. Right-click on God of War Ragnarok.
3. Select “Manage” and then “Browse local files.”
4. Find the “GoWR” file (short for God of War Ragnarok), right-click on it, and select “Properties.”
5. Just like with Steam, make sure “Run this program in compatibility mode for” is turned off.
6. Save your settings by selecting “Apply” and then “OK.”
7. Restart the game and see if the issue is fixed.

The compatibility mode can force a program to behave like it’s running on an outdated operating system. While that might be useful for older games, it messes things up for modern ones like God of War Ragnarok. By turning off compatibility mode, you’re allowing the game to run as intended—on your current version of Windows.

By following these steps, you should be able to dive back into the action and face those Norse gods and monsters without further delays. If these fixes don’t work, it might be time to check your system’s updates or hardware, but this is usually a quick and easy solution.