Running on Windows 11 is possible, but it comes with a major caveat: V8i is not officially certified or supported for Windows 11 by Bentley Systems . Users who need it for legacy projects must use it "as-is," as Bentley will not provide troubleshooting or updates for this environment. Key Installation Steps for Windows 11
: This is the most common point of failure.
This article explores the technical reality of running , the associated risks, installation challenges, and the recommended path forward.
Check the box for .
Users report mixed results:
Ensure (or the equivalent listed version) is also enabled.
| Feature | Status | Notes | |---------|--------|-------| | Installation | Possible (workarounds needed) | May require legacy .NET 3.5, Visual C++ redistributables, and admin rights. | | Launch & Basic 2D/3D | Functional | Works on many Win11 22H2/23H2/24H2 builds. | | MDL Applications | Partial | Older MDL apps may crash or fail to load. | | Printing/Plotting | Unreliable | Missing or broken drivers for modern plotters. | | Licensing (SELECTserver) | Often fails | Legacy licensing services may not run on Win11. | | File Open/Save dialogs | Works | Some users report slow network drive access. | | ProjectWise integration | Unstable | Older ProjectWise V8i clients not compatible with Win11. | microstation v8i windows 11
For DOT and Design-Build projects requiring older formats, try to use OpenRoads Designer (ORD) and save files back to DGN V8 format rather than using V8i directly r/civilengineering.
: Certain Windows 11 updates (e.g., KB50112643) have been known to stop V8i from launching entirely. Potential Installation Workarounds
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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Bentley Systems does not support MicroStation V8i on Windows 11. Always maintain verified backups before applying registry or compatibility changes.
Download the directly from Microsoft.
If you must use V8i on Windows 11 for specific projects, here are the key findings regarding compatibility and installation: Compatibility and Support Status This article explores the technical reality of running