1. The Definitive Answer: The Windows Setup Screen

The easiest and most definitive way to get the list is directly from the Windows 11 Setup installer itself.

1. Start the Windows 11 upgrade process (either from the Settings app or by running the Windows 11 Setup tool).
2. Go through the steps: accept the license terms and choose Keep personal files and apps.
3. Right before the installer shows the final “Ready to install” screen, it runs a detailed compatibility check.
4. If any problematic applications are detected, Windows displays a mandatory screen titled “What needs your attention” or “Apps that will be removed.”
5. This screen provides the exact list of incompatible apps that will be uninstalled by the upgrade. You can stop the installation, uninstall those apps manually, or proceed and reinstall them later.

2. The Log‑File Method (Technical)

• Browse to C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther and inspect the log files. In particular, look for _compat_report.xml or Appraiser_Data.ini, which contain the compatibility results.

3. Common Programs That Get Removed

• Older 32‑bit drivers – legacy peripherals (printers, scanners, old USB devices) that lack 64‑bit Windows 11 drivers.
• Deep‑level security/anti‑malware suites – products that use kernel‑level hooks often conflict with Windows 11’s Virtualization‑Based Security (VBS). You’ll usually need to reinstall the suite or run the vendor’s cleanup tool after upgrading.
• Virtualization tools – older hypervisors or sandbox applications may be removed because they clash with the new Hyper‑V requirements.
• Unsupported system utilities – very old disk utilities, registry cleaners, or tools that modify core Windows files.

4. The Recommended Method: PowerShell

This method uses Get‑CimInstance to query installed programs and then exports the list to a clean CSV file you can sort, filter, or archive.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator (Win + X → Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin)).
2. Run the command below:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product |
    Select-Object Name, Version, Vendor |
    Sort-Object Name |
    Export-Csv -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Installed_Software_List.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Part of Command	What It Does
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product	Queries the OS for all applications registered with the Windows Installer (MSI) database.
Select-Object Name, Version, Vendor	Keeps only the Name, Version, and Vendor fields.
Sort-Object Name	Sorts the list alphabetically by application name.
Export-Csv -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Installed_Software_List.csv" -NoTypeInformation	Saves the sorted list to a CSV file on the user’s desktop, without .NET type metadata.

⚠ Why Not to Use Win32_Product

Do not rely on Win32_Product for inventory purposes. When queried, it silently triggers msiexec /f, which can cause:

• Unwanted repairs of Office installations
• Unwanted repairs of SQL Server
• Restoration of missing GUID registry keys
• Automatic restarting of services
• Noticeable system slow‑downs during the query

For a safer, read‑only inventory, consider one of these alternatives:

• Get-Package (PowerShell 5.1+)
• Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* and the equivalent Wow6432Node key for 32‑bit apps