Microsoft Windows 11 retains legacy code from Windows 95

Microsoft's Windows 11, including the 26H2 update, continues to utilize a legacy component from Windows 95 known as EmulateHeap. This compatibility patch functions by mimicking the memory manager properties of the 1995 operating system.

EmulateHeap is designed to help modern systems run older software and games from the Windows 95 era. Specifically, it helps prevent 'use-after-free' bugs—where a program attempts to access memory that has already been released—which can lead to application crashes. This legacy functionality remains relevant for certain gaming applications that benefit from the specific memory management characteristics of older Windows versions.