Maximum allowable MATLAB Runtime version for applications compiled with MATLAB R2023b

Answer to the Exact Question

MATLAB Runtime (MCR) is only guaranteed to run applications compiled with the same MATLAB release. For an application built with MATLAB R2023b, the only officially supported MCR version is MATLAB Runtime R2023b. Using a newer runtime (e.g., R2024a) is not supported by MathWorks and can lead to undefined behavior or startup failures, especially when toolbox‑specific functions are involved.

Why This Is the Case

The MATLAB Compiler documentation explicitly states that the runtime is not forward‑compatible. The runtime bundle contains a version string (e.g., "MATLAB Runtime 2023b") that is checked at launch. If the string does not match the compiled binary’s expected version, the launcher aborts with an error such as MATLAB Runtime version mismatch or may silently fail due to missing libraries.

Backward compatibility (running a 2023b‑compiled app on an older runtime) is also not guaranteed; older runtimes typically lack the newer libraries required by the 2023b binaries.

What Happens When You Try R2024a

• On a clean install of MCR R2024a, the launcher will usually display a version‑mismatch error before the application starts.
• If the error is not triggered, the application may crash or exhibit incorrect results because the binary may rely on symbols that changed or were removed in the newer runtime.

Official MathWorks Guidance

MathWorks recommends that you distribute the runtime that matches the MATLAB release used for compilation. The only way to run the application on a newer runtime is to recompile the code with that newer MATLAB release and rebuild the application.

Practical Verification Steps

1. Install MATLAB Runtime R2023b on a test machine.
2. Run the compiled executable; it should launch without errors.
3. Optional: Check the runtime version with:

   "C:\Program Files\MATLAB Runtime\R2023b\bin\matlab.exe" -batch "ver"
   

What to Do If You Need a Smaller Download

• Consider the MATLAB Runtime Installer Options to exclude unnecessary components, but the base runtime size will remain largely unchanged.
• Alternatively, create a lightweight wrapper that bundles only the specific libraries your application uses, but this requires custom packaging and is beyond standard MathWorks support.

Follow‑Up Diagnostic Detail

To confirm whether a newer runtime might work in your specific case, we need to know whether your compiled application uses any toolbox‑specific functions that were updated between R2023b and R2024a. If you can provide that detail, we can refine the recommendation.