diff --git a/change/react-native-windows-2f9e933a-0ef8-4ee6-af39-dd343420ccab.json b/change/react-native-windows-2f9e933a-0ef8-4ee6-af39-dd343420ccab.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..22e6147fdc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/change/react-native-windows-2f9e933a-0ef8-4ee6-af39-dd343420ccab.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "type": "prerelease",
+  "comment": "App crashes at startup on RS3 because of RS4+ API usage",
+  "packageName": "react-native-windows",
+  "email": "asklar@microsoft.com",
+  "dependentChangeType": "patch"
+}
diff --git a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/Views/ReactRootControl.cpp b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/Views/ReactRootControl.cpp
index cb8ec9a1d1c..cb181dd85d4 100644
--- a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/Views/ReactRootControl.cpp
+++ b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/Views/ReactRootControl.cpp
@@ -418,7 +418,9 @@ void ReactRootControl::AttachBackHandlers(XamlView const &rootView) noexcept {
   altLeft.Modifiers(winrt::Windows::System::VirtualKeyModifiers::Menu);
 
   // Hide keyboard accelerator tooltips
-  rootElement.KeyboardAcceleratorPlacementMode(xaml::Input::KeyboardAcceleratorPlacementMode::Hidden);
+  if (react::uwp::IsRS4OrHigher()) {
+    rootElement.KeyboardAcceleratorPlacementMode(xaml::Input::KeyboardAcceleratorPlacementMode::Hidden);
+  }
 }
 
 void ReactRootControl::RemoveBackHandlers() noexcept {