How to create a desktop shortcut to a Windows 8 Modern UI app?
Solution 1
As far as I know, there's no built-in way to do this. For the apps that come with Windows 8, you can use MetroApp Link; official website (in Italian) here. It doesn't currently support apps downloaded through the Store, though.
Solution 2
All Modern UI apps have a URL protocol associated with them which can be used to launch the app.
You can find find the protocol for a specific app like this:
- Press Windows+R
- Type
regedit
- Navigate to
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Extensions\ContractId\Windows.Protocol\PackageId
- Find the subkey for your app (eg,
AMZNMobileLLC.KindleforWindows8_1.1.0.0_neutral__stfe6vwa9jnbp
) - Within that subkey, go to
ActivatableClassId_some long name_\CustomProperties
- The
Name
value will tell you the protocol name.
You can then make a shortcut to name://
. (eg, kindle://
)
Getting an icon is a little harder.
In the subkey directly under ActivatableClassId
, you'll find a value named Icon
, in the format @{AppIdentifier?ms-resource://AppName/Files/path/to/icon.png}
.
You'll find a PNG icon in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\AppIdentifier\path/to/icon.png
.
However, you'll need to convert this PNG to an ICO file to use in a shortcut.
Solution 3
- Right click on your Desktop and select
new->shortcut
. - When the dialog window opens enter
%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}
and name your application appropriately. - Click on the icon your created and launch the
Applications
window. - Select the Metro application to use.
Ref: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/32777-Launch-Metro-Apps-Directly-from-Desktop
Solution 4
I have found out a solution myself and want to make the answer here to be complete. It's done by a piece of codes of C# and PowerShell by Tome Tanasovski posted at http://poshcode.org/3740 .
You don't have to understand the codes well to have it worked. The good thing is that I don't need to download some 3rd exe and it's programmable so that I can open up the calculator and PDF viewer with just a single hot key.
Open up PowerShell command box, and simply paste all codes copied from the link above.
-
Run
Get-metroApp
-
A list of AppUserModelId of some guessable app name is listed. E.g., I'm looking for Calculator. The AppUserModelId is "Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App". In the PowerShell command box, run
start-metroApp Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Of course you won't like to invoke Calculator again like this. You can save the commands (not all of them, e.g., the part of function get-metroApp is not needed) to a .ps1 . A shortcut to this .ps1 can then be created to execute it. Finally, placing this shortcut to the start menu folder allows you to assign a hot-key for your app.
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Joel Dean
Updated on September 18, 2022Comments
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Joel Dean over 1 year
I am using Windows 8 at the moment and I was wondering if there is a way to make a shortcut to a Modern UI (formerly known as Metro UI) application on my desktop.
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Indrek over 11 yearsThat seems to create a shortcut to the Applications folder, whereas the OP wants to create a shortcut to a specific Metro app.
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에이바 over 11 yearsI suppose if he's open to installing software he could use MetroApp Link.
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SLaks over 11 yearsIf people are interested, I can write a desktop app that will create shortcuts to arbitrary Modern UI apps, automating these steps. I'll do that if this answer gets 15 votes.
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DzinX over 11 yearsBrilliant! You get the bounty :)
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avirk over 11 years@SLaks you have my vote and I'll really love to see that desktop app. :)
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Rotary Heart about 11 yearsAmazing answer. I know that this is old, but did you ever maked that desktop app?
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Ramhound almost 11 years@SLaks - You have 15 votes
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Karan almost 11 yearsNewer version (Now called ModernApp Link).
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chingNotCHing about 10 yearsThere are many Apps in HKCR with protocol defined but I can't find one for App Calculator. Another way similar is to search thu the registry for the value "URL:". However, I still can't find that for Calculator. I'm not sure if it's because it's different on a Win81 I'm now with.
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chingNotCHing about 10 yearsThanks for the clue though your solution is incomplete.
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EionRobb about 10 yearsThis answer is not correct, the only packages listed are ones that have registered URI handlers. A lot of apps have URI handlers registered but not all
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user469000 almost 9 yearsSorry, here's the link:
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user469000 almost 9 years