windows hotkey combination to start the browser?

Question

Is there a win hotkey combination to start your browser? I know that win + E will start windows explorer, but I have found nothing to start the browser in windows 7?

If there isn't such a key is there a utility that could be installed to set up the combination like Win+B?

Solution 1

Some keyboards have special keys that open a browser, probably using special HID keycodes or application software. You could also try setting up a shortcut key or use another method for launching the program.

Solution 2

If your browser is pinned to the taskbar you can press Win+Nmbr, where Nmbr is the corresponding number where the icon is in the taskbar.

For example, I have IE on the first position in the taskbar. So when I press Win+1 IE comes up.

Solution 3

AutoHotkey will do that nicely. Say for Windows Key + b

#b::Run, iexplore.exe

Solution 4

Right click your browser shortcut, wherever it is, and choose properties. Then pick a shortcut key in the "shortcut key" box. This might start a new instance every time, I'm not sure.

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Comments

[sleske]

Are you certain this is a standard Windows feature? It does not work on my system (Windows Server 2003), and I did not find it in a list of Windows XP shortcuts on the net.

[chawkinsuf]

It's a standard feature on windows 7. Perhaps Vista. But not Server 2003 or XP.

[Tanmay]

Site ahend contains malware (the first link for shortcut key)

[bfhd]

Just FYI, if you already have a browser window open it will bring that to the front, instead of opening a new one, when using this shortcut.

[Andrew T.]

The specific article to the first link (TheTechFAQ) seems dead.

[Ezra Steinmetz]

It does start a new instance, and I think it takes only Ctrl+Alt+Something as a keyboard combination.