How To Launch Any Windows App At The Touch Of A Button
You may already be aware that there are a number of keyboard shortcuts for Windows that can help you to bring up the start menu, launch Explorer windows, view the desktop and so on. But did you know that you can use keyboard shortcuts to launch any application? This feature is built right into Windows, but many people do not take advantage of it simply because they are unaware of it.
Setting up a keyboard shortcut for any application in your start menu is fast and simple. Steps below explain how to create program shortcuts in Windows:
- Navigate the start menu to the application you want to shortcut. In this example, we will create a shortcut for the Calculator (one that I use all the time).
- Right-click on the application, and click on Properties.
- In the Properties window, you’ll see a field titled Shortcut key. Go to that field and type the letter C (or any other key you wish to use to launch the Calculator).
- Click OK
Now, whenever you want to quickly launch Calculator, just hit Ctrl-Alt-C (or whatever key you chose). I use application launch shortcut keys all the time for Calculator and Notepad. You can use it for those programs you constantly use and are sick of navigating through the Start menu to launch.
Do you use application launch shortcut keys? What other Windows shortcut keys do you find useful?
(By) Jorge Sierra is a geek of all trades. Be sure to check out his blog, GeekLad
I create one for the SnippingTool in Vista: Ctrl+Alt+P
And one for Firefox: Ctrl+Alt+F
I’d love people to share some of their own.
I only have one which is CTRL+ALT+N for Notepad as I use this constantly throughout the day.
Everything else, I start with Launchy.
This feature is one of the old one by Windows. Very useful tip.
You reminded me the tip.
Thanks for sharing
This is not complicated att all. Almost too easy, but still a very usefulll tip. Thanks!
Launchy is your friend…
http://www.launchy.net/
This tip is lot of time saving and useful.
and here is an advanced application for this tip: configuring a shortcut that instantly opens a new email
see it here:
http://www.productivewise.com/2008/11/12/universal-shortcuts-create-new-email-massage-instantly/
Thanks for the tip Eyal! Using the shortcut keys to compose emails and launch other websites is another great way to use the shortcut keys.
Good article. I’ve set up few shortcuts previously as suggested above: one each for shutdown, restart and system restore. One of my favorite apps is keybreeze which launches programs, apps and does not require remembering 20+ key combinations as above;
all I have to do is click “;”, without the paranthesis.
I tried launchy first, but found keybreeze to be outstanding.
As boby and Marc I am using a laucher, Slickrun in my case but launchy is great too. Once you start the windows shortcuts loose their taste
After setting shortcut….how would I set it back to none??
Go back to the properties window for the app, go to the Shortcut key field and press the backspace key.
I use this for checking my e-mail.
Ctrl+Alt+E
A long time ago, there use to be this awesome piece of software called ‘Winkey’. You could do this customization for almost any key combination that you liked. For eg. I currently have +V to launch VNC-Viewer, +O to launch Opera, +I to launch IE and +W to launch Winamp. It runs as an in-memory app, and is accessible from the sys-tray, and via + as well. I think that piece of software isn’t downloadable so I’ve saved multiple copies of that handy piece of software. Saved me so much time