How to make Windows 8 App Shortcuts

How to make Windows 8 App Shortcuts

Windows 8 features the all known app’s from the Windows Store and the built-in app store. But what if you want those apps on your desktop instead of having them in the Metro UI (start), then this post is something you should read. I will show you how-to create a shortcut and give you a list of common applications and their target.

How to create the shortcut

  1. Open your desktop, and right-click an empty location
  2. Choose New and then choose Shortcut
    New Shortcut
    New Shortcut

     

  3. You will now be asked for the location, for example you want to create a shortcut to the mail app, the target is:
    explorer.exe shell:Appsfolder\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Mail

    Create a shortcut
    Create a shortcut
  4. Now click Next, name the shortcut, and click next

The shortcut has now been created on your desktop, you can use the table below to create shortcuts to any other application of your liking.

[alert-warning]Make sure you always type explorer.exe shell:Appsfolder\ and then the command! [/alert-warning]

Default Windows Apps shortcuts

Below is a list to create App Shortcuts for the most common Windows 8 applications.

Alarms Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
 Calculator Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
 Calendar microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Calendar
 Camera Microsoft.MoCamera_cw5n1h2txyewy!Microsoft.Camera
 Finance Microsoft.BingFinance_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexFinance
 Food & Drink Microsoft.BingFoodAndDrink_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexFoodAndDrink
 Galgje 34628NielsCup.Galgje_kz2v1f325crd8!App
 Games Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames
 Google Chrome Chrome.V57R4ILJCL46GC2MKBH6Y2BSXU
 Health & Fitness Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexHealthAndFitness
 Help+Tips Microsoft.HelpAndTips_8wekyb3d8bbwe!HelpAndTips
 Internet Explorer Microsoft.InternetExplorer.Default
 Lync Microsoft.LyncMX_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.LyncMX
 Mail microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Mail
 Maps Microsoft.BingMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexMaps
 Music Microsoft.ZuneMusic_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneMusic
 Netflix 4DF9E0F8.Netflix_mcm4njqhnhss8!App
 News Microsoft.BingNews_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexNews
 OneDrive FileManager_cw5n1h2txyewy!Microsoft.Windows.FileManager
 PC settings windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel
 People microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.People
 Photos FileManager_cw5n1h2txyewy!Microsoft.Windows.PhotoManager
 Reader Microsoft.Reader_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Reader
 Reading List Microsoft.WindowsReadingList_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsReadingList
 Skype Microsoft.SkypeApp_kzf8qxf38zg5c!App
 Sound Recorder Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
 Sports Microsoft.BingSports_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexSports
 Store winstore_cw5n1h2txyewy!Windows.Store
 Travel Microsoft.BingTravel_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexTravel
 Video Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneVideo
 Weather Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

App not listed?

You can find out the command yourself to create the App Shortcuts, but it’s a technical job and the steps below are not for beginning Windows users.

  1. Open File Explorer
  2. In the addressbar type: shell:AppsFolder
  3. Click on View then click on Details
  4. Click on View again then click on Choose Details…
  5. Check the box AppUserModeID and click on OK
  6. A new column will appear, the text under the column heading AppUserModeId is the command you need to enter in the target when creating a shortcut
View Options
View Options

 

About the Author

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Windows
Yuri specializes in troubleshooting (crash analysis and devices), system resource utilisation and system performance. He is also very interested in Customer Security. Yuri can be found as Windows Community Moderator and Wiki Author on Microsoft Answers and is active on different communities all across the web.

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