When you’re using the desktop feature in Windows 8 and need to open an app, it can be cumbersome to head back to the Start screen to do so. With this handy trick, you can browse and launch Windows 8 apps from the desktop. This can make it even easier to get to the app you need when working away from the Start screen.
We’ll show you how to create a shortcut to browse and launch Windows 8 apps from your desktop.
How to browse and launch Windows 8 apps from your desktop
If you’re not already at your desktop, head to it.
Right-click anywhere on it.
Then, click “New.”
Now, click “Shortcut.”
Type in the following in the Type the location of the item box:
%windir%\\\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}
From here, you can name the Shortcut anything you like. For this example, we’ll name it “Apps.”
You’ll find the Shortcut on your desktop.
Click on it.
You can now browse and launch your Windows 8 apps as you see fit from the desktop. While this isn’t the easiest way to go through and find the app you want, it can be a way to get the most commonly used apps from your desktop.
Why browse and launch Windows 8 apps this way?
For users who aren’t as comfortable using the Start screen, yet, being able to open apps from the desktop can bring them a little close to their comfort zone. By creating a Shortcut to browse and launch Windows 8 apps from the desktop, you can get to what you need without having to go back and forth between the desktop and Start screen.
