5 Ways To Open Apps On Windows 10

Opening an app on Windows 10 is easy if you have it pinned to the Start Menu. If not, there’s always the Apps list within the Start menu that will allow you to launch most of your apps. Of course, not all apps add themselves to the Apps list, and users prefer to conserve the number of tiles they have on the Start menu. There’s also the fact that the Start menu does tend to break at times. If you’re ever unable to open apps on Windows 10 there are a few alternatives that are available.

EXE Or Shortcut

Every app has an EXE. You can find it in the C drive under Program Files or Program Files (x86). Running the EXE will open the app and you can always create a desktop shortcut of the EXE. The shortcut will likewise open said app.

Windows Search

Windows Search can find and launch apps too provided you know the name of an app. Even if you have a vague idea of what the app is called, you can try a few searches and it will find your app. Click the correct result and it will open the app. This is best used for UWP apps that do not have an EXE or for apps that are portable, or for ones that you cannot find the EXE for. If you right-click an app in the search results, you will get an option to run the app as an administrator.

Run Box

The run box can also open apps provided you give it the correct name of the EXE to run. Open the run box with the Win+R keyboard shortcut. Type in the correct name of the EXE, for example, to open Chrome, you need to type Chrome.exe and tap enter. If you need to run the app in admin mode, tap Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt as a general user. Use the cd command to move to the folder the app’s EXE is in.

Example

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application

Type the name of the EXE to open the app.

Task Manager

Open the Task Manager and go to File>Run new task. Use the Browse button to look for the EXE of the app, and if you need to open it with admin rights, select the ‘Create this task with administrative privileges’ option. Tap Enter to open the app.

There are quite a few different ways to open apps on Windows 10 and they’re there for a good reason. The Start Menu and the Apps list often act up for users who don’t know how else to open an app. Likewise, Windows Search often fails to find apps which means users need a back-up method if they want to get anything done.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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