How to launch multiple programs with one shortcut in Windows 11/10

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Want to learn a simple tip that saves two seconds of your time? I'll prove you lot how to launch multiple programs from a single shortcut. Some apps go together naturally. For example, Steam and Raptr, VLC and Concluding.fm, MS Word and Photoshop, etc.

Depending on what y'all do on your PC, you'll notice that you are constantly using ii or more programs at the same time e'er. Subsequently reading this guide, you'll learn how to bundle these apps to launch when yous double-click one shortcut.

Launch multiple programs with i shortcut

We'll categorize the procedure into three easy steps:

Go the programs' target paths.
Create a batch file.
Create a shortcut with the batch file.

Read on, every bit we become through the detailed steps for configuring a shortcut that opens multiple windows programs at once.

one] Become the programs' target paths

The beginning step to opening multiple programs with one shortcut is to go the target paths of all the programs. Here's how to find the program paths.

Press the Windows button and search for the programs. When the application shows up in the search results, right-click on it and select theOpen up file location option. This takes you lot to the directory in which the awarding'south executable file resides.

Right-click on the shortcut and go to theBackdrop option. In the Properties window, switch to theShortcut tab. Re-create out everything in the Target field and paste in a Notepad notation in the format below:

Enter cd, paste the total path to the application, and hit ENTER. This changes the directory to that of the program. Example:

"C:\Programme Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Enter start and the proper noun of the file. Information technology's always the last part of the path after the last slash (\). First launches the executable file. Example:

get-go chrome.exe

Carry out the above steps for all the programs that you desire to open with the shortcut. Hit ENTER after the paths to each of the applications.

2] Create a batch file

With the application paths saved in your Notepad, you lot now have to create the batch file from which we tin can run both programs at once.

Open the Notepad on which you saved the paths to all the applications you lot want to open with a unmarried click. Modify the content of the annotation following the guide below:

Add@echo off to the top of the notation. With this, commands won't display in the Command Prompt while executing the batch file.
Add togetherexit at the lesser of the notation to quit the batch file afterwards executing the batch file.

The content of your Notepad should now look like this:

@repeat off  cd "C:\Plan Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Awarding"  showtime Chrome.exe  cd "C:\Programme Files (x86)\Wunderlist2"  start Wunderlist.exe  leave

The script above is an example of ane done for starting Google Chrome and Wunderlist at the same time.

Finally, become to File > Save as, and in the Save as type, choose All files. Suspend .bat at the stop of the File proper noun. For example, nosotros usedbatchfile.bat.

Notation where you save the batch file. Y'all'll demand to path to this batch file when creating the shortcut in the next step.

3] Create a shortcut with the batch file

Launch File Explorer and get to the directory in which you want the shortcut that opens multiple apps. You can do it on your desktop. Right-click on the white space and selectNew > Shortcut from the context carte du jour.

Enter the path to the newly created batch file in theType the location of the detail field. Alternatively, hitBrowse to find the file. Afterward getting the location, click on theNextbutton below.

Give the shortcut a name that you'll recollect and hit theFinish button.

That's all it takes! On double-clicking the new shortcut, your reckoner volition open all the programs whose shortcuts are in the batch file.

Read next: How to open second or multiple instances of the same plan.

Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a x-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP. Delight read the unabridged post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your organisation & exist careful near any 3rd-political party offers while installing freeware.