Reader App Shortcut - Create in Windows 8.1

Brink · Jun 13, 2014

How to Create a Reader App Shortcut in Windows 8.1

Information

The Reader app is included in Windows 8.1 by default and helps you open and view PDF, XPS, and TIFF files. Reader lets you search for words or phrases, take notes, fill in forms, and print or share documents.

For more information, see:

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a modern "Reader" app shortcut that you can use or pin where you like in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

EXAMPLE: Reader app

OPTION ONE

To Download a Reader App Shortcut

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below.

Reader_Shortcut.zip

2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to the desktop.

4. Unblock the shortcut.

5. Go to step 4 in OPTION TWO below to download and use a custom icon for this shortcut.

6. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a Reader App Shortcut

1. Right click or press and hold on a empty area of the desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the command below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

Code:

explorer.exe shell:Appsfolder\Microsoft.Reader_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Reader

3. Type Reader for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you would like though.

4. Click/tap on the Download button below to download a custom Reader.ico file to use for this shortcut. Unblock the .ico file, then move it to where you would like to keep it saved at.

5. Right click or press and hold on the new Reader shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.

6. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)

7. Click/tap on the Browse button, navigate to and select the Reader.ico file from step 4, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.

8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 6)

9. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

That's it,
Shawn

Reader App Shortcut - Create in Windows 8.1

To Download a Reader App Shortcut

To Manually Create a Reader App Shortcut

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