All Apps Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

How to Download an "All Apps" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This tutorial will show how to download an "All Apps" shortcut that opens directly to the Apps screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.


EXAMPLE: "Apps" Screen in Windows 8
Apps.jpg
Windows_8.1_Apps.jpg

Here's How:

1. Use step 2 or 3 below for the Windows 8 you have installed.

2. If you have Windows 8 or Windows RT
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below, and go to step 4 below.​
All-Apps_Shortcut.zip
download

3. If you have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below, and go to step 4 below.​
Apps_8.1_Shortcut.zip
download

4. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

5. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the .exe file to your desktop.
NOTE: This is a standalone .exe file that has a digital certificate and does not install or add anything to your computer.

6. You can now move the .exe file to where you like to use it at, then Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, or create a shortcut from the .exe file.

Tip   Tip
If you create a shortcut from the downloaded .exe file, then you could also assign a keyboard shortcut to the created shortcut.





That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited:
Yeah looks great on a new computer that doesn't have many programs yet installed but just as bad on a computer that's been used for a while and has a lot of programs. It's just a plain bad system that MS came up with for displaying all apps, they should have kept an optional win 7 style start menu inside of Win 8 instead of having people to go out and find alternative start menus to use in Win 8.
 
Last edited:
This is cool, but is there a way to not have it show the search bar when accessed(I used the manual option)? I'd like to just go to all apps without the search bar being activated. Thanks for any help.

Screenshot (19).png

I don't miss the start button at all, I committed to the change, and now I prefer this layout to the old interface, I prefer to read the news, PDFs, and listen to music in the Metro interface, with a swipe across the track pad I am in the start menu or out of it. I know I am in the minority here but I love win8.
 
Hello hotripper,

Tutorial updated for a shortcut that will open directly to "Apps" screen only in Windows 8.

Please give it a try. :)
 
I've adjusted the timing to work better, and updated the tutorial. When you run the .exe, the Apps screen should open with the Search charm closing 1 second afterwards leaving only the Apps screen.

Please download and try the new version. :)
 
Hi Brink,

I get an "All Apps" shortcut when I right-click anywhere on start screen. Isn't this a standard feature? What is the difference?

Screenshot%20(10).png
 
Hello Ganie,

The "All Apps" shortcut in this tutorial can be used anywhere you like or pinned (Start or Taskbar) in Windows 8.

It's basically just gives you more freedom of usage. :)
 
Hi Shawn,

with 3 monitors it's impossible to use the start screen in Windows 8: just click on a different screen and the start screen disappears.
So I solved using Rainmeter with the same modern ui, but I need to be able to have the shortcuts to some apps I have in the start screen as a Unit Converter, news, Windows 8 app shortcuts.
But how can I create them?
Thank you!
Lio
 
Thanks Shawn for the quick reply!
I did the "new's shortcut", but i cannot add it to a rainmeter panel: it opens just command.exe there.

For the Unit Converter application I cannot find a solution. I'm still checking in "regedit" to create a shortcut, but for now no solution.

Antway thanks and have a great evening :)
 
This "Apps" shortcut tutorial has been update for Windows 8.1 Preview. :)
 
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