All Apps Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

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

   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

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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

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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All-Apps_Shortcut.zip​

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3. If you have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .zip file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Apps_8.1_Shortcut.zip​

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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

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

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add or Remove Items on "Apps" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Search Everywhere" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Search Settings" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Open the "Apps" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Sort Items on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to List Desktop Apps or Store Apps First on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Open Modern Apps from the Desktop in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Download a Start Screen Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Allow or Prevent Users from Customizing Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Show more apps in Apps view in Windows 8.1 Update
• How to Create Modern App Shortcuts in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[LittleJay]

Another good one! Thanks a lot Brink!

 

[Brink]

Thank you Jay. You're welcome.

 

[Jalida]

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.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jalida,

Yeah, they had mobile devices in mind with the design of the Metro UI.

Luckily, it's real easy to add the Start Menu back if you like.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8528-start-menu-restore-windows-8-a.html

 

[hotrippr]

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.



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.

 

[Brink]

Hello hotripper,

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

Please give it a try.

 

[hotrippr]

Hey thanks for that but it is still opening the search bar.

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[hotrippr]

Thanks, the new version is cool for me.

 

[Brink]

Thanks, the new version is cool for me.

You're welcome. Great news.

 

[Hopachi]

I'm gonna pin this one for sure somewhere on the Start or Taskbar.

Thanks Shawn.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Hopachi.

 

[pcRat]

How do we change the icon to the 'blue orb' to resemble the start button?

 

[fourthofjuly]

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?

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[Lio]

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

 

[Brink]

Hello Lio,

I have desktop shortcuts for these Windows 8 Modern UI (Metro) apps so far:

• How to Open "Metro Apps" from the Desktop in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Store" App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Games" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Calendar" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "People" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Messaging" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "News" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Weather" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Maps" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Music" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Finance" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Video" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Bing" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Sports" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Travel" Store App Shortcut in Windows 8

Hope this helps.

 

[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

 

[Brink]

This "Apps" shortcut tutorial has been update for Windows 8.1 Preview.