Sync Settings Shortcut - Create in Windows 8.1

How to Create a "Sync Settings" Shortcut for Your Microsoft Account in Windows 8.1

information   Information
When you sign in to Windows 8.1 with a Microsoft account, the PC settings and app data you choose to sync are also saved on SkyDrive. When you turn on sync settings for your account on your PC, you will also be able to turn on or off the individual settings to sync between all your PCs that you sign in to with the same Microsoft account.
  • Start screen - Start screen tiles and tile layout
  • Appearance - Colors, background, lock screen, and account picture
  • Desktop personalization - Themes, taskbar, high contrast, and more
  • Installed Apps - Apps installed on your PCs
  • App settings - Your settings and purchases with apps. (This setting can only be synced and not backed up.)
  • Web Browser - Your favorites, open tabs, home pages, history, and settings
  • Passwords - Your sign-in info for some apps, websites, networks, and HomeGroup
  • Language preferences - Keyboards, input methods, display language, personal dictionary, and more
  • Ease of Access - Settings for Narrator, Magnifier, and more
  • Other Windows settings - File Explorer mouse, printers, and more
  • Back up settings - Allows you to set whether you want Windows 8.1 to back up your settings even if you don't choose to sync them between PCs and devices.

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a Sync Settings shortcut for your Microsoft account that opens directly to SkyDrive "Sync settings" in PC settings in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.


EXAMPLE: Sync settings in PC settings
sync_settings.jpg





OPTION ONE

To Download a "Sync Settings" Shortcut


1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below.​
Sync_Settings_Shortcut.zip
download
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.​
3. Open the .zip file and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to your desktop.​
4. Unblock the extracted shortcut.​
5. 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.​
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.​




OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a "Sync Settings" Shortcut


1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area of your 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)​
Note   Note
If you are not have a US English Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to change the en-US folder name in the command below for the folder name with your language instead for this to work.

Note   Note


Code:
%windir%\explorer.exe %localappdata%\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Indexed\Settings\[COLOR=#ff0000][B]en-US[/B][/COLOR]\AAA_SettingsPageAccountsSync.settingcontent-ms
shortcut-1.jpg
3. Type Sync Settings for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you would like though.
shortcut-2.jpg
4. Right click or swipe down on the new Sync Settings shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.​
5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)​
shortcut-3.jpg
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll
shortcut-4.jpg
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, 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 5)​
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


 

Attachments

  • Sync_Settings_Shortcut.zip
    799 bytes · Views: 610
  • Run_as_administrator.png
    Run_as_administrator.png
    7.3 KB · Views: 241
Last edited:
Thanks for the tutorial,just thought it might be worth mentioning that if you are not running a US computer you will have to edit the link address,instead of the en-US put en-GB or what ever your country code is or else it will just open your Documents folder.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You're most welcome Clanhead, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Thank you for the reminder. I added a note for this in the tutorial. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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