How to make Windows 8 Start Screen search result icon to open a new instance of a Desktop App

07
2014-07
  • Andreas Adler

    There is a registry hack that makes Windows 8/8.1 Start Screen Tiles to open a new instance of a Desktop App (see accepted answer of this question: How to make a Start Screen icon for Notepad that will always open a new Notepad when clicked in Windows 8?)

    Unfortunately this doesn't apply to the search results in the Start Screen. Is there a (registry) hack so that when I hit the Windows key, type "note" and press Enter to open the first result (usually notepad.exe) and Windows opens a new instance, just like it does in Windows 7?

    • Answers
  • John

    You can use

    SHIFT+ENTER

    instead of just ENTER to open a new instance.

    (I realize this may not be exactly what you asked for, but I don't have enough reputation yet to leave it as a comment.)


    • Related Question

    How to make a Start Screen icon for Notepad that will always open a new Notepad when clicked in Windows 8?
  • Kirk

    Just installed Windows 8, pinned Notepad to the start screen. When I press the Windows key and use the Notepad tile to run Notepad, it will focus on the currently open Notepad window. I'd like it to start a new instance of Notepad. Is this possible?


    • Related Answers
  • Karan

    It actually is possible with a reg key to do this. it only works for desktop apps (not full screen win8 apps) though i imagine this is exactly what everyone is looking to do.

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Launcher]
"DesktopAppsAlwaysLaunchNewInstance"=dword:00000001

    Source here.

  • ronalchn

    Use the Shift key to start a new instance of any application. Either Shift+Enter or Shift-Click, or else middle click.

    Source: http://choorucode.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/start-multiple-instances-of-an-application-in-windows-8/

    Other taskbar modifiers include:

    Shift+Click         Open a new instance of the program
Ctrl+Click          Cycle between windows in a group
Middle Click        Open a new instance of the program
Ctrl+Shift+Click    Open a new instance of the program as Administrator
Shift+Right-Click   Show window menu
  • Bob

    To make it always open a new window with a normal left click, change the shortcut target of the tile:

    1. Right click on the tile

    2. Open file location. A File Explorer window should open, with a Notepad shortcut in it

    3. Right click on the Notepad shortcut

    4. Click properties

    5. Change the target to %windir%\system32\cmd.exe /c start %windir%\system32\notepad.exe

      enter image description here

  • Sathya

    Another rather tedious way to go about it is to right click on the tile & select "Open in New Window"