Windows has built-in key shortcuts for locking your machine (WinKey + L) and for starting Explorer (WinKey + E). I'd like to create a similar new shortcut, WinKey + X, to start one of my favourite replacements for Explorer.
I've tried the usual method, creating a shortcut and then setting the Shortcut key to WinKey + X, but it shows up as CTRL + ALT + X and doesn't work when I press the WinKey. It does work if I press CTRL + ALT + X.
How can I make the Windows key version of the shortcut work?
AutoHotkey was built for this, as well!
#x::Run explorer.exe
would run Explorer on Windows key (#) and X (x). It's really that simple.
WinKey starts your favorite applications, folders, and Web pages instantly.
This shell extension allows you to define keyboard shortcuts with the Windows key. You can use almost any key combination and create shortcuts to system folders such as My Computer, Network Neighborhood, Dial-Up Networking, Control Panel, and Recycle Bin.
WinKey is freeware.
More on Winkey from Jeff at Coding Horror.
For Windows 10+ solutions with extra background process, also consider Microsoft PowerToys which is slightly safer (some old AutoHotkey versions give ~8 VirusTotal warnings).
Or, especially if you use Python, there may be better than AutoHotkey solution which:
(+) faster to write, safer, more flexible, needs no extra background process
(-) lacks a marco recorder
That is adding a shortcut on taskbar and starting it with Win+1..9 default Windows hotkeys.
This can be Python macro bat launcher or similar which gives freedom in actions. And you can run shortcuts like Win+1, Win+2 in many ways, including an internal keyboard macro key, which gives extra flexibility on how to launch them.
Just in case - is also generally possible to replace Explorer with a custom program, though it's highly experimental.
You could also try Hotkeyz:
HotKeyz lets you easily create and maintain a categorized list of your hotkeys. Each hotkey, a key combination on your keyboard, will launch a command. You decide which commands go with which hotkeys. Some of these commands are internal HotKeyz commands and the rest are Windows commands. HotKeyz will help you to manage repetitive tasks on your PC with speed and minimal effort. Why is it faster? The conventional way to open a program on your PC is by pointing your mouse to the Window start button, clicking on the Start button, then you will click on All Programs, your eyes must first look and search for your program icon, then you must click on it and only then it will be the program be launched. Using your mouse like this takes time. With a hotkey you simply press the key combination you have defined for your program and HotKeyz will launch it immediately!
Another good option is using this AutoHotkey script https://github.com/JuanmaMenendez/AutoHotkey-script-Open-Show-Apps which also allows minimizing, reopening, and switching between opened windows of the same app (like macOS)
