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

Question

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?

score 17 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 11 '15 at 01:14

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

Source: http://codeyarns.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

score 13 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

13

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

Right click on the tile
Open file location. A File Explorer window should open, with a Notepad shortcut in it
Right click on the Notepad shortcut
Click properties
Change the target to %windir%\system32\cmd.exe /c start %windir%\system32\notepad.exe

edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

Community

1

answered Oct 27 '12 at 05:32

Bob

63,170

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 07 '13 at 22:33

6

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.

edited Jul 07 '13 at 22:33

Karan

57,289

answered May 08 '13 at 21:56

andocromn

76

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 27 '12 at 05:29

3

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

answered Oct 27 '12 at 05:29

Sathyajith Bhat

62,374

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

4 Answers4

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