Powertoys: [Feature Request] Launch apps with keyboard shortcuts

[wazybr]

Summary of the new feature/enhancement

Aside from being able to remap a keyboard shortcut to another one, it would be nice to assign shortcuts for opening applications. Example: Open Windows Terminal with CTRL+ALT+T.

Proposed technical implementation details (optional)

Keyboard Manager already has the things needed to listen to keyboard shortcuts. Run has what's needed to launch apps.

[qsypoq]

Would be amazing if we can target files, allowing us to run applications but also things like scripts. :thumbsup:

[Satanarious]

WinHotKey is worth taking a look at for inspirations.

[capedghost]

Set global shortcuts for apps, folders, files, and websites, use shortcut to launch them.
For example:
Set Alt+J for Windows Terminal;
Set Alt+K for "D:\MyDocuments\Work";
Set Alt+L for "D:\MyDocuments\Knowledge.pdf";
Set Alt+; for "https://github.com".

[ffes]

Without this feature the Keyboard Manager doesn't add much value for me.

In addition to the comment about, I would love to able to use these options:

• Start any default app set in the Windows Settings. For instance Win+M to start your mail client and Win+B to start the browser.
• Start any installed app found in the Start Menu. For instance Win+T to start Windows Terminal or Win+V to start Visual Studio 2019.
• Start any exe/bat/ps1 somewhere on my disk or network. Useful for internal or development tools that are not really installed. For instance Win+R to start the docker-run.bat script I use for my current project or Win+O to start the internal Order Management tool.
• Start the Explorer in any given directory, including network shares (incl \\wsl$ shares). For instance Win+P to open the project directory I'm currently working on.
• Open a given document.
• Open a given URL.

And allow me to remap default Win-key combination I never use. For example, right now Win+C starts Cortana and Win+G opens the Game bar. I never use them, so please let me remap these keys.

[wazybr]

I think a more general case would be to launch URIs with keyboard shortcuts, since it allows any of the mentioned cases.

[Jay-o-Way]

You can give a .lnk shortcut (file) a keyboard shortcut in the Properties. When pressing a single letter, Windows places "Ctrl+Alt" in front of it bij default.
The Start menu is a good place to find common shortcut files. One downside (of this location) I noticed so far is that when a program updates, often these shortcut files get re-created, which mean you have to set this again. But hey, it works.

[wazybr]

@Jay-o-Way, I tried it before, and then remapped the CTRL+ALT+<Key> shortcut using PowerToys. The biggest downside for me is that it has a huge delay (sometimes of 5 seconds on my computer) before opening the application, even without the remapping. It's not related to my computer's performance, as clicking the shortcut works instantly.

[Satanarious]

WinHotKey is worth taking a look at for inspirations.

U might wanna take a look at this

[Jay-o-Way]

WinHotKey is worth taking a look at for inspirations.

U might wanna take a look at this

You already said that. No need to spam.

[chall3ng3r]

Same interface like remapping a shortcut, but instead create a new shortcut to launch a process or command or even just add an string to current open window, be it terminal window, notepad, Word, etc.

This can be implemented in following way:

1. Set shortcut
2. Select type dropdown:
   -- Process (browse to exe)
   -- cmd line
   -- Text string
3. Input field for entering exe path / command line / text