How to Open Apps and Websites with Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

Keyboard shortcuts are a valuable tool for power users. They enhance the speed and efficiency of navigating Windows, surpassing the use of the mouse alone. It is likely that you are already familiar with many keyboard shortcuts for Windows. However, if you are seeking shortcuts to quickly access apps and websites in Windows 11 and improve your workflow, you have come to the right place. Let’s get started.

1. Customize Your Taskbar

Pinning your frequently used apps to the taskbar is an efficient way to access them through keyboard shortcuts or by clicking on the taskbar. Whether or not you use keyboard shortcuts, pinning apps to the taskbar streamlines the process of opening them.

Once the app has been pinned to the taskbar, you can easily open it by pressing the Windows logo key + [App Placement Number] keyboard shortcut. For instance, if the app is pinned at the 6th number, simply press Windows key + 6 to open it. This shortcut is functional whether the taskbar is visible or hidden.

In the given screenshot, this shortcut will launch the 6th pinned app on my Taskbar, which is the Arc Browser for Windows.

2. Customize Keyboard Shortcuts

To quickly launch apps, you have the option to create keyboard shortcuts. The only requirement is that the app must have a desktop shortcut. If you happen to delete the desktop shortcut, the keyboard shortcut you have created will no longer be functional. Therefore, if the app you want to create a shortcut for does not have a desktop shortcut, be sure to create one first.

• To set a keyboard shortcut for an app, right-click its desktop shortcut.
• Choose ‘Properties’ from the menu that appears when you right-click.

• Go to the ‘Shortcut’ tab.

• Then, go to the ‘Shortcut key’ field and assign a keyboard shortcut for the app.

• Click on the ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ buttons.

Similarly, you have the option to customize keyboard shortcuts for any website. However, before you can do so, you must install the website as an app on your desktop. This can be achieved through browsers such as Chrome or Edge, which allow you to add a desktop shortcut for any website by installing it as an app. The guide below includes detailed instructions on how to complete this process.

After creating the shortcut for the website, simply repeat the aforementioned steps to assign a keyboard shortcut to it.

3. Explore PowerToys

If you desire more personalized keyboard shortcuts for accessing applications or websites, you can utilize the ‘Keyboard Manager’ tool in PowerToys. The latest update, version 0.79.0, has added new functions to the Keyboard Manager that enable the reassignment of shortcuts for opening apps and URLs. Therefore, ensure that your PowerToys app is up to date.

To make a shortcut for opening an app or website, follow these instructions:

• Open the PowerToys settings on your PC.
• Then, go to ‘Keyboard Manager’ from the menu on the left.

• From the right pane, select ‘Remap a shortcut’.

• Click the ‘Add shortcut remapping’ key from the ‘Remap shortcuts’ window.

• Select the ‘Edit’ option beside ‘Shortcut’.

• Press the shortcut keys you want to use to open the app/ website and click on ‘OK’.

• Now, if you want to assign the shortcut to open an app, go to the ‘To:’ section and click the drop-down menu next to ‘Action’. Select ‘Run Program’ from the menu.

• Then, click on ‘Select Program’ next to ‘App’.

• From the file explorer window, select the executable file for the app you want to open.

• Then, you can customize some options like ‘Args’, ‘Start in’, ‘Elevation’, ‘If running’, and ‘Visibility’.
• Choosing elevation will give you the ability to select your desired method of opening the app. These options consist of ‘Normal’, ‘Elevated’ (with admin rights), and ‘Different User’.

• By selecting the ‘If running’ option, you have the ability to decide the course of action if the app is already in use. This includes choices such as ‘Show window’, ‘Start another’, ‘Do nothing’, ‘Close’, and ‘End task’.

• Using Visibility, you can choose whether you want the app to open ‘Normally’ or ‘Hidden’ for privacy reasons.

• You can leave the default options for these options. The shortcut will be assigned to open the app.
• However, if you want to assign the shortcut to open a website, then, select ‘Open URI’ from the ‘Action’ drop-down menu.

• Then, paste the path/URI of the website you want to open in the corresponding field.

• Press ‘OK’ at the top of the window.

Upon pressing the designated shortcut, the website will open in your default browser.

In summary, these are all the methods available for opening an app or website on your Windows 11 PC using a keyboard shortcut, which can greatly improve your workflow.