So here we are, 13 years later, and I've decided to give Launchy a try. Launchy's initial release was in 2007, a year after Microsoft had released Vista. It predates Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. Launchy is, as its name suggests, an application launcher. An icon that's not in the right location is annoying because it slows the process of launching the application it represents.

Doing that requires two settings thar are less than ideal: Using small icons, which makes them harder to see, and pulling the Task bar up so that two rows of icons will fit.īecause the width of the Notification Area (previously known as the System Tray) can change depending on which applications are running, some icons at the far right of the Task Bar's top row can be pushed down to the left side of the bottom row. My long-time preference has been to pin the 100+ applications that I use most often to the Task bar.

Store your most-used applicastions on the Task bar then locate the icon for the application you want to start and click it.Įach of those options works, but each leaves me wanting something more despite the fact that I accepted the Start screen not long after it was introduced in Windows 8.

Press the Windows Key, start typing the name of the application, and click the one you want on the list Windows displays.

Press the Windows Key, click All Apps, scroll to the application you want, and click it.

Press the Windows Key and select the application from the Start Screen.

If you're in that group, maybe you'd like some additional options, but let's start by reviewing what Microsoft offers: Not everyone likes the methods Microsoft has provided to start applications in Windows 10. Launchy: A Bit Dated, but Still a Timesaver

Launchy windows 10