Paragus Strategic IT

View Original

October Parapup Tech Tips

Introducing Finn the Pup with his latest Parapup Tech Tip! As Paragus IT’s resident tech-savvy mascot, Finn is here to share his favorite tech shortcuts and tricks to make your life a little easier.

Finn’s Parapup Tech Tip is all about saving time and boosting efficiency with clever, simple solutions—just like his humans at Paragus!

In today's fast-paced digital world, even small tasks like searching for an app can add up, consuming valuable time throughout the day. Whether scrolling through a cluttered start menu or hunting for icons on a busy desktop, these micro-delays can disrupt your workflow and reduce productivity. Automating this process by creating custom keyboard shortcuts offers a simple yet effective solution, allowing you to launch your most-used apps instantly. This quick fix not only streamlines your routine but also saves precious minutes, helping you focus on what truly matters.

Here’s how to create a keyboard shortcut for an app using Microsoft's "Run" program:

  1. Open the Run program:

    • Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the "Run" dialog.

  2. Access the Applications Folder:

    • In the "Run" dialog, type explorer shell:Appsfolder and press Enter.

  3. Find the App You Want to Create a Shortcut For:

    • This opens a folder with all your installed apps. Scroll through and locate the app you want to create a keyboard shortcut for.

  4. Create a Desktop Shortcut:

    • Right-click the app, and select Create shortcut.

    • A dialog box will appear asking if you want to place the shortcut on the desktop. Select Yes.

  5. Assign a Keyboard Shortcut:

    • Go to your desktop and find the newly created app shortcut.

    • Right-click on the icon, and select Properties.

    • In the Properties window, go to the Shortcut

    • Under Shortcut key, click on the field, and press the key combination you want to assign (e.g., Ctrl + Alt + [Letter]).

  6. Save the Shortcut:

    • Click OK or Apply to save the changes.

  7. Use the Keyboard Shortcut:

    • Now, press your chosen key combination to open the app anytime.