Create your own Run command & Run any application from Windows Search Box

Using the Run command in Windows, you can use certain pre-defined commands to open up applications. In fact, in Windows 11/10/8/7, its Start Menu Search box itself acts as a Run box.

If you type the name of an application, say Ultimate Windows Tweaker (uwt) in the start box, it will search for the app and display it in the results. Hitting Enter will open the app. But typing it in the Run box will not open it.

With the help of this tip, you can open any software or application via the Windows Run box. That is, you can create your own custom RUN commands.

Create your RUN commands in Windows

There are four ways to create your own Run command in Windows OS:

1. Creating a shortcut
2. Editing the Registry
3. Using a 3rd party app
4. Editing the Environment variables.

1] Creating a shortcut

Create a shortcut for the application or program. Rename it to say, uwt, and place this shortcut in the Windows folder.

Now type uwt in the Start search box and hit Enter, and you will see the Ultimate Windows Tweaker start. To reconfirm, open the Run box type uwt, and hit Enter. The Tweaker opened.

I have also tried it with a folder, and it works. I created a shortcut of my oft-used folder, renamed it to f1 and saved the shortcut in the Windows folder. Typing f1 in the Start search box or in the Run box will open the folder.

2] Editing the Registry

Open regedit and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

In the left panel, right-click this tool’s Path key and choose New > Key. Name it as uwt.exe (I am using UWT as an example). Don’t forget to add the file types.

Now, in the right panel, double click on the Default string value, and in the Value and in the box that opens, enter the path of the executable ie

E:\Program Files\UWTv2.0\Ultimate Windows Tweaker.exe

My Windows OS is installed in E drive; hence, it shows ‘E’ here.

Again in the right side, empty spot, right-click > select New > String Value. Name the key as Path. Double-click and give it the value as the folder path, ie. in this example:

E:\Program Files\UWTv2.0\

Exit regedit.

Now type uwt in the Start Search Box (or the Run box) and hit Enter, and you will see the Tweaker start! You can start any file type this way.

TechnixUpdate.com has suggested to us, two more ways, in which it can be done.

3] Use 3rd party portable app called AddToRun

AddToRun is a FREE-to-use utility that will allow you to run or open any file or application from the Start menu Run prompt (which opens up when you press Window Key + R ).

It has a very easy and simple-to-use interface which will allow you to select a file or application shortcut and define an alias or friendly name with which you can run the application from the Run prompt.

4] Edit the Environment Variables

Open your System Drive and create a folder, named, say, E:\myrun.

Now right-click on This PC folder and open its Properties.

Select Advanced System Protection and click on Environment Variables. In the lower half, double-click on the ‘Path‘ System Variable.

At the end of the variable value, add the following:

;e:\myrun;

If your Windows is on ‘C‘ drive, make sure you write c instead of e.

Click OK. Exit.

Now, create a shortcut to any application and give it a short, simple name. You will be able to run it through the start box.

Hope you are able to get things done using this tip.

Read about: System & User Environment Variables Paths.