How to Launch Microsoft Store Apps with URI in Windows 11

How to use URI commands

You can launch a Microsoft Store app with a URI from three places: the Run dialog, Command Prompt, or the File Explorer 📁 address bar. All three give the same result, so use whichever is already open. To use the Run dialog:

1. Press Win+R. The Run dialog appears at the bottom left of the screen.
2. Type the URI in the Open box, for example `calculator:`. Include the colon.
3. Press Enter. The app opens. If nothing happens, or Windows shows an error saying it cannot find the item, check the spelling and try again.

To use File Explorer 📁, press Win+E, click the address bar, type the URI and press Enter. In Command Prompt, use the command shown in the example below.

However, some system-level tools may require you to run your command prompt with Admin Privileges.

To open an elevated prompt, search for Command Prompt in the Start menu, right-click the result and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for confirmation. On a standard (non-admin) account, you will be asked for an administrator password.

Troubleshooting Launch Failures

When a URI fails to launch an app, the cause is usually one of a few basic things. Work through them in this order:

1. Make sure the app is actually installed on your computer. A URI cannot open an app that is not there.
2. Check your text for typos. A single wrong letter will stop it from working. Also check that the colon at the end is present.
3. Check that the app has not been turned off in your system settings.

If all three check out, the list below covers the same points in more detail, plus one more option.

• Ensure the app is installed on your system. If you are not sure, search for it in the Start menu. If it does not appear, install or reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.
• Check for typos in the URI string. Retype it rather than pasting it, because pasted text can carry hidden spaces or odd characters.
• Verify the app is not disabled in the Windows Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes. Editing the registry is risky, so export the key as a backup before you change anything. Only look here if the simpler checks have not solved the problem.
• If the app fails to open, try using PowerShell with the Start-Process command.

Advanced Automation: PowerShell and Batch Scripts

You can automate app launching with a batch file. Follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type your launch command on its own line.
3. Select File › Save As.
4. In the Save as type list, choose All files. If you skip this, Notepad adds .txt to the name.
5. Give the file a name ending in `.bat`, then click Save.

Double-click the file to run it. To undo the automation, delete the file. For more advanced control, consider using PowerShell:

Start-Process "calculator:"

How to find your AppUserModelID

If a standard URI does not work, you may need the AppUserModelID. To get it:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
2. Make sure the tab is a PowerShell tab. If it is not, open a new PowerShell tab from the drop-down arrow in the tab bar.
3. Run this command:

The command lists your installed apps and their unique AppUserModelIDs. The list can be long, so scroll or filter it to find the app you want. You can then use these AppUserModelIDs to launch specific app versions through shell commands.

List of App URI Commands

• Available Networks: ms-availablenetworks:
• Calculator: calculator:
• Settings: ms-settings:
• Microsoft Store: ms-windows-store:
• Windows Security: windowsdefender:

Reference: Microsoft Official Documentation

Summary

URIs are simple text shortcuts for launching Microsoft Store apps. You can use them from the Run dialog, Command Prompt, File Explorer, or a batch or PowerShell script to open apps instantly. This saves time and gives you a quick way to test app launch problems. If an app will not open, check that it is installed, check the spelling, and look up its AppUserModelID.