Open Multiple Programs at Once from Windows Start

If you regularly begin work with the same set of apps, you can make Windows open them together instead of launching each one separately. The simplest dependable method is to create a shortcut that starts several programs, then pin that shortcut to Start or the taskbar.

What You’ll Need

A Windows account that can create shortcuts in a folder you can access.
The desktop shortcuts or file paths for the programs you want to open.
Notepad, which is included with Windows, to create a small batch file.

Step-by-Step

Find each program’s launch target. Check the desktop or Start menu for the app. If you have a desktop shortcut, right-click it and choose Properties. On the Shortcut tab, note the text in Target. This is commonly the program’s executable path, such as C:\Program Files\Example\app.exe. If the app is listed in Start but has no desktop shortcut, search for it, right-click the result, and choose Open file location if that option is available. You can then right-click its shortcut and inspect Properties. Some apps, particularly Store apps, do not expose a regular executable path; use a desktop shortcut if available or try the simpler Startup-folder method described below.
Create a batch file. Open Notepad. For each program, add a line in this form, replacing the example path with the target you found:
start "" "C:\Program Files\Example\app.exe"
The empty quotation marks after start provide a window title and help Windows correctly interpret the quoted path. Use one line for each app. For example:
start "" "C:\Program Files\Example\app.exe"
start "" "C:\Program Files\Another App\another.exe"
Keep the quotation marks around each full path, especially when it contains spaces. If a program needs command-line options, add them after its quoted executable path.
Save it with the right file extension. In Notepad, choose File > Save As. Pick a folder you can find again, such as Documents. Set Save as type to All files, then name the file something like Open-My-Apps.bat. Check that it does not end in .txt; a file called Open-My-Apps.bat.txt is still a text document, not a batch file.
Test the batch file. Find the saved file in File Explorer and double-click it. Windows should open the listed programs. Test before pinning it so you can fix a wrong path or formatting issue. If a command window appears briefly, that is normal. The apps may take a few moments to load, and they do not necessarily finish opening at exactly the same time.
Create a shortcut to the batch file. Right-click the batch file and select Show more options if needed, then choose Create shortcut. The shortcut can be moved or renamed without changing the original file. Keeping the batch file in Documents and pinning a shortcut to it makes it easier to edit later.
Pin the shortcut to Start. Right-click the shortcut and select Show more options if the classic menu is needed. Choose Pin to Start when it appears. Open Start and check the pinned area; you can usually drag the new tile to a convenient position. Menu wording and availability can vary between Windows versions and app types. If Pin to Start is missing, use the Startup-folder alternative below or pin the shortcut to the taskbar instead.
Use it when you want the group. Select the pinned shortcut from Start. Windows runs the batch file and launches each listed program. To change the group later, edit the original .bat file in Notepad, save it, and test it again; the shortcut points to that same file.

Common Mistakes

Saving as a text file: Notepad may append .txt unless you choose All files in Save As. In File Explorer, turn on View > Show > File name extensions if you need to check the full name.

Leaving out quotation marks: Paths containing spaces can be split into incorrect pieces. Put the full executable path inside quotes, and keep the empty title quotes after start.

Using the wrong target: A shortcut may point to a launcher, updater, or document rather than the app itself. Use the target from the shortcut’s Properties and confirm it works by opening the shortcut before adding it to the batch file.

Expecting every app to open identically: Some applications start in the background, display a sign-in prompt, or refuse a second instance. The batch file starts each command; it cannot guarantee that every program is ready or that a program will open a new window.

Tips

Give the batch file a clear name, such as Morning-Setup.bat, so it is easy to recognize in Start.
Add or remove one line at a time and test after editing. This makes a faulty path easier to identify.
Use a desktop shortcut as a path source whenever possible. Apps installed through the Microsoft Store or other managed packages may not behave like traditional desktop programs.
If you want programs to start automatically whenever you sign in, press Windows key + R, enter shell:startup, and press Enter. Place a shortcut to the batch file in the folder that opens. This runs the group at sign-in rather than when you click Start, so use it only if that is what you intend.
To remove the Start item, right-click its pinned shortcut and choose Unpin from Start. This does not delete the batch file or uninstall any programs.

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens: Check that the file ends in .bat, not .bat.txt, then double-click it from File Explorer. Open it in Notepad and confirm that each line begins with start "" and contains a valid path.

Only some programs open: Test each line separately by temporarily leaving just one command in the file. Compare the failing path with the app shortcut’s Properties. A moved or updated program may have a new target. If a path contains an unusual character or the app needs a special launch method, use its working shortcut as the basis and check the app’s own help.

The command window reports an error: The text can point to a misspelled folder or an executable that cannot be found. Correct the path, save the file, and try again. Do not remove quotation marks around paths with spaces.

Pin to Start is unavailable: Try right-clicking the shortcut and choosing Show more options. If pinning still is not offered, pin the shortcut to the taskbar if that option is available, or put a shortcut in the Startup folder to run the group at sign-in. You can also open the batch file directly from its saved location.

An app asks for permission or sign-in: Complete the app’s normal prompt. Do not set the batch file to run with elevated privileges unless the program genuinely requires that and you understand the effect; a group launcher does not need administrator access by default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I launch programs directly from the Start menu without a batch file?
You can open apps one after another from Start, but Windows does not generally provide a built-in Start setting to launch an arbitrary group with one click. A shortcut to a batch file provides that group action.

Will the programs open at exactly the same time?
The commands are issued in quick succession, but startup speed depends on each app and your computer. One app may take longer to become usable than another.

Can I add more programs later?
Yes. Edit the .bat file in Notepad, add another correctly quoted start line, save, and test it. The pinned shortcut continues to run the edited file.

Can this open files or websites as well as programs?
Windows can open file paths and web addresses through commands, but the correct command depends on the file type and desired app. Test each entry separately before relying on it, and keep paths quoted when they contain spaces.

How do I make the group run when I sign in?
Put a shortcut to the batch file in the folder opened by shell:startup. It will run for your account at sign-in. Remove that shortcut from the folder to stop automatic launching.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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