Even if Windows works well, with its Start menu and all the programs ordered and with a desktop where the icons can be arranged, you can install a different and alternative launcher to the Start menu, perhaps similar to that of the Mac or all new and original. " Launcher " means the program start button, where the icons are listed and ordered in customizable start bars and positioned where you prefer. In this way, you can empty the desktop of the mess of icons and use Windows in an absolutely more productive way. In this post we see a complete list of the best application launchers for Windows 10, 8.1 and Windows 7, among which there are the portable ones (which do not require installation), additional application bars or keyboard launcher.
READ ALSO: Bring the Windows 7 Start menu back to Windows 10 with Classic Shell
1) The first category of launcher is that of the Dock, that is, additional mobile bars that can be displayed at the top or bottom of the screen.
A complete list of docks or program launch bars is in another article where you can download, among others, some of the best:
- RocketDock
- ObjectDock
- RK Launcher
- XWindows Dock
- Sliderdock
- Circle Dock
- Winstep Nexus Dock
2) A different type of boot menu is the one that brings the Mac's Launchpad to Windows . Launchpad is the special, and by some envied, Mac system start menu which, therefore, can be replicated on the desktop of a Windows PC without problems and for free.
3) Portable Launchers are above all useful for keeping organized the list of portable applications or those programs that can be run on any PC without doing installations. Portable programs can be copied to a USB stick so as to always keep a set of applications ready to use even if you change your computer. Portable launchers also work to start normal programs without installing new plugins to Windows.
Among the best menus to open portable programs and files from USB sticks I have already talked about are:
- PortableApps
- CodySafe
- LiberKey
- PStart
- Portable Application Launcher (PAL) is a free launcher for Windows that allows you to organize desktop shortcuts into groups and categories. It can be accessed from the system notification area (bottom right) or via shortcut keys. It is also possible to customize the menu using different graphic styles and it is also possible to add normal files, documents and extra tools, such as notes and calendar, to the launcher.
- ASuite another free, PStart-like application launcher for Windows that displays links to favorite programs, files, folders, and website links in a tree structure. Just like PStart, it is also designed to run on removable media, such as USB sticks. The program requires installation, but can be installed on any drive, local or removable.
- Portable Start Simple and free Windows launcher similar to the Start menu, which can be installed on a USB flash drive or hard disk. Portable Start Menu organizes your programs into a simple menu made like a system tray. When you close the Portable Start Menu, if used on a USB drive, running applications close automatically. This tool also allows you to automatically assemble and disassemble containers protected with TrueCrypt.
4) Alternative Start menus and application launchers that can be added in addition to the Windows Start menu, as a second Taskbar .
- Jumplist-Launcher is a free program for quick launching of programs from the Windows taskbar, which combines links in a Jump List. It does not require installation and it is possible to add up to 60 programs in customized groups within a Jump List: links, files and folders.
- 7stacks is a super Taskbar on Windows to launch and launch your favorite programs which emulates the functionality of Mac OS X. Once 7stacks is installed, it shows an icon on the desktop that allows you to easily create new groups of shortcuts on the desktop. You can create stacks from normal and special folders, such as the Documents folder.
- Launcher 8start is one of the programs to create new custom detachable toolbars in Windows 7 . It allows you to easily organize links, favorite sites, files, folders and links to applications, dividing them into groups and categories. The start menu can be accessed from the system area at the bottom right, using a shortcut key or by clicking with the middle mouse button. It is portable and can use relative paths (to launch portable programs from a USB stick from any PC).
- ViPad is a free application launcher to collect links to your favorite programs, website links, system tools, files, folders, etc. in one box in one box.
- In a post on how to improve the graphics of the desktop and windows on Windows, the program Stardock Fences is mentioned, which allows you to organize icons on the desktop, grouping them in panes. Windows becomes like an iPhone, with the program icons grouped and ordered in a personalized way, according to the chosen criterion.
- Taskbar Classic Start Menu, a small tool that brings up a button on the taskbar with which you can open the list of programs as you would see on Windows XP, with a complete overview of the icons on the screen. This keeps the Windows 7 or Windows 10 start menu to which you add the old-fashioned menu to launch programs.
- Switch is in fact an additional configurable and customizable menu with folders, commands and applications. If installed on a PC, this program displays a secondary taskbar that you can move around the screen and place anywhere according to your convenience. The taskbar can be hidden automatically and can be called up whenever necessary using a shortcut key (Alt) or it can be made persistent. You can add your favorite and most used programs to this taskbar or even files and tools for easy access.
- MadAppLauncher is instead a truly exceptional alternative to the Windows Start menu, a fully customizable launch pad to add programs and files, grouping them as you wish. The peculiarity of this alternative menu is the ability to create tabs that group the various links to the programs.
5) Some application launchers instead allow you to start programs from the keyboard instead of the mouse, by typing the first letters of their name. Among the best programs to open programs without a mouse with the keyboard we have:
- Launchy is an application that stores the contents of the Start menu and allows you to start files. Once started, to be displayed, you must press ALT and SPACE simultaneously on the keyboard (but other key combinations can be configured). To make it disappear, however, just press ESC. Launchy is very powerful and it is possible to start any application, including the web, but to configure it for more advanced functions, it is more complicated.
- Wox is a simple program to search for files and programs quickly from an automated search box, which completes the words and immediately finds what you need.
- FingerTips allows you to launch programs by writing on a text box that can be easily called up via a keyboard combination. Each program is identified with a quick shortcut (for example Firefox is ff) which can be changed and modified according to your preferences. Programs, applications, websites and windows can be opened from the text box.
- Executor is less famous but it too is a powerful free launcher for Windows compatible even with older versions of Windows (but with limited functionality) that offers decidedly simpler customization options than Launchy. Executor allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts for any operation, including by drag & drop or drag and drop within the application. With Executor you can also start web pages and certain options of the operating system, such as the control panel, the network, ipconfig, a specific folder and so on.
- FARR is a search bar to quickly find programs and documents on your computer simply by typing the initials. You can also use FARR to search the internet, send emails, edit files, and much more.
- SlickRun is a small, very light tool that does the same thing, enables a text box for launching fast programs from the keyboard. Each program is identified with an abbreviation so that it can be started quickly by writing the command.
6) A final launcher to start programs is finally a menu that hides and appears only when needed: Hidden Menu .
The launcher is one of the portable ones that does not require installation. It provides an alternate start menu separate from the Start menu, which does not show up and remains hidden, until it is activated by hovering over one of the edges or corners of the screen. This additional start menu is very light, weighs about 3 megs in memory, is very simple to use and extremely customizable.
