Besides Keyboard Shortcuts, using Run dialog box(windows+R) in windows to start applications/windows utilities is another great way to increase productivity by saving time. You might be familiar with commands like regedit, gpedit.msc, explorer but here we list down 27 applications you might not have thought could be started from Run Dialog box.

All the commands listed below are to be run on Windows Run Dialog. Use Windows Key + R to start the Run Dialog or you could also access it from Start > Run. Here are the commands for various applications.

Control Panel

Control Panel is one of the frequently used part of Windows, especially for geeks as they need to tweak the system from time to time. Starting Control Panel Utilities from Run Dialog can be a big time saver, so here are Run Commands for various Control Panel Items:

1. Control Panel: Control Panel can be accessed using the command, control and then pressing Enter.

2. Accessibility Options: Type access.cpl on Run Dialog and press enter to start Accessibility Options. To start the Accessibility Wizard, use the command, accwiz.

3. Add/Remove Programs: This is one of the panel that is used quite often in case you are a software junkie like me who likes to test new softwares. This panel can be started using command, appwiz.cpl.

4. Administrative Tools: It contains various administration tools like Computer Management, Services, Local Security Policy etc. To start it type control admintools in Run Dialog and press Enter. From there you can start the Administrative tool you wish to use.

5. Computer Management: Computer Management contains various tools like Partition Manager, Disk Defragmenter, Event Viewer etc, you can access it directly using command compmgmt.msc. To directly start Disk Defragmenter use the command dfrg.msc and for Disk Partition Manager use diskpart. Event Viewer and Services can also be accessed directly using eventvwr.msc and services.msc respectively.

6. Display Properties: Use control desktop or desk.cpl to directly open Display Properties. You can also access Appearance Tab of Display Properties directly using control color.

7. Network Connections: These can be accessed directly using control netconnections and to start Network Setup Wizard use netsetup.cpl.

8. User Account Management: You can directly open User Accounts Managment using nusrmgr.cpl.

9. Printers and Faxes: Printers and Faxes Control Panel can directly be accessed using control printers.

10. Mouse/Keyboard Properties: These can be accessed using control mouse and control  keyboard.

11. Folder Options: Folder Options can be accessed using control folders.

Windows Utilities

12. Calculator: Windows inbuilt calculator can be started using calc on Run Dialog.

13. Paintbrush: Use mspaint or pbrush to start Painting.

13. Character Map: Starting character map has always been annoying as it is located under hierarchy of menus under All Programs. To start it simply use charmap command on Run Dialog.

15. Internet Explorer: You might be aware of this that Internet Explorer can be started using command iexplore on Run Dialog.

16. Shut Down/Log out: You can use the logoff command to Log off and shutdown -s command to shut down the PC.

17. Notepad/Wordpad: Use notepad on Run Dialog to start Notepad. Similarly, use wordpad for starting Wordpad.

18. Windows Media Player: This can be started using wmplayer command on Run Dialog.

19. Windows Messenger: This can be started using msmsgs.

20. Windows Movie Maker: This can be started using moviemk on run Dialog.

21. System Information: To view complete system information use the command msinfo32 and  to just view the information about windows version you are using use winver.

Softwares

The commands listed below will work only if that particular application is installed on your system.

22. MS Word: Start MS Word using winword on Run Dialog.

23. MS Excel: Use excel command to start it.

23. MS Powerpoint: Use the command powerpnt to start it.

25. MS Access: Use msaccess to start it.

26. Firefox: Start the Guinness World Record Holder Browser using firefox command on Run Dialog.

27. Adobe Photoshop: If Adobe Photoshop is installed, start directly using photoshop command on Run Dialog.

This list is not the end, there are lot more applications out there that could be started from Run Dialog, find them out and if those could be useful to others as well, share them in comments below.

If you really enjoyed reading this article then you might find future posts at Technotraits helpful, so don’t forget to subscribe.