Store Apps Tool v1.1

Add store Apps to the context menu
The Microsoft Store app comes built into Windows and allows you to download and install dozens of apps and games. It’s possible to open any Microsoft Store app from Command Prompt , Run dialog box or PowerShell. You can also easily add any Microsoft Store application to the Windows Right Click (Context) Menu. But, to be able to do that, you need to know the app’s Package Family Name and App ID. A Package Family Name is an opaque string derived from only two parts of a package identity – name and publisher:
< Name >_< PublisherId >
For example, the Package Family Name of the Windows Photos app is :
“Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe”

Name : Microsoft.Windows.Photos
Publisher ID : 8wekyb3d8bbwe

There are many ways to find your app’s unique Package Family Name and App User Model ID :

1. You can use a powershell script.

2. You can find the AUMID by using File Explorer.

3. You can use the registry to find out the AUMID of an application that is installed for the current user.

See the related microsoft article for details on the above topics. But none of the above methods will give you the direct code for the execution of a store application. For this reason, we have coded a simple application called: Store Apps Tool.

What is New (Monday, September 11 2023)

1. [Fixed] – A small bug in the About screen
2. [Fixed] – The clipboard is not cleared if there is no location in the listed items
3. [Fixed] – When add a listed Item to the context menu, The settings window jumps to 2. Item
4. [Added] – Store Apps icons have been added

How to use Store Apps Tool

1. Download the software from the link at the end of the page and run the exe file that matches the architecture of your operating system.

2. For example, let’s run the Windows Alarm & Clock application with the command, right click on the “Alarm & Clock” in the software interface and click on “Copy Command“, that’s all.

Store Apps tool copy command feature

Where to use the execution codes of the Microsoft Store

You can use the following code, which has been copied to your clipboard , in different ways.
Explorer.exe “Shell:AppsfolderMicrosoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App”

1. You can use this code in the Run dialog box or in the Cmd and Powershell console to launch the appropriate Store application.

2. You can use this code to create a shortcut that automatically launches the Microsoft Store application when the system starts.

3. The code can also be used to add the app to your right click (context) menu.

4. With the help of scheduled tasks, related code can be executed at specific times of the day.

5. You can use the code inside a script too.

Run store Apps from Cmd or Powershell console

How to add a Store app to your desktop context menu

There are two different ways to do this ;

1. To make multiple selections from the list in the software interface, press Ctrl on your keyboard and select the Store apps you want to add to your desktop context menu, then right click on one of them and choose Add to desktop Context menu.

Add Store Apps to your desktop context menu

2. You can use the Desktop Context Menu Options button (3rd) at the top of the software.

a) Select Item Name in the context menu and click Install button.

b) You can change Main or Sub context menu Icon.

In the Options menu, you can click on “Save your settings“. This will save all the settings you have made.

Store Apps tool save settings feature

You can restore your saved settings by selecting “Load your settings” from the same menu.

Store Apps in the context menu

Functions of the software interface buttons

The first button on the interface opens the “Applications” folder, which is the folder containing the Microsoft store applications. The second button will open the Microsoft Store app and the third button Opens the “Desktop Context Menu Options” Window. fourth button will refresh the list. The last button is the “Info” button.

Please , make sure that the “Add explorer.exe to command” option in the Options menu is selected so that the copied code will work properly in the cmd and powershell consoles.

Add Explorer to commands

If you right click on any store app in the list, you can create an application shortcut using the “Create Shortcut” menu, or you can choose to create a bat or vbscript file .

Run store Apps with script