How to Run Windows File Explorer as a Standalone Application: Elgato Streamdeck Guide

Run Windows File Explorer as a Standalone Application with Elgato Stream Deck

The Elgato Stream Deck is a popular tool for content creators, providing an easy-to-use interface for controlling various aspects of a live stream or recording session. One useful feature of the Stream Deck is the ability to launch standalone applications, such as the Windows File Explorer, with a single button press. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a button on your Stream Deck to open File Explorer as a standalone application.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• An Elgato Stream Deck device
• The latest version of the Elgato Stream Deck software
• A Windows 10 PC

Creating a New Action

To create a new action that launches File Explorer as a standalone application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Elgato Stream Deck software on your PC.
2. In the right-hand pane, locate an empty button or right-click an existing button and select "Edit Button."
3. In the "Action" section, click the "Add Action" button.
4. In the search bar, type "Windows" and select "System - Run" from the list of available actions.

Configuring the Action

Now that you have added the "Run" action, you need to configure it to launch File Explorer. Follow these steps:

5. In the "Title" field, enter "File Explorer" or any other name you prefer.
6. In the "Program/File" field, enter the following:

This command will launch File Explorer and display the "Run as administrator" prompt if UAC is enabled.

Adding a Hotkey (Optional)

You can also add a hotkey to the action to launch File Explorer using a keyboard shortcut. To do this, follow these steps:

7. In the "Hotkey" section, click the "Set" button.
8. Press the desired key combination on your keyboard.
9. Click "OK" to save the hotkey.

Testing the Action

To test the action, click the button in the Stream Deck software or press the assigned hotkey. File Explorer should launch as a standalone application, allowing you to access your files and folders quickly and easily.

In this guide, you have learned how to create a custom action on your Elgato Stream Deck to launch the Windows File Explorer as a standalone application. This can help improve your workflow and productivity by providing quick access to your files and folders.

References

• Elgato Stream Deck Software
  https://www.elgato.com/en/gaming/stream-deck

• Windows File Explorer Command
  https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/run-file-explorer-command-line-windows-10/