Launch a desktop shortcut. Specifically Netflix app on windows 10

Im trying to create a command to launch Netflix on win10. its only installable as an app from the windows app store. The folder the app is in is a hidden one and i cannot open it. I found a way to make a link to the app on the desktop but cant get the bat file to work. This is my bat:

f "%1"=="on" "c:\users\Tom\Desktop\Netflix.lnk"
if "%1"=="off" taskkill /im netflix.app

I dont think thats right.. any idea on the proper way to launch an app or how to get the actual launch to work. If i look in properties from the shortcut as to the location i dont get the full location and there is no .exe or anything.

Any help on this would be great and i suspect help anyone making a link to any of these windows apps..

Russ

@Neflhiem , it looks like you're making a SmartThings switch for this. I like the idea.

I found that this command starts the Windows Store version of Netflix:

start netflix:

I also found that this command stops it:

taskkill /f /im wwahost.exe

Here's how people can find the name of the Windows Store app (like netflix) to put after start and before :

Open a PowerShell window

Search for the app you want to launch like this:

Get-AppxPackage | where {$_.name -ilike "*netflix*"}

You should see output like this:

Name              : 4DF9E0F8.Netflix
Publisher         : CN=52120C15-ACFA-47FC-A7E3-4974DBA79445
Architecture      : X64
ResourceId        :
Version           : 6.44.212.0
PackageFullName   : 4DF9E0F8.Netflix_6.44.212.0_x64__mcm4njqhnhss8
InstallLocation   : C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\4DF9E0F8.Netflix_6.44.212.0_x64__mcm4njqhnhss8
IsFramework       : False
PackageFamilyName : 4DF9E0F8.Netflix_mcm4njqhnhss8
PublisherId       : mcm4njqhnhss8
IsResourcePackage : False
IsBundle          : False
IsDevelopmentMode : False
IsPartiallyStaged : False

You're only interested in the InstallLocation value. Open that folder in Windows Explorer.

Now open the AppxManifest.xml file. Scroll down until you see a section like this:

<Extensions>
  <uap:Extension Category="windows.search" />
  <uap:Extension Category="windows.protocol">
    <uap:Protocol Name="netflix" />

That protocol name value is what you need to start the app with a command like "start netflix:"

Here's how I found the name of the task to kill (wwahost.exe in this case):

Open Task Manager
Right-click Netflix (under Processes tab)
Click Go to details

EDIT: There's an easier and more consistent method for creating a command that runs a Windows Store app here.

@Russ awesome thanks!

Jim Noulis

Hi,

I know i am too late for the party but a workaround for someone that might be struggling with this, is to create a .vbs file.

Open notepad and paste:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys("^{Esc}")
WScript.Sleep(1000)
WshShell.SendKeys("netflix")
WScript.Sleep(100)
WshShell.SendKeys "{ENTER}"

Feel free to replace any app downloaded from Microsoft store (and of course you can find it by just searching).

Then save as -> script_name.vbs
Save as type: All Files

And you are done. Watch your computer take over!!!! Terminator style