How To Open The Same App Twice On Windows

Running multiple instances of programs and files surely boosts productivity. However, many programs won't allow you to open up more than one window and give an fault or open the active window when you attempt to run them twice.

Thankfully, in that location are some workarounds to bypass this limitation depending on what type of program you are looking to open multiple times simultaneously.

In this article, I will show you multiple methods to open more than one instance of a program in Windows.

Read As well: How to Run Multiple Instances of Google Drive on Windows

Why some programs allow multiple windows and some don't?

For your ain safety, it'south important to know why this limitation is there in the first place. Firstly, this limitation is added by the programmer of the programme and not the Windows itself. And so you should not blame Windows for not giving yous an choice to run multiple programs.

Now if the developers intentionally added this limitation in their program, then it must accept some bad touch on on the plan. Opening multiple instances of a program tin have multiple effects. There is a good chance that the 2 windows volition disharmonize with each other and lead to program crashes, or data corruption etc.

Some developers may besides add this limitation because there would be no bespeak of opening multiple windows of their programme. For example, system data tools offer same information no matter how many instances you open.

Furthermore, some programs may offer an unfair advantage when opened multiple times, and then developers lock this feature. For example, an online video game may limit this to ensure players don't log in with multiple accounts and gain an unfair advantage over others.

Overall, you should keep in mind that the limitation is there for a reason and you should ever be gear up to deal with a bad situation if you are going to run multiple instances.

Launch multiple instances of programs that permit this characteristic

To open another window of a program, simply launch information technology again. An easier style to do this is to press and agree the Shift key and click on the programme'south icon in the taskbar.

If the program allows multiple windows, then some other instance will open up without a hinge. For example, you can open up multiple versions of a document and edit them separately, or open up multiple documents in the same program; like Microsoft Word documents. You lot can also open up multiple windows of programs like CCleaner and run multiple types of scans at the same time.

Equally long as a program doesn't have a conflicting nature, there is a good chance yous tin open up multiple instances of information technology. And then exercise try opening a program twice and run across how it boosts your productivity.

Utilise different user accounts to open multiple instances of programs

Developers employ different methods to put limitation on opening multiple instances of a programme and the almost commonly used method is through mutex. Mutex prevents threads from accessing the same program if it'due south already running.

Fortunately, mutex is tied to the current user profile merely. You may not be able to open that program in the current user profile, only you can still open it as a unlike user. You lot just need to accept two accounts on your PC and you can easily open up two instances of the same program.

Create a new user profile

First, I'll evidence y'all how you can create some other user business relationship on your PC. If you already have another user business relationship and know the login credentials of information technology, then you don't need to go through this step.

For demonstration purpose, I am going to use a Windows 10 PC. If you are a Windows 7 or 8 user, and so you tin can follow instructions provided on the Microsoft support page.

1. Open up Windows x "Settings" and click on "Accounts". Here motility to the "Family & other users" section and click on "Add someone else to this PC" under "Other users".

   

2. A new window will open up. Click on "I don't have this person's sign-in data" link here.

   

3. On the side by side page, click on the "Add a user without a Microsoft business relationship". This profile isn't required to be continued to a Microsoft business relationship, then nosotros skip this stride.

   

4. Now provide the username and password for the new account and click "Side by side". Your account volition exist created.

   

Open two instances of a plan

Now that you lot have two user accounts, let'due south open two instances of your required program.

1. Open up upward the required programme.
2. Open this program once more, but this time concord the Shift central and right-click on it. From the context carte du jour click on the new entry "Run as different user".

   

3. Next, provide the username and password of the newly created account and press enter.
4. Another instance of the same program will open up. In the below screenshot, the original Opera browser window is on the left and the newly opened window is on the right.

   

The newly opened window will have no connection with the starting time window. Information technology volition feel like that the program has been just installed, no configurations, saved data or any other information from the original window will pass on to the new window.

Do remember that this flim-flam will not work on programs that don't utilise mutex for preventing program from opening multiple windows. Although most apps exercise use the mutex, some programs may choose a different method.

For instance, video games usually don't use mutex to prevent multiple instances of them. If this fox didn't piece of work with your program, and so bank check out the beneath method.

Read Also: 5 Ways to Run Desktop & Mobile Apps Anywhere

Use Sandboxie

Although the above method is still the virtually reliable, merely when information technology doesn't piece of work then an isolation software will surely work for you lot.

An Isolation software basically gives a plan an environment completely split up from your arrangement. This protects your system from existence damaged from an infected program.

Even so, this as well means that you tin can run multiple instances of that program equally well. One in normal windows and other in the isolation software window.

Sandboxie is a popular tool for this purpose that allows you to run another instance of a plan for gratuitous. If you want to run more than two instances of a program, then you'll take to upgrade to Sandboxie premium version.

Download and install Sandboxie and make sure you permit it add a context menu entry while installing. Now right-click on the program that you desire to run in Sandboxie and select "Run with Sandboxie".

This will launch that program in a safe environment and you volition notice that the outline of the window will turn yellow when you hover the mouse cursor at the top.

Dissimilar the above method, the instance running in the Sandboxie volition employ the aforementioned configurations and data equally the original program. Withal, whatsoever changes made or data added in the Sandboxie example will not exist synced with the original program window. Notwithstanding, y'all can use the Sandboxie recovery choice to recover contents to the actual difficult drive.

To sum up

Using an isolation tool like Sandboxie is a sure shot way to open another instance of a program. Withal, information technology should non be your commencement priority as you lot may face up problems while saving some of the information in Sandboxie environment. In nearly cases, running the programme under two accounts should work and will also be easier to save information.

Source: https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/running-multiple-instances-windows-program/

Posted by: robeyandeavy1951.blogspot.com

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