How to Run Any Chrome App as a Desktop Apps in Windows 10

Previously on my Windows8.1 Machine, I installed Google Keep from Chrome Application Store. Chrome automatically set the app as my Desktop Application. After I installed Windows 10, it didn't happened automatically. I didn't  see Google Keep installed on my machine. So I did a small tweak from which I will now onward use my Chrome browser to run an instance of my desired chrome app from Desktop only. I wont need to open Chrome and type the url time and again.

Following are the steps to Create Shortcuts of the Chrome Apps, which lets us browse standalone apps as our new desktop Apps.

• Right Click your Desktop
• Add New Shortcut
  Add this path to the interface shown below:
  "C:\Program Files(x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --app="https://keep.google.com"
  

  What this does is, it uses the Chrome Application installed on your local machine and provides an instance to launch Google Keep.
• Next name the application as Google Keep or simply Keep as your wish.
• Save it.
• You will now see a new shortcut icon of chrome on your desktop like shown below:
  

  

This icon is little confusing. It would be better if you could get the Google Keep Icon for Keep. Otherwise you will be confused when you will try to open chromium browser next time. So this is quite simple. All you need to do is:

• Right Click your Shortcut that you recently made.
• Click to the properties.
• There you can see Change Icon
• Download the Google Keep Icon and locate that icon.
• Save it

And here we are with separate icon for separate app. This small tweak is valid for every chrome apps.All you need to do is change the url of the app in this particular section: "C:\Program Files(x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --app=keep.google.com. Instead of keep.google.com you can replace it with pictures.google.com or contacts.google.com as you wish.

Here you can see I created five new Desktop Apps i.e. linked Chrome Apps as shortcuts which are now browsable as desktop apps on my Windows 10 Machine.

Regarding Memory usage:  I find out that all apps ran independently are threaded inside chrome app in Task Manager and consume memories which is managed by Chrome itself.

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• How to run any chrome app as Desktop App in Windows10

How to Activate or Deactivate Cortana in Windows 10

Finally, Microsoft’s digital assistant “Cortana” has been embedded into the company’s desktop operating system – Windows 10. Using digital voice assistant, one can easily get small things (set alarm, remainder, search, etc) done and its a wise thing to activate it for increasing productivity level. Windows user can easily upgrade to the new version of Windows for free.

If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 from previous versions, then “Cortana” might not be activated by default. So here’s an easy way to activate/deactivate her.

ACTIVATING/DEACTIVATING CORTANA IN WINDOWS 10

• Click Start button
• Select Cortana
• Within the settings, click the notebook icon (third icon down – on the left)
• Click the toggle button to turn on/off Cortana

TURNING OFF “HEY CORTANA” VOICE COMMAND

Cortana pops up herself when you use this command, that means she’s active all the time which is battery consuming too! So some people might prefer deactivating this voice command.

Go to Start > Cortana, and select the notebook icon. Click the toggle menu to turn off the voice command.

Windows 10 : How to Disable Login Screen Background Image

Windows 10 included Hero wallpaper that comes as a default wallpaper in final build of Windows 10. It also popped in the same image for the login background.

It might have pleased a few people but most of the people out there don’t seem to have liked it.

DISABLING THE LOGIN SCREEN BACKGROUND IMAGE IN WINDOWS 10

• Go to Start > type regedit
• On the folder tree (left side of regedit window), open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > System
• By clicking System, you can see (Default) file on the right pane of the window.
• Right-click on the empty area > New > DWORD (32 bit) Value
• Name the file DisableLogonBackgroundImage (Remember: Name the file exactly mentioned here)
• Double-click the file:
  • To remove the Windows Hero background, set the Value data to 1.
  • To restore the Windows Hero background, set the Value data to 0.

This method sets the accent color to the background image in login screen. In the internet, you may find 3rd party software that commits to set user defined image but after the KB3081424 Windows Update, it seems to cause screen flickering issue between Lock Screen and Login Screen.