How to run multiple instances of a Windows program

As a Windows user, you may often need to run multiple instances of a program. These instances can run separately and, if necessary, under different accounts. There are a number of ways you can run a different instance of the same application. The following guide will explain which method is best for a particular type of program.

Table of Contents

• 1. Just restart the program
• 2. Launch using Run Box in Windows 10
• 3. Use Windows + Shift + Number on Taskbar
• 4. Use the web browser version of the program
• 5. Relaunch the program as a different Windows user
• 6. Install 2 versions of the same software with Sandboxie

1. Just restart the program

The easiest way to run another instance of a program is to simply relaunch it while it is open. This works best for browsers, Microsoft Office applications, and Windows utilities like Paint, Calculator, WordPad, Command Prompt , and even third-party software.

There are several ways to relaunch a program. From the Start menu, you can search for the program and click it again to launch it. It can be run with a simple click or through Administrator mode. If the program, such as a browser, is pinned to the taskbar or saved as a desktop shortcut, you can click it as many times as you want to open multiple instances.

Additionally, you can use or press Ctrl + N to restart programs like Microsoft Word documents.

You can also use the Shift + click key combination to relaunch multiple program instances from the Taskbar window.

2. Launch using Run Box in Windows 10

Another way to launch a Windows program is to use the Run Box window, which can be accessed from Win + R . First, track down the location of the program's .exe file and copy the entire path.

Then, type the following into the Run box to open a new instance.

"Program Path" /secondary

3. Use Windows + Shift + Number on Taskbar

One of the quickest ways to restart a program instance is to identify the number that corresponds to its position on the Taskbar. You need to identify this number from left to right as illustrated here for the Paint file.

To open a new instance, use the following keyboard shortcut: Win + Shift + Number of the program on the Taskbar .

4. Use the web browser version of the program

Using the above methods, it is difficult to relaunch programs from the Microsoft Store. These include applications such as Skype, WhatsApp for desktop, Zoom, and many others. You can run multiple instances using the web browser version of the program, if available. For Skype, you can easily access the new version from web.skype.com. You can use different Skype accounts or the same account on the desktop as well as the browser.

One way to get even better results is to use your browser's “incognito mode .” As shown below with Skype, you can run three or more instances of a program easily accessible on the web.

5. Relaunch the program as a different Windows user

You can relaunch the program as a different Windows user than Administrator. From the Start menu, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & Other users . Here, you can add family members or other people on this PC.

If you choose the second option, you can use an Outlook ID or state that “you don’t have that person’s sign-in information.” Now, add a user without a Microsoft account to continue. Alternatively, you can create a new Microsoft account.

Provide a username and password for this new local account. Answer and save the security questions. As shown here, a local account has been created. It can be easily removed from this window.

Go to the program on the desktop, hold down the Shift key , right-click and select “Run as different user” .

Enter the credentials that were used to create this local account. This will then allow you to run the program separately from any other instance with admin rights.

6. Install 2 versions of the same software with Sandboxie

As it turns out, sandboxing software works perfectly for creating a copy of an application on your system. Windows has a built-in sandbox that you can use for this purpose, but Sandboxie makes it even easier. It lets you run any program in a special window that's isolated from the rest of your computer.

This is a great way to test potentially unsafe downloads in a controlled environment, but also allows you to run multiple versions of an application.

Start by downloading Sandboxie Plus (the latest version after the original ended development) and running through the installation process. Once complete, you should see a Run Sandboxed entry when you right-click the program in File Explorer, provided you enabled this option during installation.

Like before, you'll likely have to right-click the app's entry in the Start menu and select Open File Location to show it in File Explorer, then right-click the app there and select Run Sandboxed .

The sandboxed program will show up on your taskbar just like any other program, but you'll see a yellow border around it when you hover over the window borders. Note that anything you create in the sandbox will be destroyed when you close it, so be sure to save any important files from the cloned application to your computer so you don't lose them.

You can create multiple sandboxes, in addition to the default sandbox, to run multiple versions of programs. And it's not limited to running software that's already on your computer; you can install software inside a sandbox to run it from a fresh state.

Sandboxie is a powerful utility with a variety of uses, but it takes a bit of practice to learn how to use it well. Check out Sandboxie's help page if you want to learn more.

https://sandboxie-plus.com/sandboxie/helptopics/

Some applications are designed to prevent multiple users from accessing the same device, especially premium software with limited licenses. If none of the above methods work, you can also set up a virtual machine and run the application from within. Here are some of the best virtualization software for Windows that you can try.

See also:

• Activate multiple programs and folders at the same time in Windows