Open multiple websites with one click using Windows Notepad

If every morning you follow the same ritual of turning on your computer, always opening the same applications and same websites If you're not going to waste several minutes just on that, you'll want to keep reading. Windows and the classic Notepad hide a very simple trick that lets you launch a bunch of websites and programs at once with just a couple of clicks, without the need for strange tools or complicated installations.

The idea is to take advantage of batch files (the famous .bat files that execute several commands (from Windows automatically) along with your default browser and application shortcuts. By combining all of this, you can create a complete working environment: open multiple instances of Word, Excel, Notepad, Firefox, Outlook, and a good number of websites, and then distribute them across your virtual desktops without having to launch each one individually as if it were a chore.

Why it's worth automating the opening of websites and applications

Millions of people around the world work with it every day a version of Windows for your workdayThe curious thing is that, although the jobs and sectors are very different, in practice almost all of us repeat the same actions at the start of the day: open a browser, start the same websites, launch the same office or communication programs, and put everything in its place.

For many people, turning on their computer in the morning has become a real ritual: booting up Windows, launching the browser, retrieving tabs, opening news portals, web applications, corporate email, social networks And so on and so forth. All this, by clicking and clicking, tab after tab, and waiting for each program to finish starting up.

Modern browsers like Chrome or Firefox already allow you to save sessions with multiple tabs, but the trick we're talking about goes a step further, because it's not limited to just the browser: with a simple file you can make Windows open multiple websites, desktop programs, and different instances of the same application almost instantly, simply by double-clicking on an icon on the desktop.

Furthermore, this method is very lightweight and doesn't depend on third-party software. It leverages features that Windows supports by default and is based on something as basic as... Notepad and the system's internal commandsTherefore, even though session managers or professional automation tools exist, this solution is perfect if you want something fast, simple, and that works on almost any Windows PC.

Organize multiple virtual instances and desktops in Windows

Some take the organization a step further and work with multiple instances of the same applications spread across virtual desktops. Imagine a setup where every morning you open nine Excel windows, nine Word windows, nine Notepad windows, nine Firefox windows, and five Outlook windows, and then manually distribute them across nine different virtual desktops.

In this scenario, each virtual desktop is dedicated to a specific application or task, and the programs are kept organized so you always know where everything is. The problem is that if you rely solely on individual shortcuts, opening everything requires clicking on each program one by one and waiting for it to load, which is... Slow, repetitive, and inefficient.

In Windows, when you select multiple shortcuts (.lnk) If you select multiple shortcuts at once and choose "Open," often only one will execute because the system doesn't always correctly process multiple shortcut selections. However, if you directly select the executable files (.exe), the behavior may be different, but it's not always practical to navigate through system folders every day.

The ideal solution involves having a system that allows all those instances to be started at once, while also respecting certain nuances: for example, that Each virtual desktop should maintain a main instance of Word or Excel.or that each instance of Outlook opens with a different mailbox, or that Firefox Boot with a specific set of websites depending on the desktop.

In these types of advanced configurations, many users used batch files (.bat) to launch all the necessary applications at once. However, some corporate environments have implemented security restrictions that prevent the execution of .bat files, forcing users to find alternative solutions that still allow for automated startup without violating company policies.

Advanced control with Word, Excel, Outlook, Firefox, and Notepad

When working with multiple virtual desktops, a curious problem arises with programs like Word and Excel: when opening a document, the system may decide in which instance and on which virtual desktop This is displayed, which disrupts the order the user intends to maintain. To avoid this, there is a very practical strategy based on maintaining a "base" instance on each desktop.

The idea is to have a Word window and an Excel window permanently open on each virtual desktop. When you want to open a specific document, instead of double-clicking the file and hoping it opens on the correct desktop, you drag the file from Windows Explorer to the Word or Excel window on that desktop. This way, the document opens. in its own instance within that desktopallowing you to work with it without disrupting the rest of the environment.

When you close that document, there is still one left. “empty” instance Word or Excel on that desktop, ready to receive another file dragged later. If, on the other hand, you open a document from the Word window you already have open and then close it, you could run out of instances on that desktop, and the next document would open who knows where, losing control over the organization.

Something similar happens with Outlook, but it's geared towards mailboxes. Many professionals manage multiple email accounts or separate mailboxesFor example, one for each application or project, in addition to a personal mailbox. In that case, it's very useful to have an Outlook instance on each virtual desktop, configured to display a specific mailbox and perhaps its own calendar or address book. This way, each desktop brings together everything related to a particular application.

In the case of Firefox (or whichever browser you use), things get even more complicated, because we usually manage different groups of web pages per project or client. Some users choose to have multiple instances of Firefox on each virtual desktopeach with a different set of tabs, to separate contexts and not mix tools from one project with another.

Notepad, though simple, also plays a curious role in this ecosystem. Since Windows doesn't permanently display the name of the virtual desktop you're using, some users open a text file on each desktop with the application or project name and place it in the upper right corner. This way, a quick glance at the Notepad window is enough to tell you which application or project is currently active. which virtual desktop is being used at any given time.

Use Notepad to open multiple websites at once

Beyond desktop applications, one of the most practical uses of Notepad in this context is to create a simple batch file that opens multiple web pages with a single double-clickThe logic is very similar to launching multiple applications at once, but in this case, it points directly to URLs.

The classic method in Windows 10 (and other versions) involves opening Notepad and starting the file with the instruction:

@ Echo off

This line prevents the execution of all commands on the screen when the .bat file is run, keeping the console cleaner. Next, you add the URLs of the websites you want to open automatically. In its most basic form, some tutorials simply write The URLs, one per line, are saved in a .bat file. which Windows can then process.

However, a more structured way that is compatible with most systems is to use the command startwhich allows you to launch processes or open addresses with the default browser. For example:

start «website name» «http://www.website.com»

The general syntax is always the same: after the word `start`, you put a descriptive title in quotation marks (which serves as the window name or internal reference) and then the web address you want to open. If you want to open several websites, simply repeat the line, changing the name and the URL:

start «News» «https://larepublica.pe/»
start «Social network» «https://www.facebook.com/»

Each of these lines causes your default browser to open the corresponding URL when you run the file, usually in a new tab or window depending on your settings. This way, you can launch everything with just one .bat file. All the pages you need to start your daywithout opening them one by one.

How to create a .bat file step by step using Notepad

To put this trick into practice, simply follow a few easy steps, all using tools already included in Windows. There's no need to install anything or have in-depth knowledge of [the operating system/system]. programmingjust to know How to correctly save a text file with the appropriate extension.

The first thing is to open the Windows NotepadYou can do this from the Start menu, by searching for it by name, or by pressing the keys Windows + RType "notepad" and press Enter. When it opens, ideally you should type the following command on the first line:

@ Echo off

Then, on separate lines, add the necessary instructions to open your websites with the `start` command, as we saw earlier. Make sure that Each website should follow its own path.And you can add as many as you need, always respecting the same quote structure and complete URL.

Once you have all the websites written out, it's time to save the file. This is where many people make mistakes. In Notepad's "File" menu, choose "Save As...". In the save window, in the "File name" field, type the name you want, but ending with . . BeatFor example, “my_websites.bat”. It is essential that it does not end up as “my_websites.bat.txt”.

Just below, under “Type”, you’ll see a drop-down menu. By default, it usually shows “Text document (*.txt)”. You should change it to “All files” This prevents Windows from automatically adding the .txt extension. This way, the file will be saved with the exact .bat extension you need for it to function as a batch file.

If you want to fine-tune things, you can also check the "Encoding" section and leave it on a standard option (like ANSI or UTF-8), although in most cases it won't be critical for these kinds of simple commands. Once saved, place the file in a convenient location, such as your desktop or a shortcuts folder, and you'll be all set. double-click web launcher.

Run the file and open websites and programs with a click of the mouse

With the .bat file created and saved, using it is straightforward. You just have to do double-click on its icon Just like you would with any other shortcut or program. Windows will briefly open a command prompt window (which may remain in the background) and, within seconds, your default browser will begin opening all the websites listed in the file.

If you've combined commands for launching programs and opening web pages in the same file, you'll see them start simultaneously. This can even speed up your workflow, because while the browser opens tabs, Word, Excel, Outlook, and other applications can launch in parallel. The trick is in... Adjust the command list to your daily routineso that with a single double click you have practically everything ready.

Keep in mind, however, that if your work environment has restrictions, the administrators have blocked the execution of .bat files For security reasons. In that case, double-clicking might not do anything, or you might receive a warning message. It's advisable to consult the company's policies before relying heavily on this method.

An alternative, when there are limitations with .bat files, is to use shortcuts to the executable (.exe) files of the applications and organize them in a folder, although we have already seen that Selecting multiple shortcuts at once and choosing "Open" doesn't always work as it should be, because often only one of them is evaluated. That's where the batch file method still has an advantage, provided it's allowed.

Another added advantage is that you can create more than one .bat file for different scenarios: one for your morning routine, another for a specific project that requires certain websites and programs, or even just one for occasional tasks. Simply duplicate the file and modify the command lines according to what you want to automate in each case, creating several custom boot “profiles”.

.exe file associations and problems opening programs

On some computers, when trying to open executable files (.exe), Windows may not know which program to associate them with, or it may try to open them with the wrong application (as if they were text documents or other types of files). This causes... you cannot start programs in the usual way and it can also affect scripts and automations.

When this problem occurs, one way to fix it is to restore the .exe file association in the Windows Registry, returning it to its default state. The procedure isn't straightforward, but it can also be done using Notepad, demonstrating the versatility of this editor. rescue tool in complicated situations.

The first step is to open the Task Manager pressing the key combination CTRL + SHIFT + ESCOnce open, click on the “File” menu. Then, hold down the CTRL key while clicking on “New Task (Run…)”. This special combination opens a new task instead of the typical “Run” window. symbol of the system (cmd.exe).

In the console window, type “notepadType "" and press Enter to launch Notepad. In Notepad, paste a block of text that redefines the .exe extension settings in the registry. The content will look something like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.exe]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.exe]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.exe\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.exe\OpenWithProgids]
"exefile"=hex(0):

Once you've pasted the text, go to the "File" menu and choose "Save As...". In the dialog box, change the save type to "All Files" and type the file name. Exe.regIt is also important to select the “Unicode” encoding in the encoding dropdown menu, so that the file is saved correctly and the Registry can read it without problems.

Next, return to the Command Prompt window you opened from Task Manager. In the console, type the command REG IMPORT Exe.reg and press Enter. The system will display a dialog box asking if you wish to continue; answer “Yes” and then accept the confirmation message that the information has been successfully added to the Registry.

At this point, it is recommended to log out of your user account and log back in so that the changes take full effectIn some cases, it may even be necessary to restart the computer for program icons to return to their normal appearance and for executables to open normally again.

Once everything is working again, delete the Exe.reg file to prevent it from being accidentally imported again in the future. And if the problem persists despite this procedure, you always have the option of performing a system restore to a previous point where The error did not occur with the .exe files., preferably starting the team in safe mode (by normally accessing it with the F8 key or the corresponding recovery system) and launching the System Restore tool from there.

With all these resources—bat files to launch websites, organization of instances by virtual desktops, Tricks With Notepad and Registry tweaks—when something goes wrong—it's possible to create a much more streamlined Windows work environment, where your morning routine is no longer a series of tedious clicks but becomes almost automatic. From there, all that remains is to refine the list of websites and programs you actually need, eliminating the superfluous and letting the Automation will take care of opening everything you need for you..