DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
Redmond desk3 min

How to Configure App Execution Aliases in Windows 11 Advanced App Settings

Turn app execution aliases on or off in Windows 11 from Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings, with troubleshooting steps for commands that won't run.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

You can turn an app execution alias on or off in Windows 11 from Settings, under the Apps section. Turning an alias off stops that command name from launching its app, but it does not uninstall the app. The steps below show where the control lives, how to confirm it worked, and what to check when a command still won’t run.

Where the setting is in Windows 11

Open Start > Settings, select Apps, then open Advanced app settings. The App execution aliases page is reached from there. Microsoft’s support documentation lists Advanced app settings as a Windows 11 Apps section, but it does not spell out every click that leads to the alias page, and menu labels can shift between Windows 11 builds. If you don’t see the entry in the expected place, select the search box in Settings and type App execution aliases. That search is the most reliable route on any build.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Turn an alias on or off

  1. Open Start > Settings.
  2. Select Apps.
  3. Select Advanced app settings.
  4. Select App execution aliases.
  5. Find the app or command you want to change, then set its switch to On to allow the command to launch the app, or Off to stop it.
  6. Open a new Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Run dialog window and run the command. Changes to aliases are not always picked up by windows that were already open.

The list shows only the aliases that installed apps and packages have registered. What appears on your PC therefore depends on what you have installed, and two machines with the same Windows 11 version can show different lists.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What an alias does

An app execution alias is a short command name that lets you, or another process, start a packaged app without typing its full install path. Microsoft’s Learn documentation describes it this way: users and other processes can use the alias to start an application without specifying the full path to the app. The app declares the alias as part of its package integration with Windows, and the switch on the settings page controls whether that declared alias is active.

Disabling an alias is therefore a way to stop one command name from resolving to an app. It is not an uninstall, and it does not remove the app’s files or its entry in the installed-apps list.

Worked example: Windows Terminal (wt.exe)

Windows Terminal is the clearest documented case. Microsoft’s Windows Terminal documentation says that its wt.exe alias is enabled from the Manage app execution aliases page in Windows Settings. If you type wt in Command Prompt or the Run dialog and nothing happens, check that the Windows Terminal entry on that page is switched on, and confirm that Windows Terminal is installed.

Rank #2
Dell Latitude 5420 14" FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
  • 256 GB SSD of storage.
  • Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
  • Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.

Troubleshooting when a command won’t run

  • The alias is off. Return to the App execution aliases page and confirm the switch for that command is On.
  • The app is not installed. An alias can only start an app that is present. Install the app, then test the command again.
  • The WindowsApps folder is missing from PATH. Microsoft’s Windows Terminal documentation says that when alias access fails, the folder %LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftWindowsApps may need to be in your PATH. Check this only after the two items above. A missing PATH entry is one possible cause, not the cause on every device.
  • A different app opens. Two apps can register the same alias name. Microsoft’s documentation states that when several apps register the same alias, Windows invokes the last one registered. Open the App execution aliases page, look for duplicate or similar command names, and turn off the alias for the app you don’t want. App developers are advised to choose unique alias names.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the switch does not do

  • It does not install software or change which app opens a file type.
  • It does not guarantee that a command runs. The command also depends on the app being installed and on PATH settings.
  • It is not a performance or security setting. Its only effect is whether a given command name launches its registered app.

Do not confuse App execution aliases with Choose where to get apps, which also appears under Advanced app settings. That control governs where apps may be installed from, not which command names launch an app.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Once you have confirmed the alias switch and, if needed, the WindowsApps PATH entry, a command that failed before should start from a new terminal window.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Dell Latitude 5420 14' FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
Dell Latitude 5420 14" FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
256 GB SSD of storage.; Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM; Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
$285.00
Bestseller No. 3
HP 14' HD Laptop, Windows 11, Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.60GHz, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Webcam, Dale Pink (Renewed)
HP 14" HD Laptop, Windows 11, Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.60GHz, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Webcam, Dale Pink (Renewed)
14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
$245.99
Rank #4
Windows 11 Laptop with i3 Processor 15.6" Work Laptop for College Students
  • 【Efficient Performance】 Powered by Intel Core i3 processor (2 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.4GHz) with 12GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Handles multitasking, office software, online classes, and HD video streaming smoothly. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • Backlit Keyboard & Complete Package】Comes with a cool backlit keyboard. Comes with awebcam, dual stereo speakers (8Ω/1.0W each), DC charger, and user manual – ready for late-night studying, online classes, video conferencing, and daily productivity
  • 【Vibrant Display】 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with 16:9 aspect ratio delivers crisp images and vivid colors – perfect for studying, watching lectures, or entertainment. Thin-bezel design maximizes viewing area
  • 【Fast Connectivity & Expansion】 Equipped with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 for stable, high-speed wireless. Features 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Type-C (supports PD3.0 fast charging), and a TF card slot expandable up to 2TB – easily connect external monitors, mice, drives, or expand storage for all your files
  • 【Long Battery Life & Portable】 Built-in 11.55V 5000mAh/57.75Wh high-capacity battery delivers approximately 7 hours of mixed-use battery life – enough for a full day of classes and assignments. Lightweight at just 1.63kg (3.6 lbs) and 19.5mm thin, plus a compact packing size – easily slips into a backpack for campus, library, or coffee shop
Rank #3

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.