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To open a group of websites with one action in Windows 11, put one start command per URL in a batch file, then create a Windows shortcut to that file. You can double-click the shortcut or assign it a keyboard combination. Windows sends the URLs to your default browser; whether they appear as tabs or separate windows depends on that browser.
Create a batch file for your websites
Windows 11 does not offer a single built-in wizard for making a shortcut that launches a group of websites. A small batch file is a simple, reusable workaround.
- Open Notepad and paste this example:
@echo off
start "" "https://www.google.com/"
start "" "https://outlook.office.com/"
start "" "https://calendar.google.com/"
exit- Replace the example URLs with the sites you want. Add one
start "" "URL"line for each site. - In Notepad, select File > Save as. Choose All files for Save as type, then save the file with a name such as
Morning websites.bat. Store it somewhere you will not accidentally move or delete, such as a folder in Documents. - Run the
.batfile once to check that each website opens.
The empty quotation marks after start are important. In Command Prompt, the first quoted argument to start is treated as a window title. The empty title keeps the following quoted URL in the right position. Microsoft documents the Windows start command and its URL behavior.
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Create a desktop shortcut
A batch file contains the instructions. A Windows shortcut (.lnk) gives you a convenient icon to launch those instructions and is also where you assign a keyboard shortcut.
- In File Explorer, right-click the
.batfile. - Select Show more options > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). If that option is not available, create one with New > Shortcut and select the batch file as its target.
- Rename the new desktop shortcut to something recognizable, such as Open work websites.
- Double-click the shortcut to test it.
The script launches the URLs in rapid succession. It does not guarantee that every browser will open one new tab per URL: a browser may reuse an existing window, open tabs, or use a different window arrangement according to its settings and current state.
Assign a keyboard shortcut
To launch the group with a key combination, assign the combination to the desktop .lnk shortcut—not just to the .bat file.
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- Right-click the desktop shortcut and select Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, click the Shortcut key field.
- Press a key, such as M. Windows will normally show a combination such as Ctrl + Alt + M.
- Select Apply, then OK, and test the combination.
Choose a combination that another app does not already use. Keep the shortcut somewhere Windows can access, such as the desktop or Start-menu Programs folder; if you move or delete it, test the hotkey again. If the Shortcut key field is unavailable, make sure you are setting it on a standard Windows shortcut (.lnk).
Use the default browser—or choose Edge
The regular command, start "" "https://example.com/", uses Windows’ registered handler for web links, normally your default browser. It is the most portable option if you do not need to choose the browser yourself.
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To explicitly request Microsoft Edge, use its documented URI scheme:
@echo off
start "" "microsoft-edge:https://www.microsoft.com/"
start "" "microsoft-edge:https://learn.microsoft.com/"
exitThis is Edge-specific. You can also call a browser executable directly, but its path varies by browser, installation type, and device. For example, an Edge installation might use:
start "" "C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftEdgeApplicationmsedge.exe" "https://example.com/"Do not assume that path exists on your PC. Unless you specifically need to force a browser or control its launch options, use the default-browser version. Microsoft describes the Edge URI scheme for launching a URL.
Improve reliability if the browser misses a URL
Most users can put the URL commands one after another. If a slower computer or browser does not process every launch reliably, try a short delay between them:
@echo off
start "" "https://site-one.example/"
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
start "" "https://site-two.example/"
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
start "" "https://site-three.example/"
exitThe two-second pauses are an optional workaround, not a requirement of start; they make the overall launch take longer. Test the file both when your browser is closed and when it is already running. Also test the final desktop shortcut and keyboard combination.
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Keep each complete URL inside its own pair of double quotes. This matters for URLs with query parameters such as & or encoded spaces:
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| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Batch file plus shortcut | Launching a fixed set of sites with one click or hotkey | Browser controls tab and window behavior |
| Browser startup pages | Opening the same sites whenever the browser starts | Not a separate desktop or keyboard shortcut |
| Bookmarks or a tab group | A set of sites you edit often or want synced through the browser | Usually requires opening the saved group in the browser |
| Edge installed web apps | Giving one frequently used site its own app-style entry | Normally one shortcut per site, not one grouped launcher |
| PowerShell or Power Automate | Users who prefer scripting, or workflows that do more than open URLs | More setup and, for PowerShell, possible execution-policy or file-association hurdles |
In Edge, you can install a single site as an app via Settings and more … > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. Then visit edge://apps, select Details for the app, and choose an option such as Create Desktop shortcut, Pin to Start, or Pin to taskbar, where available. Edge also supports auto-start for installed web apps. These are useful per-site features rather than a multi-site bundle; see Microsoft’s guide to installing and managing Edge apps.
If you want to try PowerShell, this is the equivalent basic loop:
$urls = @(
"https://www.google.com/",
"https://outlook.office.com/",
"https://calendar.google.com/"
)
foreach ($url in $urls) {
Start-Process $url
}Save it as a .ps1 file. Depending on Windows settings, double-clicking a PowerShell script may open it in an editor or execution-policy restrictions may prevent it from running. For just opening a fixed set of URLs, a batch file is usually easier. Power Automate for desktop can launch browser sessions, but is more appropriate when opening sites is only one step in a larger workflow.
Pin the group in Start
Windows 11’s context-menu options can vary by build and shortcut type, so do not rely on a .bat file always offering Pin to Start. A more dependable approach is to put a shortcut to the batch file in your user Programs folder:
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- 💻 ✔️ New adhesive – stronger hold. It may leave a light residue when removed, but this wipes off easily with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Fewer air bubbles – for the smoothest finish, don’t peel off the entire backing at once. Instead, fold back a small section, line it up, and press gradually as you peel more. The “peel-and-stick-all-at-once” method only works for thin decals, not for stickers like ours.
- 💻✔️ Compatible with Windows 10 AND 11.
- ⚠️📐 STICKER SIZE - This sticker measures 3" wide and 2.5" tall and designed to fit 14" and smaller laptops. We have a larger sticker (for 15.6" and up) in our store as well.
%APPDATA%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsSearch for the shortcut by name from Start, then use the pinning option available on your Windows installation. Microsoft’s Start layout documentation covers shortcuts in the Programs location. Pinning an individual website from Edge is a separate option; Microsoft explains it in its guide to customizing the Start menu.
Windows 11 virtual desktops are different: they help organize open windows, but do not themselves create a reusable multi-website launcher. Microsoft’s guide to multiple desktops covers Task View and desktop switching.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
Only one website opens
Check that every URL is on its own valid line and has matching double quotes. Try the optional timeout pauses above, then test with the browser closed and open. Browser settings, security software, or workplace policies can affect how links are handled.
A Command Prompt window appears
This is normal when a batch file runs. If you launch it through the desktop shortcut, open the shortcut’s Properties and set its Run option to Minimized if that option is available. This minimizes the command window; it does not guarantee that the browser itself will be minimized.
A URL is treated as a title
Use the empty title argument. This form can behave incorrectly:
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start "https://example.com/"Use this instead:
start "" "https://example.com/"The wrong browser opens
The plain start form intentionally uses the default browser. Change the Windows default for web links if you want a different default, or use a browser-specific URI or executable when you need to target a particular browser.
The keyboard combination does nothing
Confirm that you assigned it to the .lnk, selected Apply, and are pressing the full combination Windows displays. Check for a conflict with another app and verify that the shortcut remains in an accessible location.
A site asks you to sign in
The shortcut only opens the URLs. It does not bypass passwords, multifactor authentication, or workplace access controls. The browser may reuse an existing profile and signed-in session, or show a sign-in page instead.
Security and privacy
A batch file runs commands, so inspect its contents before running a file you received from someone else. Use only URLs you trust. Anyone able to launch the shortcut may open those sites in the browser profile currently in use; take that into account on a shared computer.
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