DeskScene

Launch arguments & admin start

Opens what is missing. Exactly how you need it.

A scene can start the apps that are not running yet, then place their windows. Each app gets its own launch arguments – a folder, a file, a URL – and can run as administrator.

Get it from the Microsoft Store All features
  • €9.99 once
  • 15-day free trial
  • No account

How it works

  1. 1

    In the editor, turn on “Start apps that are not running” for the scene.

  2. 2

    Type what each app should open in the column “Open with”: C:\dev\deskscene for VS Code, -d C:\dev\deskscene for Windows Terminal, a URL for a browser.

  3. 3

    Switch on “Admin” for an app that has to run as administrator. Windows asks for confirmation every time it starts.

  4. 4

    Load the scene: apps that are open are moved, missing ones are started in parallel, and DeskScene waits up to 20 seconds for their windows.

App table: VS Code, Terminal (administrator on), Notion and Chrome, each with launch arguments
Editor card “When loading”: Start apps that are not running, Minimize all other windows, Open saved websites
Load result: Terminal blocked because it runs as administrator, Notion started and placed; button “Restart DeskScene as administrator and load”

Good to know

  • Never twice

    An app is only started when no matching window is open. Arguments are passed to the app unchanged – DeskScene never runs them through a shell.

  • Store apps too

    Packaged apps are started through Windows with their app id, with arguments. Running them as administrator is not possible; the switch is greyed out.

  • More per app

    “…” → “More…”: working directory (default: the app’s folder) and how long to wait for a slow app.

  • Windows of administrator apps

    DeskScene runs without administrator rights, and Windows does not let it move windows of elevated apps. It reports them as “Blocked: runs as administrator” and offers to restart itself as administrator and load the scene.

  • Websites

    Save a list of URLs with a scene; “Open saved websites” opens them as tabs in a new window of your default browser. Only http and https addresses are opened.

FAQ

Questions

What happens if I cancel the UAC prompt?

The app is reported as “Cancelled”, everything else in the scene loads normally.

How long does DeskScene wait for an app?

Up to 20 seconds by default, per app adjustable in “More…”. Apps are started in parallel, not one after another.

Can DeskScene stay elevated all the time?

Not in 2.0. “Restart as administrator and load” lasts until DeskScene is closed or Windows restarts.

More features