Run UWP apps under custom shell

What is this for?

In Windows 8+ UWP apps needs PackageIdentity and cannot be directly launched the Win32 way (example. If you use a custom shell then basically all UWP apps cannot run. Since Windows 8 Microsoft moves some configuration options, including even volume and wireless controls to UWP-based apps, a custom shell on generic devices becomes more and more useless.

This guide enables you to run UWP apps, aka the appendix of Windows applications as officially designated, on a custom shell.

Benefits

If you desire to run a custom shell on Windows of all OSes you'd probably already know.

Also, in Windows 11 the conventional Explorer shell are less and less usable (search ``Windows 11 Explorer bugs'' for more), so why not give custom shells a try, as long as you know the consequences?

Steps

Official guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/customize/shell-launcher Official config example: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-iotcore-samples/blob/develop/Samples/ShellLauncherV2/SampleConfigXmls/README.md

1. Make sure you are on Enterprise / Education where the product policy EmbeddedFeature-ShellLauncher-Enabled is set to 1.
2. Go to ``Programs and Features'' in the Control Panel and enable the shell launcher per the official guide.
3. Edit the configuration script in the official guide to set the custom shell.

• For BBLean, set it as C:\bblean\blackbox.exe.
• However, it seems that non-Microsoft-signed .exe won't be run. Use a wrapper batch file instead.
• You have to call $ShellLauncherClass.RemoveCustomShell() first after setting a custom shell. Otherwise an exception will be thrown.

4. Log out and log in. If the custom shell isn't running, try launching it using the Task Manager.
5. Use Win + I to test it. ImmersiveControlPanel should work.

Windows 11 untested but should work.

Things supposed to work

• Basically all UWP apps, including Microsoft Store, UWP-based IMEs and Windows Defender dashboard.
• Modern (i.e. decent-looking) Alt-Tab and Win-Tab screens.
• Virtual desktops.
• Wi-Fi switcher, volume switcher, and various popups triggered by the Fn keys.

Known Problems

• In BBLean, when you press the Windows key / Ctrl + Esc it gives an unclickable Start Menu.
  • Use AutoHotkey.
• Notifications do not work.
• Can't find the wifi and volume tray icons.
  • Seems that CustomShellHost.exe subsumed it while it is running.
  • Use ImmersiveControlPanel -> Network and Internet -> Wi-Fi -> Show Available Networks for Wi-Fi. Or install an alternative Wi-Fi manager application.
  • Use good old Windows (tm) Mobile Center (mblctr.exe).
  • Or use PE Network Manager.
• Triple click ineffective under alternative shell.
  • Seems like an override when using CustomShellHost.
  • Maybe it's due to lack of attention. Maybe the triple / quadruple clicks in recent Windows 10 versions are just forwarded to the shell to process, and running bbLean without CustomShellHost wrapper does not resolve the issue.
  • Use my enabler.
• Precision touchpad slide to switch virtual desktops functionality / show task view conflicts with bbLean.
  • Use just one kind of functionality.

See Also

https://winclassic.net/thread/1652/list-metro-ified-components-windows (if you prefer non-metro Apps and just run the custom shell plainly without UWP components)