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On various Windows versions, users simply need to hold the Shift key and right-click on an application to initiate it with a different user account. This is particularly useful when wanting to simultaneously run multiple instances of that program. For example, programs like Word, Notepad, Chrome... perform this action, and it opens a second window with a blank slate, allowing you to work easily on this new instance simultaneously.
However, this method doesn't work with most applications. So, what if you want to run independent processes of those applications? In this article, Mytour will guide you on how to run multiple instances of a program on the same computer or laptop. Readers, follow along and share if you find the article helpful.
Running Multiple Instances of a Program on the Same Computer or Laptop
Run as a Different User
Whenever you open an application or software in Windows, the operating system creates a new process of that program in your user account. If you have multiple users on the system and want to switch between them using the Start Menu, you can run multiple instances of a program under a different user on the same computer or laptop.
You can easily observe this by opening Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination and checking the Details tab. The User name column contains the user who initiated the software launch.
Certainly, switching between user accounts to use 2 or more versions of the same software can be quite inconvenient. However, a better way is to run a program as a different user, not the regular account. If you don't have a second user account on your computer, start by creating a new user account for this purpose. You can begin by right-clicking on the Start menu with the Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen and selecting Settings.
The Windows Settings interface appears; click on the Accounts section.
Next, on the left column, choose Family & other people and click on Add someone else to this PC
A new dialogue box appears, asking for the email address of the new user. Simply click on I don't have this person's sign-in information to skip this step.
You don't need to use a Microsoft account to log in, so click on Add a user without a Microsoft account at the bottom of the next dialogue box.
Provide a username and password for the account and then click Next. If you don't set a password, the next step won't work.
There you go, you've successfully added a new account for yourself.
2. Running Multiple Instances of a Program on the Same Computer or Laptop
Now that you have two accounts, you can run multiple instances of a program based on the account you choose. If you open a program from the Start Menu, it will open under your default account. For instance, if you want to run 2 instances of Skype on your computer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Windows menu at the bottom left of the screen and type Skype. Simultaneously right-click and choose Open File Location
Step 2: Next, press Shift + right-click on the program icon and select Run as different user.
Step 3: A dialogue box appears requesting login information for another account. Here, you need to enter the information for the account you created earlier and press OK or Enter.
Note: To run multiple instances of a program on your computer, you need to completely exit the software and start from the beginning as outlined in the steps above.
3. Use Sandboxie to run multiple software instances on your computer.
If you prefer not to use the above method, there's dedicated software for this purpose, and that's Sandboxie. This tool allows you to run anything in an isolated window from the rest of the system. It's a great way to test potentially unsafe software in a controlled environment and also enables you to run multiple instances of an application.
Start by downloading and installing Sandboxie. Once the installation process is complete, the program will automatically launch, and you can begin using Sandboxie to run multiple instances of software on your computer or laptop. For details on using this software, you can refer to our tutorial on basic usage of Sandboxie that we shared earlier.
In addition to utilizing external tools as described by Mytour, don't overlook the built-in features within software or programs. For instance, in browsers, readers can easily activate the private browsing feature without worrying about prying eyes or browsing history. The basic incognito window provides a 'clean' browsing experience, not retaining any login or identification information. Therefore, you can privately browse on Chrome or other web browsers to log into various sites like Facebook, Gmail, etc., without logging out of your main account. Hopefully, this article from Mytour addresses the needs you have. For any installation issues or questions that need answers, feel free to leave feedback here, and we'll discuss together. Wish you all success.
