Start app in Windows 10 PowerApps app using Powershell

[hpshaiti]

I am trying to auto start a PowerApps app in Windows 10 using a Powershell script. After some research I discovered how to start the Windows 10 PowerApps app in Powershell using the command "Start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.MSapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App". However I have not been able to figure out how to pass it the name of the particular app we want to automatically start when we open the PowerApps app. I can do this manually by pinning the particular app, after opening PowerApps, to the Windows 10 start menu as a tile. So I know it can be done but I can't figure out how to duplicate this using the Powershell command. Seems like it should be a parameter to pass or something like that but I can't figure out how to do it.

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @hpshaiti ,

Could you please share a bit more about your scenario?

Do you want to open a specific canvas app through PowerApps Desktop Client using PowerShell command?

If you want to open a specific canvas app through PowerApps Desktop Client using PowerShell command, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in PowerApps currently.

If you would like this feature to be added in PowerApps, please submit an idea to PowerApps Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Ideas/idb-p/PowerAppsIdeas

Best regards,

[hpshaiti]

Wait are you saying this is something that could be added to PowerApps? That doesn't seem logical to me. What I'm looking for is not something in the app but a way in Windows 10 to start the app, or rather start the PowerApps Desktop Client and then pass it a parameter to start a particular app. Again it seems obvious to me this can be done because that is what happens when a app is pinned to a start tile. When you click that tile some kind of a Windows command is executed. How do I find that command?

To give more details on our application, we are using a PowerApp as a way to display information on a public screen. And it needs to be visible 24/7. So we need a way to restart the app every 8 hrs. when PowerApps times out and also at times when Windows 10 automatically processes updates and restarts. The idea is to use a Powershell script and the Scheduler. We have found the Windows 10 start command for the PowerApps Desktop Client but cannot figure out a way to start it and open that particular app.

[Westly]

Would running the app in the web browser meet your needs? This might be an easier route to take.

[hpshaiti]

Problem with running the browser is that we need to run it full screen. It is a display in a public area.

[Jouden]

Hello, Did you solve this issue in the mean time? I'am also looking for this feature. I also would like to know how automatically start in full screen and maybe the possibility to run another powerapp instance on another scrreen in the power apps desktop application. Somebody there to help out? 

[rubin_boer]

hi @hpshaiti just a question, have you consider running the browser (edge) in kiosk mode - this way the browser will run the whole screen and perfect for public places.

I know its not a Power Apps response but maybe a better way to deal with your challenge.  

[Jouden]

Yes, I did. But the point is, I want to use two screens (apps) via the same PC. One app saves data via the SaveData command and the other should read that data via the LoadData command.

That is not possible via the browser in kiosk mode. The desktop application however is able to store and load data from a collection.

Using another data source is going to slow. That’s why I’m looking for a way to communicate between the apps via the desktop application.

Regards,

[Jouden]

Anybody else that have a solution for this problem?