How to: Add Windows 8 Metro Apps to Steam

[greatmastermario]

I did some fiddling around the internet, and I finally found a way to access Windows Metro Apps as a Steam Shortcut:

1. Find the app's name (called its protocol) using these instructions: Here[www.itsjustwhatever.com]

2. Make a batch file with these two lines:

start "insert protocol name here"
PAUSE

3. Convert it to an EXE using the Batch to EXE Converter tool here: Click Here[www.f2ko.de]

I have some premade ones available in my public Dropbox for the following:

• Microsoft Minesweeper: Click Here[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]
  
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Click Here[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]
  
• Pinball FX2 (Microsoft): Click Here[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]

3. Place them somewhere, and remember where you put them.

4. In Steam, go to Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library

5. Go to Browse

6. Find the shortcut and add it.

Simple as that! Again, I suggest using the premade ones since I've already tested them. There are a couple of downsides to it though:

-The Steam overlay will not work. This is unavoidable.
-Whether you are playing the game or not is determined by the console window that pops up when you open the EXE file. Keep it up while you are playing, then press any key in it when you are done.

Hope this helps :D

-Great Master Mario

[kasparta]

I would like to add some games (paticularly Asphalt 8) but the protocols aren't listed. I also tried linking to the executable, but it will only run from the AppContainer. Is there another way (perhaps a batch file) to get a Metro App to run from Steam?

[greatmastermario]

Unfortunately not at the moment. I have tried to find a solution to this to no avail (I looked for a way with Despicable Me: Minion Rush). I hope there will be a solution sooner than Windows 10, but if not, Windows 10 "should" have a way to do it since all apps (Metro and Retro) will use the same format.

[ReasonsInLiving]

Even if it's possible to find the protocol for Gameloft games, it's hard as ♥♥♥♥. I want to add Asphalt 8 to my library so I can tell my Steam friends that I'm playing a Windows 8 game.

[YZ•Nugget]

Ok, so there is a few things you can do depending how you want it set up. None of them are really ideal, but they will work...


--First and easiest:
You can go back to my site on the downloads page and get the type 2 metrolauncher.
http://www.itsjustwhatever.com/downloads/

Then rename the file (not the desktop version) to the exact name of the game since its based off of searching, and then add that to your game library. Its a standalone file so you can move it wherever you want and make copies with multiple names for different programs if you want.

The problem with this is that it will stay in memory like the batch file solution above, so you will have to press escape to exit the app.



--Second
Same as first, but use the desktop version of the file. This will not stay in memory so you can close the program however you want. But since it doesnt stay loaded in memory steam will not recognize your in game.



--Third
Same as second, but wrap the file in the batch file above. So it would read:
start "c:\directory_of_renamed_metrolauncher\renamed metrolauncher2Desktop.exe"
pause

This will essentially do the same thing as the first method, but escape will not quit the game. You will quit the game normally and then press any key to end the batch file.

Hope this helps.

[VoodooRaisins]

I know this is a rather old thread, but I'm having a problem. I've done what is listed above (put protocol name, saved as .bat, converted to .exe), and whenever I start the .EXE the command prompt comes up and not my program. The app in question is "Project Spark"

[greatmastermario]

It's been a while since I've fiddled with this, but try adding "URL:" to the beginning, or ":\\" to the end of the protocol name. I know I tried with Despicable Me: Minion Rush but failed to find the protocol. I'm not sure how it would work if you have the protocol. Sorry :(

[VoodooRaisins]

That did the trick, my good sir. Thank you so much!

[greatmastermario]

No problem :D

[ReBoot]

This part about Metro and retro apps using the same format is nonsense

[JoshiMonsta]

Originally posted by TGC-K61- Luke 'Caomhnóir' S-C:

Has it changed in Windows 10?

Not from what I can tell. Was just trying to do it before and it works in the same way windows 8 does.

[greatmastermario]

From what I can see, I have to agree nothing has changed. The ability to add Win10 Universal apps would be a decision left to Valve. I did, however, find a better way to do this that is actually easier. http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse/discussions/1/611696927924132613/

[Salza]

When i try to add the Xbox app nothing happens
the protocoll says
URL:xbox
i tried URL:xbox
xbox
xbox:\\
XBOX
nothing worked
halp

i use win 10 btw

[greatmastermario]

Yeah, I haven't updated this post in months :p

I haven't actually tried it yet on Win10, but I'll update it if I find a way that's better than the website in this post http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/558752450306289886/?tscn=1444151301#c541907867771864594

[bt04]

Your link above doesn't work. Can you walk me through the steps for the better way that you mentioned above?

[KingZope]

Originally posted by bt04:

Your link above doesn't work. Can you walk me through the steps for the better way that you mentioned above?

Agreed. I'm trying to launch Minecraft for Windows 10 via Steam and hitting wall after wall.