Add the Airplane and Connections Shortcut &Tile You Really Need - Windows 8 and 8.1

[sharpuser]

I use my Surface Pro 2 for travel and in various WiFi locations. When in the Desktop Display or the Start Menu (Metro), I wanted a shortcut to very quickly go to the connections display.

So I provide such a shortcut here.

Here is how to add:
- Desktop shortcut to the Network Connections menu for your Desktop (alternative to Notification Bar icon)
- Tile on your Start Menu (Metro) for Network Connections (alternative to Networking Charm)

1. Right-click your desktop, New, Shortcut, set location to

rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\van.dll,RunVAN

2. Name the shortcut "Connections", or anything you desire, then Finish.
3. Right-click on the new shortcut, Properties, Change Icon, and look for an icon in this file:

%SystemRoot%\System32\netcenter.dll

4. Click on the icon you choose, OK, OK.
5. Rename the shortcut "Connections" or anything you desire.
6. Right-click on the shortcut and Copy.
7. With File Explorer, browse to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\
8. Right-click, Paste (not Paste Shortcut), and confirm security if necessary.

You are done!

(Yes, I know that one click on a little icon in the bottom-right of your Desktop also does this, and so does a slide-out then tap on a charm from the Start Menu. But I took on the challenge to do it with an icon and a tile.)

Here are pics of the shortcut on my desktop and the Start Menu, and also the resulting display.


Photo of Oregon's Painted Hills by Mark DeJohn ART, LMT, CSTI

 

[dilla1988]

hi I was looking for a such shortcut everywhere and was happy to come across this.
However it just opens Documents folder when I follow your steps.
My rig is a SP3 with W8.1 with latest updates in.

Thanks

 

[sharpuser]

Seems that changes to Windows 8.1 have made this obsolete or unworkable.

Windows 10 provides built-in functionality for Airplane Mode.

 

[leeshor]

So, shouldn't this get moved?

 

[sharpuser]

Awaiting confirmation from any other Windows 8.1 user that the method is obsolete.