# Start process is not launching application **URL:** \ **Category:** Robot Framework\ **Created:** [13 January 2025 17:35 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277 "2025-01-13T17:35:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![STBN03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@STBN03](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/STBN03)\ **Post date:** [13 January 2025 17:35 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/1 "2025-01-13T17:35:41Z")
Hi All, I’m using Selenium + Robot Framework Libraries used are RPA.Desktop and Process Start Process notepad ----- works Start process cmd ---- not working Tried the following alternates Start Process cmd.exe /c path\_to\_application – npthing happen Start Process cmd /c start path\_to\_application — Launches commend prompt but not launching anything Any help here is appreciated ---
**Author:** ![HelioGuilherme66](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/helioguilherme66/32/34_2.png) [@HelioGuilherme66](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/HelioGuilherme66)\ **Post date:** [13 January 2025 20:11 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/2 "2025-01-13T20:11:40Z")
> [@STBN03](#): > > Start Process cmd.exe /c path\_to\_application And? ```python Start Process path_to_application ``` ---
**Author:** ![STBN03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@STBN03](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/STBN03)\ **Post date:** [13 January 2025 21:24 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/3 "2025-01-13T21:24:54Z")
path\_to\_application is not ‘.exe’ it’s ‘.lnk’. We can double click on it to launch and also in the cmd I can give the path to launch the application. But when used the same path in code with start process nothing happens. The following command works Start Process cmd /c start dir But when I give application path it doesn’t work Start Process cmd /c start applicationpath - launches cmd prompt and nothing happen ---
**Author:** ![HelioGuilherme66](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/helioguilherme66/32/34_2.png) [@HelioGuilherme66](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/HelioGuilherme66)\ **Post date:** [13 January 2025 21:36 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/4 "2025-01-13T21:36:30Z")
> [@STBN03](#): > > But when used the same path in code with start process nothing happens. Probably the application needs a command window to have standard output. You should try to create a batch file (.bat or .cmd) with the launch command there. ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [14 January 2025 00:57 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/5 "2025-01-14T00:57:35Z")
Hi @STBN03, A ‘.lnk’ file is a windows shortcut file, if you right click that file and select properties, you will find the path to the exe file that is the actual application, also you may find the shortcut provides some command line switches or options that it passes to the exe, so you’ll need to note those and pass them to `Start Process` too. Also when you get a software update you may need to check of the shortcut file gets updated, it’ll be a good idea to let the dev team know you’re not using the actual shortcut file, but running the command it runs, and if they update it they should let you know what they changed. Dave. ---
**Author:** ![STBN03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@STBN03](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/STBN03)\ **Post date:** [16 January 2025 00:52 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/6 "2025-01-16T00:52:47Z")
Thanks for the response. Yes I got the path from properties only. moved the location of the .lnk to different folder from desktop and it worked. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![STBN03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@STBN03](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/STBN03)\ **Post date:** [16 January 2025 00:54 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/start-process-is-not-launching-application/8277/7 "2025-01-16T00:54:48Z")
Thanks. This is interesting I’ve not implemented this but tried couple of command to check how the .bat run