AutoHotkey icon
AutoHotkey icon

AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is an open-source Windows scripting language for task automation. It crafts scripts for operations like form filling and auto-clicking, initially starting with hotkeys yet evolving into a complete script language. Converts scripts to executables, works offline, and supports debugging.

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  • Windows
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Comment summary: AutoHotkey is praised for its versatility in automating tasks, scripting hotkeys, and improving user interface interactions. Users find it particularly beneficial for remapping keyboards, managing hotkeys, and performing repetitive tasks efficiently. Despite its powerful script-based automation, the syntax is often criticized for being unintuitive, which can complicate learning and usage. Concerns exist over possible virus detections in older versions, and some would prefer a more standardized syntax akin to popular programming languages.
Top Positive Comment
vctls
3

Someone actually managed to write an AutoHotkey IDE using only AutoHotkey: https://sourceforge.net/projects/autogui/

I heard you like scripts…

Top Negative Comment
0

As programs become less relevant due to modern alternatives, one might use them less and not recall all the methodology. If you're looking for a simple program that will create mouse macros, you may be better off with TinyTask icon TinyTask ..very easy. If you still want to get into AutoHotKey, you might find Pulover's Macro Creator makes a good companion program that will script and export directly to Hotkey. Personally, I'm a lot more fond of using javascript programs with OrangeMonkey, but I did find occasion to make a macro, and rather than finding and dragging out the AHKey, I was very glad to have TinyTask on hand.

floriau
-1
  • awful: you can never be sure that even simple things work as expected
  • but: no viable software alternative on Windows
  • for simple things try PowerToys' Keyboard Manager first, if that's not enough use a hardware-based approach like QMK and maybe, maybe mix it with a tiny bit of AutoHotKey to make your hot keys application aware
neekimyong
0

It's a very complicated application. You need to write the places you want to click in the script file. If you can't set the time between clicks correctly, it can click in other places.

AJS-Caticorn
1

This shows as the top Windows alternative to Typinator for Mac, but this is very misleading. Typinator has a very easy-to-use interface that anyone can understand. AutoHotkey requires knowledge of coding, and is not straightforward at all.

Stephen Hurley
0

Great program, well detailed documentation and robust general functionality.

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
JimLegal
0

I only wish author would try more to mold the syntax towards a common language. Not to replace it, but model it like ie javascript and move towards syntactically imitating it more.

7 of 38 comments

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Official Links

Install from the command line

  • winget install -e --id AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey

Be careful what you paste into a terminal. Check what a command installs before running it.

What is AutoHotkey?

AutoHotkey (AHK) is a free, open-source macro-creation and automation software for Windows that allows users to automate repetitive tasks. It is driven by a scripting language that was initially aimed at providing keyboard shortcuts, otherwise known as hotkeys, that over time evolved into a full-fledged scripting language.

You can use AutoHotkey to:

  • Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes or mouse clicks, or via COM.
  • You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or a recorder.
  • Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
  • Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
  • Expand abbreviations as you type them.
  • Retrieve and change the Clipboard's contents.

You can also:

  • Convert any AHK script into an executable file that can be run on computers where AutoHotkey is not installed.
  • Create custom data-entry forms, user interfaces and menu bars.
  • Automate data entry jobs by reading data from text files, XML, CSV, Excel and various database formats.
  • Read signals from hand-held remote controls via the WinLIRC client script.
  • Use the Component Object Model (COM).
  • Use arrays, structures, matrices, and objects.
  • Use variadic functions.
  • Use DLL calls and Windows Messages.
  • Use Perl Compatible Regular Expressions (PCRE).
  • Use interactive debugging features.

AutoHotkey information

AlternativeTo Categories

Office & Productivity, OS & Utilities, System & Hardware

GitHub repository

  •  13,290 Stars
  •  1,192 Forks
  •  11 Open Issues
  •   Updated  
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Our users have written 38 comments and reviews about AutoHotkey, and it has gotten 924 likes

AutoHotkey was added to AlternativeTo by lmennuti on and this page was last updated . AutoHotkey is sometimes referred to as AHK.