AutoHotkey on Windows: Automation, Hotkeys and Macros Guide

AutoHotkey (AHK) is a free scripting language for Windows automation. Assign hotkeys, automate repetitive tasks and create macros — no programming experience required.

Install

winget install AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey

Or from autohotkey.com → Download → AutoHotkey v2

Create first script: Right-click desktop → New → AutoHotkey Script → open in Notepad → write code → save → double-click to run.

Basic Syntax (AHK v2)

; Hotkey: Win+N opens Notepad
#n:: Run "notepad.exe"

; Ctrl+Shift+T shows message
^+t:: MsgBox "Hello!"

; F1 opens website
F1:: Run "https://cryptolockua.com"

Modifiers: # Win, ^ Ctrl, ! Alt, + Shift

Text Macros (Hotstrings)

Auto-replace typed text:

; Type "@@" → replaces with email
::@@::my@email.com

; Type "addr" → expands to full address
::addr::123 Main St, New York, NY 10001

; Auto-correct typos
::teh::the
::recieve::receive

Window Management

; Ctrl+Alt+M — minimize current window
^!m:: WinMinimize "A"

; Ctrl+Alt+F — always on top toggle
^!f::
{
    hwnd := WinGetID("A")
    WinSetAlwaysOnTop -1, hwnd
}

; Win+Q — close current window
#q:: WinClose "A"

Mouse and Keyboard Automation

; Click at specific position
Click 100, 200

; Move mouse
MouseMove 500, 300, 10

; Type text
SendText "This is automated text!"

; Press keys
Send "{Enter}"
Send "^c"  ; Ctrl+C

; Delay between actions
Sleep 1000

Practical Examples

Auto-fill login form

F2::
{
    Send "myusername{Tab}mypassword{Enter}"
}

Open multiple apps at once

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
Run "C:\Program Files\Telegram Desktop\Telegram.exe"
Sleep 500
Run "C:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe"

Auto-start with Windows

Win + R → shell:startup
Copy .ahk file to that folder

Compile to .exe

Right-click .ahk file → Compile Script — runs without AutoHotkey installed.

Summary

Task	Code
Hotkey	`^+t:: MsgBox "text"`
Text macro	`::short::full text`
Open program	`#n:: Run "notepad.exe"`
Auto-start	Copy to `shell:startup`
Compile	Right-click → Compile Script