AHK; Customize your keyboard, joystick, and mouse with an free open source scripting language (AutoHotkey) that is backward compatible with AutoIt v2.
Automate almost anything: Send keystrokes & mouse clicks; launch programs / documents; work with the clipboard, registry, & soundcard settings. In addition to its automation features described below, AutoHotkey excels at hotkeys, able to make virtually *any* mouse/joystick button, keyboard key, or combination into a hotkey. AutoHotkey it can also individually disable or override Windows’ own shortcut keys, such as Win+E and Win+R. It may also help alleviate RSI; for example, it can create substitutes for Alt-Tab using keys, mouse wheel, or buttons.
Some uses for AutoHotkey:
• Define hotkeys for the mouse and keyboard, remap keys or buttons and autocorrect-like replacements.
• Remapping the keyboard, such as from QWERTY to Dvorak or other alternative keyboard layouts.
• Using shortcuts to fill in frequently-used file names or other phrases.
• Typing punctuation not provided on the keyboard, such as curved quotes (“…”).
• Typing other non-keyboard characters such as the sign × used, e.g., in describing a room as 10′×12′.
• Controlling the mouse cursor with a keyboard or joystick.
• Opening programs, documents, and websites with simple keystrokes.
• Adding a signature to e-mail, message boards, etc.
• Monitoring a system and automatically closing unwanted programs.
• Scheduling an automatic reminder, system scan, or backup.
• Automating repetitive tasks.
• Filling out forms automatically.
• Prototyping before implementing in another, more time-consuming, programming language.
2.0.24 – April 19, 2026
- Fixed navigation with Tab key in a Gui with a nested Gui (+Parent).
UX/Dash
- Added an optional check for AutoHotkey updates, disabled by default. [based on UX PR #11 by kczx3]
- Fixed errors being raised when arrow keys are used in the Help Files menu. [UX PR #24 by iPhilip]
- Fixed install-version.ahk to delete the temporary “.staging” directory after installing an upgrade.
- Fixed Help Files menu to be displayed at the button, not at the mouse cursor.
- Changed “New script” to add the file to recent files.
