FREE Tool to Automate Your Repetitive and Boring Tasks | AutoHotkey

I'm sure you're familiar with keyboard shortcuts. But how about creating shortcuts that work in any Windows application. AutoHotkey (AHK) is the answer to your customization needs. With AutoHotkey you can create your own shortcuts that apply to all your applications on your computer. If you've never used AutoHotkey, don't worry. In this tutorial I show you how you can install AutoHotkey and take you through a beginner tutorial to help you get started fast.

Not only can you create custom shortcuts but you can even automate repetitive tasks. Like if there is a specific text, address or insert special characters. In this video I'll show you how you can create your hotkeys and how to make HotStrings for autocorrection and text expansion. This is great for canned email responses or other text templates.

AutoHotkey gives you the freedom to automate any desktop task for major productivity improvement. It could be as complex as automatically creating multiple folder structures or as simple as creating a shortcut for your email address so you don't have to type it in every time.
The most common use of AutHotKey is for text expansion.

00:00 Custom Shortcuts and Text Expansion
01:37 Download and Install
02:41 Create a AutoHotkey Script
07:09 Run Your Script and use Shortcuts
08:21 Sponsor Skillshare
10:10 How to Create Hotstrings
14:16 How to Use Hotstrings
15:33 Wrap Up

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This video was sponsored by Skillshare
#windows10 #Office365 #productivity

[JoeGlines-Automator]

Thanks for covering AutoHotkey! I really hope more people realize just how powerful AutoHotkey is! I call it the "swiss army knife for Windows"

[JeromeDXB]

I've also been using AHK for years, literally every single day!
Text expansions, e-mails filling, Excel format painter, program windows placement on different screens, specific program quick launch, custom music playlist shortcut, ... I even created several shortcuts for repetitive actions (like copy-paste between different files, or even new folders creation in project folders).
It saved me HOURS at work!! Don't underestimate its potential, I cannot work without it anymore!

[MonsterFenrick]

I have been using AHK since 2006. It started as you had mentioned, with text expansion.
Since 2006 I've written countless utilities and 2 applications that have been Enterprise adopted.
Hopefully AHK will be universally recognized in organizations as a productivity improvement tool, though currently it always takes convincing since it is not well known in most organizations.

[ksoonsoon]

Thank you for covering this product. I have been using it for years and it is a natural productivity assistant with many of the tools you often provide content for. Appreciated!!

[RobMedellin]

I've been loving AHK for I don't know how many years now. Couldn't live without it.

[donlawson]

So excited to see AHK being introduced by one of my favorite YouTubers. AHK can do much more and they make it so easy.

[michaeltodd]

I've been using this for 6 years, have written about 50 applications, from Bible Studies to Reminder apps to Document/Program launchers, etc. It is very capable and great for automating processes. I'm glad to see you are making use of it.

[Sinvisigoth]

I remember commenting about autohotkey on one of your other videos not too long ago. I'm so happy to see you spreading the love for it! It and X-Mouse are invaluable.

[jayo]

I haven't told my employees this but I've used an automation tool to do about 70% of my daily tasks. It's been ridiculous how much free time I have because of it, going to the gym, reading, napping lol I feel automation is the future of work

[HowToWorkFromHomeUSA]

Hi @Leila Gharani, I was pleasantly surprised to see AutoHotkey covered on your channel. Thank you for promoting it :) I have been using AHK for over 6 years, and once I got used to it, I now can't live without it haha - it's a must have program on my Windows machine.

[whatzause]

Yours is the BEST and clearest on AHK after I’ve tried watching so many others!

[Holodeck]

I work from home, and I use AHK. I can run a script that does the majority of my work HANDS-FREE! I cannot count how many times I've gone to the store or the post office "on the clock" and my script was doing all of the work. I rated top marks for production last month too!

[coderlicious]

So glad you brought attention to AHK with your large audience. Great video.

[Sepia]

I've been hunting for this info for hours- it is surprisingly difficult to find someone breaking down hotkeys in this way-you are a great teacher! Thanks 😘

[edwinjonah]

Great video! I found AutoHotkey some years ago, I remember I used to have a long list of shortcuts on a cloud script, that would move with me across computers. I also had copies of specific hotstrings that I shared with coworkers back when we did a lot of transactional work and data entry, saved us a lot of time and also help standardize responses and completion comments.

[unkchaos]

I have been using AHK for at least 3 years now, and it is amazing what it can do. Awesome Video!

[DingusBatus]

I’ve used AutoHotKey for years. Combine it with the Elgato Stream Deck XL and things get a whole lot easier.

[UA-jsfn]

Many thanks for your efforts and supports

[rudiklein]

Why didn't learn about Hotkey earlier, like 15 years earlier?! WHY 😭?! Thanks very much for covering it!

[ctcboater]

Thanks! I've been using AHK for 20 years and I still learned something.