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Windows 11 Keyboard Macros: How to Create & Record Them

Macros help you automate tasks in Windows and save a lot of time

7 min. read

Updated onOctober 16, 2024

updated onOctober 16, 2024

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A keyboard macro is one triggered by pressing a key combination. Windows 11 includes many hotkeys for common tasks (for exampleCtrl+Ccopies text) that can be considered built-in keyboard macros.

Keyboard macros automate repetitive tasks. For instance, if theCtrl+Ckeyboard macro (or shortcut) didn’t exist, you would have to select theCopyoption in theEditmenus manually.

There are a few ways you may create custom keyboard macros. You canrecord macros, set up scripts triggered with custom hotkeys, or set up keyboard shortcuts that open programs.

How do I create a macro keyboard in Windows 11?

1. Record a keyboard macro with TinyTask

2. Set up a keyboard macro (hotkey) for opening a program

3. Set up a batch file keyboard macro

You can set upbatch filekeyboard macros for automating many tasks in Windows. It’s beyond the scope of this guide to provide details about how to script batch files. However, you can look at manybatch script tutorial websiteson the internet.

For example, set up a script that opens multiple websites. Input the following batch script into Notepad for step three:

@echo offstart https://www.google.comstart https://www.bing.com

That macro will open the Google and Bing search engines in your default browser when you press its hotkey. You can replace the websites in that script or add new ones to open in additional lines.

4. Set up a keyboard macro with AutoHotkey

The Autokey website includes abeginner’s guidethat explains how you can create macro scripts with that software. You can also get premade scripts at AutoHotkey’sscript showcase page.

If you like, you can also add a keyboard shortcut for running the script. To do so, you’ll need to create a desktop shortcut for the script’s file and then add a hotkey to it as covered in the second method.

Can you use macros on any keyboard?

You can set up custom software macros on any keyboard. Software macros are those that are recorded or manually scripted in Windows with hotkeys that activate them.

However, some gaming keyboards have dedicated macro keys. Those are keyboards with an onboard macro recording that enables you to set up custom hardware macros without additional software.

Does Windows 11 have a macro recorder?

ThePower Automate appincluded in Windows 11 is something like a macro recorder with which users can record flow tasks. However, its users can’t assign key combinations (hotkeys) to play flows.

Therefore, Power Automate is not something with which you can set up keyboard macros in Windows 11. However, you can set up keyboard macros in Windows 11 with any of the methods from the solutions above.

How do I automate tasks in Windows 11?

You can automate tasks in Windows 11 with the aforementioned Power Automate app or Task Scheduler. Task Scheduler is a utility with which you canset up scheduled tasks.

However, neither Power Automate nor Task Scheduler includes options for creating keyboard macros. You’ll need to apply the methods above or utilize macro-recording software to set up keyboard macros.

What are the best keyboard macros?

The best keyboard macro is whatever one you find to be most useful. However, many users may find keyboard macros that open multiple programs and websites to be especially handy.

Creating keyboard macros will enable you to automate routine and repetitive Windows tasks. AutoHotkey is a great scripting tool and TinyTask is a simple-to-utilize recording utility for creating keyboard macros.

There are also many other automation programs with which you can set up keyboard macros. Ourbest programs to automate PC tasks guidetells you about alternative Windows software for creating macros.

So, have fun setting up keyboard macros in Windows 11. If you have any questions about setting up keyboard macros, feel free to add them in the comments box below.

Windows 11 Keyboard Macros: How to Create & Record Them#

How do I create a macro keyboard in Windows 11?#

1. Record a keyboard macro with TinyTask#

2. Set up a keyboard macro (hotkey) for opening a program#

3. Set up a batch file keyboard macro#

4. Set up a keyboard macro with AutoHotkey#

Can you use macros on any keyboard?#

Does Windows 11 have a macro recorder?#

How do I automate tasks in Windows 11?#

What are the best keyboard macros?#