A keyboard macro is one triggered by pressing a key combination. Windows 11 includes many hotkeys for common tasks (for example Ctrl + C copies text) that can be considered built-in keyboard macros. Keyboard macros automate repetitive tasks. For instance, if the Ctrl + C keyboard macro (or shortcut) didn’t exist, you would have to select the Copy option in the Edit menus manually. There are a few ways you may create custom keyboard macros. You can record macros, set up scripts triggered with custom hotkeys, or set up keyboard shortcuts that open programs.
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?
The Power Automate app included 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 below.
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 up batch file keyboard 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 many batch script tutorial websites on 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 SPONSORED 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 a beginner’s guide that explains how you can create macro scripts with that software. You can also get premade scripts at AutoHotkey’s script 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.
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 can set 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. Our best programs to automate PC tasks guide tells 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.
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