Keyboard shortcuts for WINDOWS-AHK

This document lists keyboard shortcuts for arlbibek/windows-ahk, a simple and intuitive AutoHotKey script to enhance your Windows workflow.

For setup instructions, refer to the README.md on GitHub.

Made with ❤️ by Bibek Aryal.

Right-click the windows-ahk tray icon to access the following options:

Option	Action	Hotkey
Run at startup	Enable or disable script to run automatically at login
Start menu shortcut	Show or hide the script from the Start menu
Presentation mode	Toggle Windows Presentation Mode on/off	`Win` + `Shift` + `P`
Keyboard shortcuts	View keyboard shortcuts, opens (this) shortcut documentation as a PDF	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Alt` + `\\`
Manage function keys	Configure what each function key (F1 - F2) should do when pressed	`Alt` + `F1`
Open file location	Opens the script directory
Preferences	Edit, Open, Restore & Launch configuration file/window
Windows Utilities	Launch Microsoft Activation Scripts Launch Chris Titus Tech Windows Utility These tools are provided as-is for convenience. We do not accept any liability for how these scripts are used or their outcomes.
View in GitHub	View source code in GitHub repository
AutoHotKey documentation	Opens the official AutoHotKey v2 documentation
Suspend hotkeys	Disables (suspends) hotkeys and hotstrings, while the script itself keeps running in the background	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Alt` + `S`
Reload script	Reloads the script (use after changes)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Alt` + `R`
Exit	Exits the script	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Alt` + `E`

Hotkeys

Also known as shortcut keys - easily trigger an action (such as launching a program or keyboard macro).

Function keys actions

Note: You can customize these actions by launching the manage function keys windows (Alt + F1).

Or by manually editing the configuration file at %appdata%/windows-ahk/config.ini, under the [FUNCTION_KEYS] section. To do so, right-click the tray icon → Launch configuration window, Click Open configuration file, then edit as needed, Save changes and reload the script

Function Key	Value	Action
`F1`	`default_browser`	Launch or switch to the default browser
`F2`	(Unassigned — customize as needed)
`F3`	`switch_tabs`	Switch between two most recent active windows
`F4`	`notepad.exe`	Launch or cycle through Notepad windows
`F5` … `F9`	(Unassigned — customize as needed)
`F10`	`C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe`	Launch or switch to PowerShell window(s)
`F11` … `F12`	(Unassigned — customize as needed)

🔧 You can use either one of the available options below or an app path - must be a full path or accessible via the system PATH.

Available options

Option Description

default_browser Launch the default browser or cycle through its windows

all_browsers Launch default browser of cycle through all active browser windows
(includes: firefox, duckduckgo, chrome, arc, brave, msedge, opera, iexplore, zen)

browser_tabs Launch the default browser or cycle through active browser tabs

switch_window Switch between two most recent active windows (sends Alt + Tab)

switch_tabs Switch between two most recent active tab in a active window (sends Ctrl + Tab)

🔍 See screenshot of example configuration here.

Option	Description
`default_browser`	Launch the default browser or cycle through its windows
`all_browsers`	Launch default browser of cycle through all active browser windows (includes: firefox, duckduckgo, chrome, arc, brave, msedge, opera, iexplore, zen)
`browser_tabs`	Launch the default browser or cycle through active browser tabs
`switch_window`	Switch between two most recent active windows (sends `Alt` + `Tab`)
`switch_tabs`	Switch between two most recent active tab in a active window (sends `Ctrl` + `Tab`)

Global hotkeys

Hotkey	Action
`Win` + `E`	Open or switch to File Explorer (Use `Shift` to open new window)
`Win` + `N`	Open or switch to Notepad (Use `Shift` for new window)
`Win` + `S`	Search selected text using the active or default browser
`CapsLock` + `7`	Transform selected text to lower case (e.g., `Hello, Word!` to `hello, word!`)
`CapsLock` + `8`	Transform selected text to title case (e.g., `hello, word!` to `Hello, Word!`)
`CapsLock` + `9`	Transform selected text to upper case (e.g., `Hello, Word!` to `HELLO, WORD!`)
`Esc` ×3	Press `Esc` three times to close the active window (if the active window is a browser close the active tab)

File explorer hotkeys

Hotkey	Action
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`	Go to User folder 👤
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`	Go to This PC 💻
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `H`	Go to Desktop 🏠
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `D`	Go to Documents 📄
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `J`	Go to Downloads 📥
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`	Go to Music 🎵
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `P`	Go to Pictures 🖼
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	Go to Videos 📼
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Open PowerShell in current directory
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `\\`	Open current directory in VS Code

Hotstring

Hotstrings are mainly used to expand abbreviations as you type them (auto-replace), they can also be used to launch any scripted action.

; for example
::wtf::Wow that's fantastic

Abbreviation	Expands To
`/paste`	(Pastes clipboard content)
`/datetime` or `/dt`	Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 17:38
`/date`	May 13, 2025
`/time`	17:38
`/dear`	(Time-based email greeting with polite template)

Customizable hotstrings

Note: You can edit or add custom Hotstrings under the [HOTSTRINGS] section in the config file, using the format: shortcut=your text here

To do so, right-click tray icon → Launch configuration window, Click Edit configuration file, Save and reload the script

Abbreviation	Phrase
`wtf`	Wow that’s fantastic
`gm`	Good morning
`ge`	Good evening
`gn`	Good night
`ty`	Thank you very much
`wc`	Welcome
`mp`	My pleasure
`omg`	Oh my god
`pfa`	Please find the attachment.
`/lorem`	(Lorem Ipsum text)
`/plankton`	(Plankton description)
`/mail`	you@example.com (update your email here)
`/ph`	98XXXXXXXX (update your phone number here)
`/addr`	Kathmandu, Nepal (update your address here)

💡To restore default configuration, right-click the tray icon → Launch configuration window → Restore default configuration