Using environment variables is ideal if you use multiple different versions of Windows. As you can see, the file path supports both a direct path or one of Windows environment variables. The above script sets the F1 key to launch Notepad in any modern version of Windows. My favorite thing to do with the function keys is to set them to launch programs that I often use but don’t often keep open. For others, these keys may simply be useless. Depending on your keyboard layout, the reach to this row of keys could be an uncomfortable trade-off compared to their functionality. Repurpose The Function Keysįor many of us, the function keys (F1–F12) end up completely unused.

While I laid out a more detailed explanation for installing, setting up, and creating scripts using AutoHotKey in the aforementioned article, all you have to do is download the application, bring up a text editor, and save and run any of the following scripts to get them working immediately. You can also try searching the forum for a keywords like RawInput, USB HID or AHKHID.

For example, if you configure a mystery key to send Ctrl+F1, you can then indirectly make that key as a hotkey by using F1:: in a script. Let me share with you five of the most useful AutoHotKey scripts for everyday PC use. Such a keystroke can then be defined as a hotkey in a script.

Ahk f1