If you have not already downloaded AutoHotkey, you can get it from one of the following locations:
Note: This tutorial is for AutoHotkey v2.
The main download has a filename like AutoHotkey_2.0_setup.exe. Run this file to begin installing AutoHotkey.
If you are not the administrator of your computer, you may need to select the Current user option.
Otherwise, the recommended options are already filled in, so just click Install.
For users of v1: AutoHotkey v2 includes a launcher which allows multiple versions of AutoHotkey to co-exist while sharing one file extension (.ahk). Installing AutoHotkey v1 and v2 into different directories is not necessary and is currently not supported.
If you are installing for all users, you will need to provide administrator consent in the standard UAC prompt that appears (in other words, click Yes).
If there were no complications, AutoHotkey is now installed!
Once installation completes, the Dash is shown automatically.
Using the Program covers the basics of how to use AutoHotkey.
Consider installing an editor with AutoHotkey support to make editing and testing scripts much easier.
The documentation contains many examples, which you can test out as described in How to Run Example Code.
These tutorials focus on specific common tasks:
AutoHotkey Beginner Tutorial by tidbit covers a range of topics.
If you have problems installing AutoHotkey, please try searching for your issue on the forum or start a new topic to get help or report the issue.
AutoHotkey can also be installed from the zip download.
You may receive one or more security prompts, depending on several factors.
Common web browsers may show a warning like "AutoHotkey_2.0_setup.exe was blocked because it could harm your device." This is a generic warning that applies to any executable file type that isn't "commonly downloaded". In other words, it often happens for new releases of software, until more users have downloaded that particular version.
To keep the download, methods vary between browsers. Look for a menu button near where downloads are shown, or try right clicking on the blocked download.
Sometimes the download might be blocked due to an antivirus false-positive; in that case, see Antivirus below.
The Google Safe Browsing service (also used by other browsers) has been known to show false warnings about AutoHotkey. For details, see Safe Browsing.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may show a prompt like "Windows protected your PC". This is common for software from open source developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISV), especially soon after the release of each new version. The following blog article by Louis Kessler describes the problem well: That’s not very Smart of you, Microsoft
To continue installation, select More info and then Run anyway.
If your antivirus flags the download as malicious, please refer to the following: