.AHK File Extension
AutoHotkey Script
| Developer | AutoHotkey |
| Popularity |
4.3 | 145 Votes |
| Category | Executable Files |
| Format | Text |
What is an AHK file?
An AHK file is a script created with AutoHotkey, a program used to automate tasks in Windows. It is saved as a plain text file and contains lines of code that can be executed by AutoHotkey (AutoHotkey.exe).
AutoHotkey is an open-source tool that allows users to execute complex or repetitive tasks with the press of a button. For example, users can use AutoHotkey scripts to autocorrect documents' spelling, perform Google searches from their desktop, and quickly enter the same information in a number of repetitive forms.
The scripts AutoHotkey uses to automatically execute tasks are saved as AHK files. AHK files link tasks to hotkeys (or keyboard shortcuts). AHK files can also contain hotstrings, which automatically replace certain text strings when typing.
How to open an AHK file
Since AHK files are plain text files, you can open and edit them in any text editor, including:
However, editing an AHK file may cause the script it contains to not run correctly in AutoHotkey.To use an AHK file as an AutoHotkey script, install AutoHotkey and double-click your AHK file. You will then be able to perform the functions the AHK file describes.
How to convert an AHK file
You can use AutoHotkey to convert the script an AHK file contains into an .EXE file, so you (or another user) can run the script without AutoHotkey. To do so, use the Ahk2Exe compiler included with AutoHotkey. For more information, refer to AutoHotkey's official Ahk2Exe documentation.