Auto Key Presser 0.0.7 for Windows

Auto Key Presser 0.0.7 is a small free Windows tool by Arifur Rahman that presses a key for you, repeatedly and at an interval you choose. It saves your fingers from monotonous work such as holding or tapping the same key for minutes at a time. You can download Auto Key Presser for Windows from the author's website, arifur.net.

Quick facts

• Version: 0.0.7
• Author: Arifur Rahman
• Platform: Windows
• Licence: free
• Size: about 1.11 MB according to catalogue data
• Website: arifur.net

What people use it for

Plenty of computer tasks involve pressing the same key again and again: scrolling through a long document page by page, advancing slides at a steady pace during a rehearsal, keeping an application from going idle while a long process runs, testing how a program reacts to repeated input, or accessibility needs for people who find repeated key presses physically tiring. An auto key presser takes over that repetition. You choose the key, set how often it should be pressed and start it with a hotkey; press the hotkey again to stop. It is a simple, single-purpose tool rather than a macro recorder, which makes it quick to set up and easy to understand. For sequences of different keys and mouse actions, a macro or automation tool is the better fit.

Guide: first use

1. Download the program from the author's website and run it.
2. Select the key to press.
3. Set the interval between presses.
4. Note the start and stop hotkeys.
5. Switch to the target window, start with the hotkey and stop it the same way.

The author described an earlier release in a blog post about version 0.0.5.

Choosing a sensible interval

Very short intervals can flood a program with input faster than it can react, which leads to missed presses or a frozen window. Start with a press every second or two and shorten it only if the task really needs it. For scrolling or slide advancing, a slower rhythm is usually easier to follow and to stop in time.

Rules and good sense

• Many online games forbid automation in their terms of service; using it there can get an account suspended.
• Do not leave it running unattended in programs where a stray key press could delete or send something.
• Test with a long interval first, then shorten it.
• Antivirus programs sometimes flag input automation tools; download from the author's site to be sure you have the genuine file.

Pros and cons

• Pro: very simple to set up.
• Pro: hotkey start and stop.
• Pro: tiny and free.
• Con: one key only, no macro sequences.
• Con: automation is banned in many online games.

Alternatives

For mouse clicks, our listings include OP Auto Clicker. TinyTask records and replays sequences of mouse and keyboard actions.