KeyRoutines
ConditionFreecond.idle

Check if you've been away from the PC in a Windows 11 routine

Idle for is true when nobody has touched the keyboard or mouse for at least the time you set. It's the check for "only do this if I've stepped away".

How it works

  • Set how long without keyboard or mouse input counts as idle.
  • Keys and clicks that KeyRoutines itself sends are left out, so a routine pressing keys doesn't make you look active.
  • In a Wait until it sets a single timer for the earliest moment you could be idle, instead of checking over and over.

Routines that use it

Back up while you're away

A routine on an Every 30 minutes trigger runs Zip files on your projects folder only if you've been idle for 10 minutes.

Lock if I forgot

At 18:00 an At a time routine checks Idle for 5 minutes and, if so, runs Lock the PC.

Wait for a quiet moment

Before Restart, Wait until idle for 15 minutes so the reboot never lands in the middle of your work.

Good to know

  • Only keyboard and mouse input are measured, so watching a video or playing with a gamepad can look idle.

Questions

How can a routine tell if I'm away from my computer?
Use the Idle for condition with the time that means "away" to you. To start a routine at that moment instead, use the Idle trigger.
Do keys sent by KeyRoutines reset the idle time?
No. KeyRoutines leaves its own input out, so only your real keyboard and mouse activity counts.

Pairs well with

Trigger · SystemFree

Idle

Idle starts a routine after you've gone a set time without keyboard or mouse input. It's the trigger for "I've stepped away": lock, pause, save, or tidy.

Trigger · SystemFree

Back at the PC

Back at the PC starts a routine when you return after being away for at least the time you set. It's the welcome-back counterpart of the Idle trigger.

Step · SystemFree

Lock the PC

Lock the PC shows the lock screen, just like pressing Win+L. It's most useful when something else decides the moment, such as being idle, a time of day, or leaving your desk.

Trigger · ScheduleFree

Every …

Every … starts a routine on a fixed interval, from once a minute to once every seven days. It suits regular jobs such as backups, check-ins and tidy-ups that should keep their rhythm.

Condition · SystemFree

PC is unlocked

PC is unlocked is true while you're signed in and the lock screen isn't showing. Put it in front of anything that needs you at the PC, like sounds, prompts or keystrokes.

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