KeyRoutines
ConditionFreecond.time.window

Only run a routine during certain hours or days of the week

Time and day is true between two times on the days you choose, and optionally only within a date range. It answers questions like 'is it working hours?' so a routine does the right thing for the time of day.

How it works

  • Set a start and an end time in 24-hour format, and pick the days; no days chosen means every day.
  • An end earlier than the start runs past midnight, and belongs to the day it starts: a Friday 22:00 to 02:00 window is still open at 01:00 on Saturday.
  • Equal start and end times mean the whole day, which makes 'at the weekend' simply Saturday and Sunday.
  • Add a start date and end date to limit it to a holiday or a project period.
  • In a Wait until, it wakes exactly at the next start or end time instead of checking over and over.

Routines that use it

Work apps only on work days

When PC unlocked fires, if it's Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, Open app starts your work tools.

Quiet nights

Inside 23:00 to 07:00, a hotkey routine lowers the volume with Set volume instead of raising it.

Wait for the evening

A routine started in the afternoon waits until 18:00 with Time and day, then turns on dark mode with Dark or light mode.

Questions

How do I make a routine only run on weekdays?
Add Time and day as a condition with Monday to Friday chosen and the same start and end time for the whole day. The routine's steps run only on those days.
Can a time window cross midnight?
Yes. Set the end earlier than the start, like 22:00 to 02:00. It counts as part of the day it started on.

Pairs well with

Trigger · ScheduleFree

At a time

At a time starts a routine at a time of day, every day or only on the days you pick. Classic uses are a work setup at 09:00 on weekdays and an end-of-day routine in the evening.

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.

Trigger · SystemFree

PC unlocked

PC unlocked starts a routine when you unlock the PC. It's the natural place for "I'm back" steps such as resuming music, restoring settings or opening the day's apps.

Step · AppsFree

Open app

Open app starts a program, a Store app, a shortcut or a game from your library. It is the first step of most setup routines, from a morning work session to a full streaming setup.

Step · DisplayFree

Dark or light mode

Dark or light mode switches Windows 11 between dark and light themes for apps, for Windows itself, or both. It is a favourite for schedules that go dark in the evening and light again in the morning.

Step · AudioFree

Set volume

Set volume changes the level of the master output, the microphone, one device or one app. Use it to set a quiet level at night, a louder level for speakers, or a steady mic level before you record.

Build this routine in KeyRoutines

Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.

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