Open, close and wait for apps
Launch apps with arguments, wait until they're really ready, close them cleanly and react when they start or quit.
Triggers (3)
App focused
App focused starts a routine when a chosen app becomes the active window, or when you leave it for another app. It lets your PC adapt to what you're doing without pressing anything.
App launched
App launched starts a routine when a chosen app or game opens. It's ideal when you start apps your usual way and want the rest of the setup to follow on its own.
App quit
App quit starts a routine when a chosen app or game has fully closed. It's the natural partner of App launched for putting things back the way they were.
Steps (4)
Close app
Close app shuts down the programs you pick, or every open app except the ones you want to keep. People put it at the end of a work session, before a game, or anywhere a cluttered taskbar gets in the way.
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.
Run as administrator
Run as administrator starts a program or shortcut with elevated rights, the same as right-clicking it and choosing "Run as administrator". It is handy for tools that only work elevated, like some system utilities or hardware control panels.
Restart app
Restart app closes a program and opens it again in a single step. It is made for apps that misbehave after the PC wakes from sleep, after a headset or dock change, or after running for a long time.
Conditions (5)
App or window in front
App or window in front is a condition that checks whether a chosen app is the active window right now. It keeps a routine from doing something in the wrong place, for example only sending keys when your editor has focus.
Full-screen app in front
Full-screen app in front is true while a full-screen app or game is in the foreground. People use it to keep routines quiet during games, movies and presentations.
App is ready
App is ready waits until an app has truly finished starting, not just until its process exists. It is what makes "open it, then arrange it" routines reliable for slow apps with splash screens.
App is running
App is running is a condition that is true while a chosen app or game is open. It's the simplest way to make a routine skip a step, or wait, based on what you have running.
Game is ready
Game is ready is App is ready with settings tuned for games. It waits for the real game window, a responsive game and settled CPU, so the rest of your gaming setup runs when the game has actually loaded.
How-to guides
- How to lower music volume automatically during calls
- How to open apps at startup in a set window layout
- How to switch to an app or open it with one hotkey
- How to open several apps and websites with one hotkey
- How to close all open apps except a few with one click
- How to reopen an app automatically when it closes or crashes
- How to open an app automatically when another app starts
- How to wait until an app has fully loaded before the next step
- How to open an app as administrator with a hotkey
- How to change resolution automatically for one app
Build this routine in KeyRoutines
Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.