KeyRoutines

Remote work automation for Windows: calls, VPN and your home desk

KeyRoutines helps your home PC switch between work and the rest of life by itself. It can open your work apps when the VPN connects, set up audio and lights when a call starts, lock the PC when you walk away with your phone, and keep a daily log of what you worked on.

Sound familiar?

Work and home on one PC

Steam and Discord at night, Teams and the VPN by day, and switching between them by hand.

Scrambling when a call starts

Music still playing, the wrong mic selected, the light off.

Leaving the PC unlocked

You step away to the kitchen and the screen with client data stays open.

Where did the week go?

Timesheets and stand-ups ask what you did, and you can't remember Tuesday.

Routines to build

Start work when the VPN connects

Open Outlook, Teams and your intranet the moment the work VPN comes up.

Meeting setup on its own

When an app starts using the camera, pause music, switch to the headset and turn on the light.

Lock when you walk away

When your phone's Bluetooth disconnects, lock the PC after a short countdown.

A daily work log

At 17:30, ask what you worked on and append it to a dated log.

Keep the mic level steady

While a call app uses the microphone, set its level back every 30 seconds.

Close the office at the end of the day

The End of Day template asks first, then closes your work apps, tidies Downloads, turns the sound down and puts the PC to sleep after a countdown you can cancel.

Elgato light steps need KeyRoutines Pro; the VPN, call, lock and logging routines are otherwise free.

Step-by-step guides

How to switch audio output with a hotkey on Windows 11How to switch to your headset automatically when it connectsHow to pause music when headphones are unplugged on WindowsHow to mute your microphone with a hotkey on Windows 11How to change one app's volume with a hotkey on WindowsHow to lower music volume automatically during callsHow to mute sound and pause music when you lock your PCHow to mute Discord automatically when a Zoom or Teams call startsHow to get an alert when a window's title changesHow to set up your work apps and windows with one hotkeyHow to set up your PC for a Zoom or Teams meeting in one stepHow to close apps, tidy files and sleep the PC at end of dayHow to change settings automatically on your office Wi-FiHow to type your email signature with a short abbreviationHow to type today's date anywhere with a short abbreviationHow to start a focus timer that closes distracting appsHow to log when you open and close an app to a CSV fileHow to make a presentation mode that undoes itself afterHow to run something when a USB drive is plugged inHow to open an app automatically when a device is connectedHow to switch audio to your TV when you connect it over HDMIHow to turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on and off with a hotkeyHow to get an alert when an app starts using your mic or cameraHow to get a break reminder every 20 minutes on Windows

More in Work, Audio, Devices, Notifications.

Questions

Can KeyRoutines connect my VPN?
No. It reacts when a VPN connects or disconnects, but signing in to the VPN is up to your VPN app.
How does it know I'm on a call?
The Mic or camera in use trigger reads the same record Windows uses for its mic and camera privacy indicator. It's marked Experimental, because Windows doesn't officially document it.
Is my work data sent anywhere?
No. Your routines stay on your PC, and KeyRoutines never sends your routines, keystrokes, window titles or files anywhere.
Can it keep my status active in Teams?
No. KeyRoutines can keep the PC and screen awake, but it doesn't fake activity in other apps.

KeyRoutines for…

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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