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Support guide
Everything you need to run your first macro, plus fixes for the problems people report most often.
Getting started
WinMacro does not need to be installed. Save WinMacro.exe
somewhere convenient and double-click it. A small toolbar appears and
stays above other windows so it remains reachable while you work.
- Click the red record button. The toolbar shows a running timer.
- Perform the task once, exactly as you would normally.
- Click record again to stop. Your actions are now held in memory.
- Click play to replay them.
Before the first replay, move the cursor away from anything you would not want clicked, and make sure the same windows are open in the same positions as when you recorded. Playback reproduces screen coordinates, not the identity of the window underneath them.
Tip: keep recordings short and specific. Several small macros chained by hand are easier to fix than one long macro that has to be re-recorded whenever a single step changes.
Keyboard shortcuts
Hotkeys work globally, so you can start and stop without clicking the toolbar. They can be changed under the settings button.
- Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R — start or stop recording
- Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P — start or stop playback
- Ctrl+O — open a saved recording
- Ctrl+S — save the current recording
- Esc — stop playback immediately
Saving and sharing macros
Recording files
Saved macros use the .rec extension. They are small, self-contained,
and can be copied between machines, stored on a share, or kept alongside
the documents they relate to.
Standalone executables
The compile option turns the current recording into a .exe that
replays itself when run. This is the simplest way to hand a routine to
someone who does not have WinMacro. Compiled macros need no runtime and
cannot be edited afterwards, so keep the original .rec file if you
expect to make changes.
Troubleshooting
Playback clicks the wrong place
Playback replays screen coordinates. If a window has moved, been resized, or opened on a different monitor since recording, the clicks will land somewhere else. Re-record with the windows in the position you intend to use, or maximise the target window first so its layout is predictable.
The macro runs too fast for the application
Some applications cannot keep up with input replayed at full speed, particularly across a remote desktop session. Lower the playback speed, or add a short pause while recording by simply waiting before your next action — the delay is captured along with everything else.
Nothing happens when I press play
Check that a recording is loaded — the status line shows the event
count. If WinMacro is replaying into an application that runs elevated
(as administrator), Windows will block the simulated input unless
WinMacro is also running elevated. Right-click WinMacro.exe and
choose Run as administrator.
My antivirus removed the file
Macro recorders monitor keyboard and mouse input, and some scanners
classify that behaviour as suspicious on sight. Re-download the file
from our download page rather than a mirror,
then add an exception for WinMacro.exe in your scanner's
settings.
Hotkeys do not respond
Another program may have claimed the same combination. Open settings and assign a different one. A few full-screen applications capture input exclusively and will not pass hotkeys to any background program.
Still need help
If none of the above fixes your problem, send us the details and we will take a look. Include your Windows version, the WinMacro version from the settings window, and what you expected to happen.