By default, the Windows operating system doesn’t offer any option to open an app with specific settings. Therefore, you must go through a third-party application. With this in mind, today I’m introducing you to AutoActions, an open-source application that allows you to create profiles that include multiple actions for each of your applications. To learn more about this app, I invite you to read on.
What is AutoActions?
AutoActions is a completely free app that is compatible with Windows 11 or 10. This is a portable app. Therefore, you don’t need to install it on your computer to run it.
As the name suggests, AutoActions allows you to create action profiles for the apps and games of your choice that are installed on your computer. With these profiles, apps can run or close with specific settings.
For example, you can create profiles to open an app on a different screen, in a specific resolution, or run one app at the same time as another. In short, the possibilities are endless. This can save you time and improve your user experience.
The AutoActions interface is composed of 5 tabs: “Status”, “Profiles”, “Applications”, “Displays” and “Settings”. From the “Status” tab, you’ll see a list of all apps that have specific actions. You can run them directly from the AutoActions interface.
Next, the “Profiles” tab allows you to create action profiles. Profiles can be assigned to one or more apps/games on the system. Each profile can contain a set of actions that are executed when the process starts, ends, gets focused, or loses focus. The types of actions available in the app are as follows:
- Display action: allows you to choose which monitor to run the app on, activate HDR mode, change the resolution and refresh rate, or adjust the color depth.
- Run program: Run a program or script.
- Close program: Force close a program.
- Reference profile: Allows you to integrate a profile into a profile.
- Audio: Select the default audio devices for audio playback and recording.
The “Apps” tab allows you to assign profiles to the apps of your choice. Note that you can also sort your apps and even run them. Finally, the “Displays” tab allows you to see the configuration of your screens, while the “Settings” tab allows you to run the program when Windows starts, place the app icon in the notification area, and much more, among other things.
How does it work?
Despite its English-language interface, AutoActions is a very easy-to-use application. Here’s how it works.
1. Start by downloading the AutoActions app from the GitHub platform.
2. Next, you need to extract the contents of the ZIP archive wherever you want.
3. Then double-click on the AutoActions.exe file to launch the app.
4. Now, from the program interface, click on the “Profiles” tab to start creating a stock profile. To do this, click on the “+” button at the bottom left of the window. By default, the new profile will be named “Profile 1“.
5. Now you can add actions when opening or closing the app by clicking on the “+” button.
6. Now select the type of action, and then once done, click on “OK“.
7. Now switch to the “Apps” tab and then click the “+” button to add the apps you want to assign actions for.
8. Finally, all you have to do is assign the profiles to the apps/games of your choice. To do this, select the profile of your choice from the drop-down menu for each application. In my example, the Netflix app will automatically open on my 4K screen, Kodi will use specific audio settings, and the Call of Duty Warzone game will run in HDR mode.
✅ That’s all! You can now go to the “Settings” tab and check the “Auto-Start” box to have the AutoActions app run automatically when Windows 11/10 starts.
