AutoHotkey: Switch or Launch App
Use Windows Builtin Launch/Switch Mechanism
This is the fastest and most reliable method.
Pin the apps you want to the taskbar, then, ❖ Window+1 will launch or switch the left most one. ❖ Window+2 for the second one, etc. For detail, see Windows: Keyboard Shortcuts to Launch or Switch App
Once done, you can use AutoHotkey to setup easy keys. Especially, ❖ Window+1 is hard to press because it involves pinky.
; make F1 send Win+1 $F1::Send #1 ; make F2 send Win+2 $F2::Send #2
Pure AutoHotkey to Launch/Switch App
This is pure AutoHotkey solution. Suppose you want a hotkey that launches a browser, but if it is already running, just switch to it.
; launch or switch to Firefox ; http://xahlee.info/mswin/autohotkey_switch_launch_app.html ; Version 2021-02-21 2022-01-19 launchOrSwitchFirefox() { if WinExist("ahk_class MozillaWindowClass") { WinActivateBottom, ahk_class MozillaWindowClass } Else { Run "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" } Return } ; shift+f8 $+F8::launchOrSwitchFirefox()
How to find window name or app name?
To find out what is the window's
ahk_class
, right click on the AHK icon and chose
Window Spy
, then click on a window you want.

