Getting Started: Your First Macro

1

Download and Launch TinyTask

Download TinyTask 1.77 from our download page. Double-click TinyTask.exe. There is no installer. The compact toolbar appears within a fraction of a second. If SmartScreen appears, click More info, then Run anyway.
2

Arrange Your Target Application

Maximize the window you plan to automate. TinyTask records absolute screen coordinates, so consistent window positioning is critical for reliable playback.
3

Click Record (or Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R)

The red Record button stays pressed while recording is active. Perform your mouse clicks, movements, and keyboard typing at a normal pace. TinyTask captures idle pauses along with actions.
4

Click Stop, Then Play

Press Stop or Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R again to end recording. Click the green Play button or press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P to replay. Keep your hands off the mouse and keyboard during playback.
5

Save Your Macro

Click the Save button to store your recording as a .rec file. You can reload it later, share it with coworkers, or compile it into a standalone EXE.

Playback, Loops, and Speed

Loop Count Settings

1 = Single run (default)
10-500 = Fixed repetitions for batch data entry
0 = Infinite loop until you press Stop

Speed Slider Tips

Default position = 1x original recording speed
Increase speed when target apps respond instantly
Decrease speed when pages or dialogs need load time

Before running a macro at high speed on 200 loops, do a single test run at normal speed first. This lets you catch timing issues before hundreds of rapid-fire actions fire off.

Compiling and Sharing Macros

After recording or loading a macro, click the Compile button on the toolbar. Choose a descriptive filename like Fill_Report_Template.exe. The generated EXE is typically 50 to 70 KB and runs without TinyTask installed.

Important: Screen Resolution

Compiled macros replay at fixed coordinates. If a coworker uses a different screen resolution or window position, clicks may land incorrectly. Record macros with the target application maximized for consistent UI element positions.

Common Problems & Fixes

Macro clicks in the wrong place

The target application is in a different position or size than when you recorded. Maximize the target window before both recording and playback. Record at your primary screen resolution and avoid moving windows between sessions.

Fix: Re-record with maximized windows, or adjust window position to match the original layout.

TinyTask does not launch

Windows SmartScreen may silently block the program, or your antivirus may have quarantined the file.

Fix: Right-click TinyTask.exe, select Properties, check Unblock at the bottom of the General tab, click Apply. Alternatively, right-click and choose Run as administrator.

Recording does not capture anything

Some applications run with elevated administrator privileges. If TinyTask runs as a standard user, it cannot hook into admin-level applications.

Fix: Launch TinyTask as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator).

Toolbar appears blank or missing buttons

Corrupted settings files or display scaling issues can cause the toolbar to render incorrectly on some systems.

Fix: Delete the TinyTask settings file in the same folder as the EXE, then relaunch. Re-download the EXE from our download page if the file was corrupted.

Playback is too fast or too slow

The speed slider controls playback rate relative to the original recording.

Fix: Adjust the speed slider on the toolbar. Slow down if the target app cannot keep up; speed up if operations complete instantly.

Hotkey conflicts

Other software (including GPU control panels) may use Ctrl+Shift+Alt combinations that conflict with TinyTask global hotkeys.

Fix: Close conflicting software before recording. Use toolbar buttons instead of hotkeys if conflicts persist.

Antivirus Warnings Explained

TinyTask is frequently flagged by antivirus heuristics because it hooks keyboard and mouse input at the system level. This is exactly how macro recorders function. The behavior looks suspicious to automated scanners even though the 36 KB binary contains no malicious code.

Windows Defender, Norton, McAfee, and other security suites may quarantine TinyTask.exe on first scan. This is a false positive. Verify the file hash against our published SHA-256 values on the download page before adding an exception.

How to Add an Exception

Confirm the file size is approximately 36 KB (36,352 bytes exactly)
Run certutil -hashfile TinyTask.exe SHA256 and compare the hash
Open your antivirus settings and add TinyTask.exe to the exclusions or allowed list
Restore the file from quarantine if it was already removed
Launch TinyTask and confirm the toolbar appears normally

For full security context, see our Trust & Security page.

Best Practices

Maximize Windows

Maximized apps have consistent button positions across monitors. A macro recorded on 1080p fails on 4K if the window was floating at a specific size.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Press Ctrl+S instead of clicking File > Save. Keyboard shortcuts work regardless of toolbar position, making macros more resilient.

Add Brief Pauses

Sit still for a couple of seconds during recording when waiting for pages to load. TinyTask records idle time along with actions.

Keep Macros Short

Record three smaller macros for three distinct tasks rather than one 10-minute macro. Shorter macros are easier to debug and reuse.

Back Up .rec Files

Save important .rec files to a cloud folder or USB drive. The files are tiny and easy to back up.

Test Before Batch Runs

Always run a single test at normal speed before launching 200 loops at maximum speed.

TinyTask Guides & Troubleshooting

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