Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. TinyTask is 100% free to download and use. It is classified as freeware by Vista Software, which means there is no trial period, no paid upgrade tier, and no feature gating. The full application ships as a single 36 KB executable with every feature unlocked from the start.

There are no hidden costs, no in-app purchases, and no subscription fees. The freeware license covers both personal and commercial use, so you can deploy TinyTask macros in office environments without purchasing a separate business license.

Yes. TinyTask is safe to use on Windows 11 and has been tested across all recent Windows releases. The program is written in pure C with no external dependencies. At 36 KB, there is physically not enough code to hide malware or unwanted network activity.

Windows SmartScreen may flag TinyTask the first time because the executable lacks a paid code-signing certificate. Click More info, then Run anyway. Verify the SHA-256 hash on our download page for extra assurance. See Trust & Security for a full breakdown of antivirus behavior and false positives.

TinyTask needs Windows XP or later, including Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. During operation it uses roughly 1 MB of free RAM and requires only 36 KB of disk space for the executable itself. No .NET Framework, Java, or other runtime is required.

The same single x86 EXE works on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows through WOW64 compatibility. TinyTask does not require an internet connection for recording, playback, saving, or compiling. It runs comfortably on older hardware and low-spec office machines.

No. TinyTask is a Windows-only application built using native Win32 API calls for mouse and keyboard hooking. Vista Software does not offer Mac or Linux versions, and there is no official cross-platform port.

Your best option for non-Windows systems is running TinyTask inside a Windows virtual machine using VirtualBox or Parallels. For native Mac alternatives, consider Automator or Keyboard Maestro. On Linux, xdotool and AutoKey provide similar automation capabilities without requiring a Windows layer.

Launch TinyTask.exe, click the red Record button or press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R, perform your actions at a normal pace, then click Stop. Click Save to store the recording as a .rec file you can reload later.

TinyTask records absolute screen coordinates, so maximize your target window and keep the same screen resolution between recording and playback. Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P to play back. See our getting started guide for a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots.

Yes. The loop count spinner on the toolbar sets how many times a macro repeats. Set 1 for a single run, any positive number for fixed repetitions, or 0 for an infinite loop until you press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P or click Stop.

Combine loop counts with the speed slider to optimize batch data-entry workflows. For example, run a 50-iteration form-filling macro at 2x speed to process records faster while keeping each step visible enough for the target application to respond.

Yes. Record or load a macro, click the Compile button on the toolbar, and choose a save location. The resulting EXE is typically 50 to 70 KB and contains both the TinyTask runtime and your macro data embedded inside a single portable file.

Recipients do not need TinyTask installed. Compiled EXEs run once at recorded speed without loop or speed controls, which makes them ideal for distributing simple automation tasks to coworkers or deploying on machines where installing additional software is restricted.

Choose TinyTask when you need simple record-and-play automation with zero learning curve, a portable 36 KB footprint, and built-in compile-to-EXE distribution. You can record a workflow in under a minute without writing a single line of script.

Choose AutoHotkey when you need conditional logic, variables, file parsing, API interaction, or custom GUI applications. Many power users keep both tools: TinyTask for quick one-off recordings and AutoHotkey for complex logic-driven automation. Read our features page for a full capability comparison.

Start with the most common fixes: right-click TinyTask.exe and choose Run as administrator, add an antivirus exception, unblock the file in Properties under the General tab, and maximize target windows before playback so coordinates match the recording session.

Adjust the speed slider if the target application needs more time between steps. Re-download from our download page if the EXE was corrupted during transfer. Delete corrupted settings files if the toolbar appears blank. See our complete troubleshooting guide for all proven fixes.

Close TinyTask if it is running, navigate to the folder containing TinyTask.exe, and delete the file. That is the entire uninstall process. TinyTask is fully portable and leaves no trace on the system beyond the files you chose to keep.

TinyTask does not write to the Windows registry, does not create AppData folders, and does not register services or scheduled tasks. Delete any .rec macro files or compiled EXEs separately if you no longer need them. Remove antivirus exceptions manually if you added one during use.

Yes. TinyTask works 100% offline after the initial download. The program never contacts any server, does not check for updates over the internet, does not send telemetry, and does not require online activation or account registration.

All recording, playback, saving, and compiling happen locally on your machine. This makes TinyTask suitable for air-gapped networks, secure office environments, and workstations where outbound internet access is blocked by policy.

TinyTask can automate basic repetitive actions in games with static UI elements, such as clicker games or menu navigation in single-player titles. It records fixed screen coordinates and replays them without reading game state or detecting pixels.

Limitations include no pixel detection, coordinate-dependent playback that breaks when the UI moves, no conditional logic, and potential anti-cheat detection in multiplayer titles. For competitive multiplayer, automation may violate terms of service and risk account bans. Use TinyTask only where automation is explicitly permitted.

TinyTask has no built-in scheduler, timer, or cron interface. The toolbar focuses on manual record, play, and compile controls rather than timed automation.

You can compile a macro to a standalone EXE and use Windows Task Scheduler to launch it at a specific time, daily, weekly, or at user logon. The screen must be unlocked and the target application positioned in the same location as during recording for coordinate-based macros to succeed.

No. TinyTask is freeware, not open source. You can use and distribute the unmodified TinyTask.exe freely under the freeware license, but the source code is not publicly available and Vista Software has not released it under an open-source license.

If you need open-source automation, consider AutoHotkey (GPLv2) or xdotool on Linux. TinyTask's 36 KB size provides practical transparency about scope: there is no room for hidden functionality beyond recording, playback, and compilation.

TinyTask has no auto-update feature. To upgrade, download the latest TinyTask.exe from our download page and replace the old file in your folder. Your existing .rec macro files continue to work with new versions.

The .rec format has remained stable across releases, so you do not need to re-record macros after updating. Check the version number shown in the TinyTask title bar or About dialog to confirm you are running the current build, which is v1.77 at the time of writing.