Create a fresh application for Chrome that appears on top or in front of the current window on Windows 10.
Create a fresh application for Chrome that appears on top or in front of the current window on Windows 10.
I'm a big fan of macros, much like Taran and the Elgato Stream Deck. It's become a real time-saver for my creative work. Managing editing macros, launching Gmail, Dropbox, Wetransfer, Google Drive, and Chrome has streamlined my workflow. I frequently open these platforms hundreds of times daily, and the time saved adds up significantly. My main issue is that opening a site from the Stream Deck brings Chrome to the background, requiring Alt + Tab to reach it. It's frustrating when I have to switch between dozens of windows, often taking 1-3 seconds to find what I need. TL;DR QUESTION: Can I make a newly opened Chrome window appear on top of all others? I'd like to do this with just one action—pressing a button. Right now, I'm stuck with three steps: button press, Alt + Tab, then find and select. After analyzing, I estimate this could save me 50-90 hours annually. I searched online but found only Windows 7 forum discussions with no solutions. Any advice would be appreciated.
You can automate tasks using AutoHotKey. Bind your Streamdeck to specific shortcuts (for example, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C for Chrome) and execute the desired command to launch Chrome and make it the active window. #NoEnv This method improves performance and ensures compatibility with future updates. #Warn Enable warnings to help identify common issues. Use Input mode for faster, more reliable scripts. SetWorkingDir sets the script’s starting folder. When you press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C, it runs Chrome and sets it to the top. Remember to replace chrome.exe with the app you wish to use and google.com with your target site. You can adjust parameters for other programs as needed. If you haven’t installed AutoHotKey yet, download it, open Notepad, paste the script, save it as a .ahk file, and compile it. Place the resulting .exe in your startup folder for automatic launch. This approach works well if you’re unsure about the Streamdeck interface. For more details on mapping keys, visit the official AHK documentation.
Thanks for the kind words. I wasn’t sure I’d discover that on my own. AHK seemed tough at first, but your script makes it much easier. I imagine it supports F keys too—like using Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F1. With all the letters of the alphabet mapped, I’m just limited to less common shortcuts now.
The F-keys would also function properly. If the Elgato Streamdeck software permits using F13 through F24, you can employ those keys to trigger AHK as well. The ^!+ shortcut is Ctrl, Alt and Shift, with the letter C beneath it representing the C. Swap 'C' for 'F1' and then press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F1 to invoke the function.