MLHotKey

MLHotKey is a vintage, lightweight Windows utility designed to assign global keyboard shortcuts to active application windows. Released as a free tool with available source code, its primary purpose is to serve as a high-speed replacement for the standard Alt+Tab chain.

By assigning a specific key combination to a top-level window, you can focus or activate that application instantly, no matter how many other windows are open. Core Features & Workflow

Window Selection: Upon launching MLHotKey, it displays a list of all currently active top-level application windows.

Shortcut Assignment: You select a window from the list, click into the hotkey text field, press your desired key combination (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+I), and click “Set”.

Persistent Settings: Assigned hotkeys remain active and sticky even if you close the main MLHotKey application interface.

Quick Management: The interface includes a “Refresh” button to update the list of active windows and a “Remove” button to delete a shortcut. Limitations & Technical Quirks

Registry Storage: MLHotKey saves its shortcut configurations directly into the Windows Registry. Because it was developed years ago, users sometimes note that finding the exact registry keys to manually clear orphaned shortcuts (e.g., if an app name changes) can be difficult.

Application Incompatibility: The tool cannot hook into all programs; certain legacy or highly secure windows (such as older versions of Outlook) natively reject external hotkey assignments.

Age: The utility was last actively updated around 2008, meaning it lacks modern user interface scaling and might require administrator privileges to hook into newer Windows applications. Modern Alternatives

If you are looking for similar window-focusing functionality with modern support, consider these alternatives:

AutoHotkey (AHK): The industry standard for automation. A simple, lightweight script using the WinActivate command can replicate MLHotKey’s behavior perfectly while offering vastly superior customization.

Master Hotkey: A modern, free tool available on the Microsoft Store that lets you assign global hotkeys to open, focus, or minimize apps directly from your system tray.

Are you trying to troubleshoot an old installation of MLHotKey, or are you looking to set up quick window-switching shortcuts on a modern PC? Let me know so I can give you the right steps or scripts! Master Hotkey – Free download and install on Windows