There are things you do on a computer that feel a bit ridiculous after the tenth time. Open this, click that, wait three seconds, type a password, export a report, rename the file, close the app. You could script it in Python or PowerShell, but for a click-heavy desktop routine that often takes longer than the routine itself. Actiona is built for exactly that gap: you describe the steps as a list of actions, press Run, and it repeats them for you.
It is free and open source (GNU GPL v3), maintained by Jonathan Mercier-Ganady, and runs on Windows and Linux. The current release is Actiona 3.11.4 (May 2026).
Actiona at a glance
| Latest version | 3.11.4, released 13 May 2026 (bug-fix release) |
|---|---|
| Licence | Free, open source (GPL v3) |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit); Linux x86_64 as an AppImage or from distribution repositories |
| Script format | .ascr files (XML), easy to copy between machines |
| Command-line runner | actexec runs a saved script without opening the editor |
| Developer | Jonathan Mercier-Ganady and contributors (open-source project on GitHub) |
What Actiona actually does
A script is a vertical list of actions. Each action has a few parameters, and every parameter can also take a JavaScript expression if you need something dynamic. In practice most scripts never need a line of code. The built-in actions cover five areas:
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Keyboard and mouse | Type text, press a key or shortcut, move the cursor along a path, click, scroll, wait for a key |
| System | Run a command, kill a process, show a notification, lock or restart the PC, open a URL, play a sound, text to speech |
| Windows and screen | Wait for a window, move or resize it, find an image on screen, wait for a pixel to change color, ask the user for input |
| Data | Read and write text, INI and binary files, the registry and the clipboard; copy or download a file; send an e-mail |
| Flow control | Variables, loops, labels and jumps, procedures, a Random action, waiting until a given time |
The two actions that make Actiona useful for real GUI work are Find image and Pixel color. Instead of clicking fixed coordinates (which breaks as soon as a window moves), the script looks for a button or icon on screen and clicks where it actually is, or waits until a progress bar turns green.
Download and install
Windows
- Click the Download button at the top of this page and save the ZIP archive.
- Unpack it to any folder, for example
C:ToolsActiona. If the archive contains an installer, run it; otherwise startactiona.exedirectly — the program works without installation. - Windows SmartScreen may warn about an unrecognized app, because small open-source projects rarely pay for an extended signing certificate. Choose More info → Run anyway.
- On first start Actiona may ask whether to check for updates. The built-in updater tells you when a newer official release (currently 3.11.4) is available.
Linux
- Install the
actionapackage from your distribution (Debian, Ubuntu, Arch and others ship it), or use the official x86_64 AppImage. - Repository versions are often older (3.10.x). Version 3.10.3 was released specifically to stop a crash on start under Wayland.
- Screen and input actions need an X11 session. Under Wayland, log in to an Xorg session, otherwise mouse, pixel and image actions will not work.
Your first script in five minutes
A typical first task: open a program, log in, export a report, close it.
- Create a new script and add a Command action that starts the program.
- Add Wait for window with part of the window title. This is better than a fixed pause because it waits exactly as long as needed.
- Add Write text for the login and Key (Tab, Enter) to move between fields.
- Use Find image with a screenshot of the Export button, then Click on the position it found.
- Finish with Wait for window (the save dialog), another Write text for the file name, and a Kill process or Alt+F4 to close.
- Save the script and run it. To start it from Task Scheduler or a batch file, use
actexec yourscript.ascr.
Where it fits, and where it does not
Good use cases:
- Repetitive work in desktop applications that have no API or command-line interface
- Helping colleagues who need automation but will never write a script
- Linux desktops, where AutoHotkey is not an option
- Quick one-off jobs: fill a form 200 times, rename files through a GUI tool, click through an installer
Not a good fit:
- Headless servers. The runner needs a desktop session because it drives the real screen, mouse and keyboard.
- Browser automation at scale. For websites, Playwright or Selenium are more reliable.
- Enterprise RPA with central scheduling, credentials vaults and audit logs.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Clicks land in the wrong place on a laptop with 125–150 % scaling | Update to 3.11.2 or later; it fixed HiDPI cursor positions on Windows. Scripts recorded in 3.11.0–3.11.1 may contain wrong coordinates, and newer versions warn about this when you open them. |
| Find image never matches | Take the reference screenshot at the same display scaling and theme (light/dark) the script will run with; lower the confidence threshold slightly. |
| Play sound is silent | Fixed in 3.11.4; update. |
| Crash at start on Linux with Wayland | Use 3.10.3 or newer, and log in to an X11 session for screen actions. |
| Script works by hand but not from Task Scheduler | The task must run only when the user is logged on, otherwise there is no desktop to click on. |
Actiona vs. alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Difference from Actiona |
|---|---|---|
| AutoHotkey | Hotkeys and text expansion on Windows | Windows only, everything is code |
| TinyTask | Record-and-replay macros | Records raw mouse movements, no conditions or image search |
| Power Automate for desktop | Microsoft 365 environments | Windows only, tied to a Microsoft account, heavier |
| xdotool | Linux shell scripts | Command line only, no editor |
FAQ
Is Actiona free?
Yes. It is open-source software under the GNU GPL v3, with no paid edition or trial limits.
Does Actiona work on macOS?
No. Official builds exist for Windows and Linux only.
Do I need to know programming?
No. Scripts are built from actions with form fields. JavaScript is optional and useful for calculations, string handling or complex conditions.
Can I run a script without opening the editor?
Yes. actexec runs an .ascr file directly, which also lets you start scripts from Task Scheduler, cron or a shortcut.
Is there a portable version?
Yes. Actiona runs from any folder without installation, which is handy on machines where you have no admin rights.
Why does Windows warn me during installation?
SmartScreen flags programs that are new or not signed with an extended certificate. It is a reputation warning, not a virus detection.
Does Actiona work on Linux?
Yes. Install the actiona package from your distribution or use the official x86_64 AppImage. Screen, mouse and image actions need an X11 session — under Wayland, log in to an Xorg session first.
What are the alternatives to Actiona?
AutoHotkey for hotkeys and text on Windows (everything is code), TinyTask for simple record-and-replay, Power Automate for desktop in Microsoft 365 environments, and xdotool for Linux shell scripts.
