WinAutomation — Windows RPA Without Leaving the Desktop
Before Microsoft folded it into Power Automate, WinAutomation was already a capable robotic process automation tool for Windows. It’s built for people who want to automate everyday desktop tasks — clicking through applications, processing files, reading from databases, sending emails — without diving into code unless they want to.
It combines a drag-and-drop workflow designer with a large library of ready-made actions. This makes it possible to automate complex sequences quickly: a single job might open an application, extract data, transform it, upload it to a server, and send a confirmation email.
Technical Snapshot
| Attribute | Detail |
| Platform | Windows |
| Core Function | Robotic Process Automation (desktop, web, data tasks) |
| Interface | Drag-and-drop workflow designer + script editor |
| Actions Library | 300+ built-in actions (files, web, email, databases, system) |
| Triggers | Schedule, hotkey, file/folder change, system events |
| Scripting | Custom scripts in VBScript, JavaScript, or Python |
| Integration | Works with Excel, browsers, databases, web services |
| License | Commercial (legacy standalone or via Microsoft Power Automate) |
In Practice
A typical job could be: watch a shared folder for new invoices, read each file, update an Excel tracker, upload the data to a cloud CRM, then email a summary to accounting. WinAutomation handles the full chain — no manual intervention needed.
It’s equally suited for simple tasks, like launching a set of programs at startup, renaming batches of files, or scraping specific web data once a day.
Setup Notes
– Installs like a standard Windows application.
– Jobs are created in the visual designer, with optional scripting for advanced logic.
– Can run as a background service to trigger workflows without user login.
– Supports encrypted credential storage for secure automation.
– Exports/imports jobs for backup or sharing.
Where It Fits Best
– Businesses that need quick wins from automation without heavy development.
– Desktop environments with repetitive, structured tasks.
– Teams that mix no-code workflows with occasional scripted logic.
– Scenarios where integration with existing Windows apps is critical.
Things to Keep in Mind
– Windows-only — no Linux or macOS support.
– Now part of Microsoft Power Automate Desktop; licensing and availability have changed.
– Large, complex workflows can become hard to manage visually — scripting helps.
– Performance depends on the responsiveness of the apps being automated.
Close Relatives
– UiPath — full-featured RPA platform with cloud options.
– Automation Anywhere — enterprise RPA with web control.
– RoboIntern — lightweight Windows automation with scheduling.