I have many PCs in my house. Most of them run on Windows, some on macOS, and a few on Linux, but the common thread in all of them is that I usually have a Logitech wireless keyboard. The exception is when I sit down for a longer typing session where I prefer to use a mechanical keyboard. It’s not because it’s the most stylish keyboard I own. It’s easy, familiar, and because I’m already sitting where I need it. For a long time, I treated it like any other keyboard: press keys, maybe use a few media controls, and move on.
That changed last year when I came across Logi Options+. I was expecting another basic companion app to change a few button assignments and check battery levels. Instead, I found something that felt more useful than that. Logi Options+ converts supported Logitech keyboards and mice small workflow toolsand the feature that surprised me the most was Smart Actions. Once I realized I could use a key to trigger an entire sequence of repetitive steps, the keyboard stopped feeling like a passive accessory and started feeling like part of my process. This is where Logi Options+ becomes more interesting than the keyboard itself.
The keyboard is just a trigger
What makes it useful is that it’s not actually hidden in the keyboard itself. A Logitech keyboard is still just a keyboard until you pair it with the right software. This is where Logi Options+ comes into play. It’s Logitech’s customization software for keyboards, mice, touchpads, webcams, and other devices supported on Windows and macOS, giving those devices more control over what’s happening on your computer.
This is important because Smart Actions aren’t just another media button or hotkey. They live inside Logi Options+ and turn a supported Logitech keyboard or mouse into a trigger. Instead of pressing a button to open an app or execute one simple command, you can use Smart Actions to chain together several small steps. The keyboard starts the workflow, but the software makes the workflow possible.
It also shows that support varies by device, so it’s worth checking if your keyboard or mouse works with Logi Options+ before you start looking for Smart Actions.
Smart Actions turn one switch into an entire workflow
The best shortcut is the one that saves you from setting everything up manually
The benefit of Smart Actions is that they are not limited to a single command. A normal shortcut can open a program or launch one keyboard command. A Smart Action can combine several small steps, so a single button can initiate the same action that you would normally click manually.
The most obvious example for me is starting my work day. When I start my work machine, I usually need the same handful of programs before I can get started: LibreOffice Writer, sometimes Microsoft Word, ChromeNoteTab Pro and Slack. None of these are difficult to open manually, but it’s an installation procedure I repeat so often that it becomes invisible. Turning it into a shortcut doesn’t feel brilliant. It removes some friction before the real work begins.
Some of the most useful Smart Actions are simple:
- Start my working day: Open your writing program, browser, notes program, messaging program, and any folder or tab you use every morning.
- Writing mode: Start LibreOffice Writer or Word, open your notes, and open the browser tabs you use for research.
- Setting up a meeting: Open Zoom or Teams, launch the notes app, and open your calendar.
- Screenshot workflow: Open your screenshot tool, launch the screenshots folder, and prepare the program you use for editing or titles.
- Cleaning at the end of the day: Open a to-do list, bring up tomorrow’s notes, or launch the folders you checked off before closing things.
8/10
If you’re a big fan of the Apple Magic Keyboard, the Logitech MX Keys S is a natural progression. It has low-profile buttons with small indentations to prevent your fingers from tangling. The rechargeable battery is also phenomenal, lasting up to 5 months (without backlight). It even charges via USB-C!
Use it for boring things you repeat every day
Small automations are usually the ones that stick
A mistake I often make automation thinks there should be more. So I’m trying to build a giant workflow that seems useful in theory but never becomes part of my day. Smart Actions make more sense when you aim low. Look for the little things you do over and over without thinking: open the same apps, open the same folder, paste the same text, launch the same browser tabs, or prepare your workspace before a meeting.
This is where keyboard automation comes in handy. It’s not about changing jobs or turning your desktop into a command center. It’s about eliminating annoying setup steps that happen before you even get started. If one key saves you from clicking the same routine every morning, that’s enough. The best Smart Actions are the ones you barely notice after a while because they quietly get rid of a little speed bump throughout the day.
Your keyboard may already be your easiest productivity upgrade
The best thing about Smart Actions is that you don’t need to rethink the way you work to get anything useful out of them. Whether it’s opening your work programs, setting up a writing session, preparing for a meeting, or removing the same folders and browser tabs, start with something you repeat every day. If a key can get this out of the way, your keyboard does more than just type. It removes one more small drag from your day, and that’s where the most practical productivity improvements usually come from.
