Input Methods in UiPath: What They Are and When to Use Them

If you’ve been building automations in UiPath for a while, you’ve probably seen the options like “Simulate Type” or “SendWindowMessages” in activities like Click or Type Into. At first, they might seem a bit technical or even easy to ignore — but understanding these input methods is actually super important when it comes to making your bots faster, more stable, and compatible across environments.

In this post, we’ll break down the different input methods in UiPath, how they work, and when to use them — all in simple, practical terms.

Think of input methods as the way your robot “pretends” to be a human when it types, clicks, or presses keys. UiPath can simulate these actions in a few different ways. Each method has its own benefits and quirks, and choosing the right one can make your automation more efficient and reliable. Below are 3 input methods in UiPath:

This is the "standard" way UiPath interacts with the UI — it’s almost like your robot is physically using the keyboard and mouse.

• ✅ Pros:
  
  • Works with almost all apps.
  • Mimics real human interaction.
    
• ❌ Cons:
  
  • Requires the UI to be on screen and in focus.
  • Can be slower and more prone to failure if something interrupts the screen.
    

Use it when: You’re automating regular desktop apps and the bot has access to the full UI.

This one works under the hood by sending low-level Windows messages directly to the app. It's kind of like whispering instructions instead of clicking.

• ✅ Pros:
  
  • Works even if the window isn't visible or active.
  • Better for remote environments like Citrix.
    
• ❌ Cons:
  
  • Not all applications respond to it.
  • Can be flaky with custom UI components.
    

Use it when: You're working in virtual environments or need to run automations in the background.

When using activities like Click or Type Into, you'll see checkboxes:

• SimulateType → Uses Simulate
• SendWindowMessages → Uses that method
• If both are unchecked, it defaults to Hardware Events
  

⚠️ Pro tip: UiPath prioritizes methods like this:
Simulate > SendWindowMessages > Default

• If your bot is typing too slow, try Simulate — it's much faster.
• If your bot is clicking the wrong place or missing a button, switch to Default and see if it helps.
• Always test — not all applications support every input method.
• For critical processes, use Retry Scopes or Error Handling in case an input method fails silently.

Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, feel free to share it or drop a comment with your own tips or stories. ✨

Happy automating! 🤖