Alfred Hotkey Not Working

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Turn off the Spotlight shortcut

   Copy steps
   1. 01Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Spotlight
   2. 02Uncheck the Show Spotlight search shortcut
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Clear Input Sources and Dictation conflicts

   Copy steps
   1. 01In Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources make sure no shortcut uses Cmd+Space; if macOS reserves it, enable the item, change it to another combo, then disable it
   2. 02In System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation change a Command-twice shortcut or turn Dictation off
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Re-record the hotkey in Alfred

   Copy steps
   1. 01Open Alfred Preferences > General
   2. 02Click the Alfred Hotkey field and press your combo
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Test with an obscure combo

   Copy steps
   1. 01Temporarily set a rare hotkey such as Ctrl+Alt+Space
   2. 02If it works, your original combo conflicts with another app; disable that app's hotkey
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. FIX 5Rule out Secure Input

   Copy steps
   1. 01Click out of any password field and try again
   2. 02Quit or restart apps that hold Secure Input (password managers, Terminal secure keyboard entry)
   Did this fix it? Yes No

6. FIX 6Move synced preferences out of Dropbox Apps

   Copy steps
   1. 01If the hotkey resets after restart and you sync preferences, move the sync folder out of ~/Dropbox/Apps/ or to a local folder
   2. 02Restart Alfred and confirm the hotkey persists
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Pressing the Alfred hotkey (Alt+Space by default, or Cmd+Space) doesn't open the Alfred window, opens Spotlight instead, works only sometimes, or Alfred refuses to accept the combo.

Why it happens

• C-01Spotlight still uses Cmd+Space
• C-02An Input Sources (language switch) shortcut uses the same combo
• C-03Dictation is set to the Command key pressed twice
• C-04Another launcher or utility claims the same shortcut
• C-05A password field or Secure Input is active in another app
• C-06Hotkey resets because preferences sync from a problematic Dropbox folder

// this guide also covers

• alfred hotkey not working
• alfred cmd space not working
• alfred not opening
• alfred shortcut not working

Other Alfred errors

• Alfred Not Finding Files
• Alfred Not Finding Apps
• Alfred Clipboard History Not Working
• Alfred Snippets Not Expanding
• Alfred Slow to Open or Lagging
• Alfred Workflows Not Working
• Alfred Preferences Not Saving or Syncing
• Alfred Powerpack Not Activating