// troubleshooting guide · alfred
Alfred Not Finding Apps
- Status
- Workaround available
- platforms:
- macOS
- updated:
- November 15, 2026
- reports:
- 4
- Method
- how we research
RUNBOOK · alfred/not-finding-apps4 FIXES
// quick answer
When apps vanish from Alfred, usually after a macOS upgrade, type reload to refresh the application cache, then rebuild the macOS metadata index (with the deep Delete .Spotlight-V100 option if needed) and reboot.
Most likely fix: Reload Alfred's app cache
How to fix it
// try these in order, the most common fix is first
FIX 1Reload Alfred's app cache
- 01Open Alfred and type reload
- 02Select the reload option and search again
Did this fix it?FIX 2Wait for post-upgrade indexing
- 01Open Spotlight and type a few characters; a progress bar means indexing is still running
- 02Try again after it finishes
Did this fix it?FIX 3Rebuild the metadata index
- 01Alfred Preferences > Advanced > Rebuild macOS Metadata
- 02Choose Reindex macOS Metadata Index; for a deeper fix click Delete .Spotlight-V100 Folder and reboot
Did this fix it?FIX 4Reset the search scope
- 01Alfred Preferences > Features > Default Results
- 02Click Reset... and choose Reset to Applications and Home
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Alfred shows no results or old results for installed apps, native Apple apps are missing, or apps disappeared after a macOS update while Spotlight may still find them.
Why it happens
- C-01Stale Alfred application cache after an update
- C-02macOS reindexing after a major upgrade
- C-03Corrupted Spotlight index
- C-04Applications folders removed from Alfred's search scope
// this guide also covers
- alfred not finding apps
- alfred can't find applications
- alfred apps missing after update
- alfred not showing apps sonoma
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