App · last scan Nov 2026
Keyboard Maestro Problems & Issues
Mac automation with macros, hotkeys, text expansion and app control
VERDICT TRY
70/100
Try
- signals
- 13
- sources
- 33
- known errors
- 12
// answer first
Should you use Keyboard Maestro?
TryKeyboard Maestro is worth trying for most users (score 70/100). Most reported issues: Keyboard Maestro stops working after macOS update; Keyboard Maestro macros not triggering; Typed string triggers stop working. Not a good fit for: Beginners with no scripting experience; Windows or Linux users; Teams needing managed, locked-down Macs. Users most often switch to Alfred, Raycast, AutoHotkey.
Top problems
- Keyboard Maestro stops working after macOS update
- Keyboard Maestro macros not triggering
- Typed string triggers stop working
Good for
- Mac power users with repetitive tasks
- Text expansion users on Mac
- Developers and sysadmins
Avoid if you are
- Beginners with no scripting experience
- Windows or Linux users
- Teams needing managed, locked-down Macs
Common alternatives: 
Alfred, 
Raycast, 
AutoHotkey
score breakdown
- Pricing
- 90Pricing score 90 of 100
- Usability
- 45Usability score 45 of 100
- Performance
- 82Performance score 82 of 100
- Support
- 85Support score 85 of 100
- Reliability
- 60Reliability score 60 of 100
- Onboarding
- 40Onboarding score 40 of 100
- Integrations
- 85Integrations score 85 of 100
// score breakdown, 0-100
- Pricing
- 90Pricing score 90 of 100
- Usability
- 45Usability score 45 of 100
- Performance
- 82Performance score 82 of 100
- Support
- 85Support score 85 of 100
- Reliability
- 60Reliability score 60 of 100
- Onboarding
- 40Onboarding score 40 of 100
- Integrations
- 85Integrations score 85 of 100
how these scores were set
Extremely capable and fairly priced one-time license with a very active forum, held back by a dated, steep editor and macros that break whenever macOS changes permissions.
Overview
Keyboard Maestro is a macOS automation app that runs macros built from actions (keystrokes, menu clicks, scripts, window and clipboard control) and fires them from hotkeys, typed strings, schedules, app events and more. It is a one-time purchase from a small Australian developer and is aimed at Mac power users who want deep automation beyond Shortcuts. It is Mac-only and its editor has a steep learning curve.
- company
- Stairways Software Pty Ltd
- hq
- Australia
- website
- www.keyboardmaestro.com
Keyboard Maestro Not Working? Common Errors & Fixes
12 entries// step-by-step fixes for the errors users hit most
- E-01Keyboard Maestro Macros Not FiringWhen a macro does nothing, the Engine is usually not running, the macro or group is disabled, or permissions are missing. Run Help > Interactive Help in the editor, which checks these in order.
- E-02Keyboard Maestro Not Working After macOS UpdatemacOS updates often leave Accessibility permission looking enabled while it is not. Toggle it off and on for both Keyboard Maestro and the Engine, then restart the Engine.
- E-03Keyboard Maestro Typed String Trigger Not WorkingTyped-string triggers need Accessibility and often Input Monitoring for the Engine, and do not fire in password fields or the editor. Check permissions and Secure Input first.
- E-04Keyboard Maestro Secure Input Blocking MacrosWhile an app holds macOS Secure Input, Keyboard Maestro cannot see typed strings or type reliably. Find and quit the app holding it; Keyboard Maestro can detect but not bypass it.
- E-05Keyboard Maestro Engine Not Launching at LoginIf the Engine does not start at login, the app is usually translocated, login items are duplicated or hidden. Move the app to Applications and re-enable Launch Engine at Login.
- E-06Keyboard Maestro Click at Found Image Not WorkingFound-image actions most often fail because the Engine lacks Screen Recording permission. Grant it to the Engine itself, then re-test with a Screen Capture action.
- E-07Keyboard Maestro Actions Not Working on macOS TahoeOn macOS 26 some tokens and actions fail until Automation permissions and the latest version are in place. Update to 11.1.1 or later and re-grant permissions to the Engine.
- E-08Keyboard Maestro Macros Not SavingMacros fail to save when the Keyboard Maestro preferences folder or Macros.plist is not writable. Check ownership and remove spurious ACLs.
- E-09Keyboard Maestro Safari and Chrome Actions Not WorkingBrowser actions need Safari's Develop menu with Allow JavaScript from Apple Events, and Chrome may need a restart or explicit app name. Without these the actions fail silently.
- E-10Keyboard Maestro Dropped or Wrong Characters When TypingMacros can type or paste too quickly for some apps. Add short pauses or increase the action delay for that macro only.
- E-11Keyboard Maestro Execute Shell Script Command Not FoundThe Execute Shell Script action runs in non-interactive bash with an empty default PATH, so installed commands are not found. Set PATH inside the script.
- E-12Keyboard Maestro Won't Launch or Runaway Macro at LoginA looping login macro can lock you out. Cancel all macros with Ctrl-Option-Shift-click on the status icon, or launch the editor without the Engine to disable the trigger.
Try it: a launcher with snippets and clipboard history
A hands-on sandbox of how Keyboard Maestro-style tools work, including where users run into trouble. Simplified illustration, not the real Keyboard Maestro app. Nothing is saved.
SANDBOX · keyboard-maestro LIVE, NOTHING SAVED
Our team built this sandbox from scratch. Want a real Keyboard Maestro-style tool built around how you work?
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- Your own version of any tool
- ✓ Free 15-min call to scope it
- ✓ Price agreed up front
- ✓ Your data, your code
Signals & Issues
13 signals · sorted by impact// patterns extracted from real user feedback, not raw reviews
Keyboard Maestro stops working after macOS update✓ verified
After macOS upgrades, users report all keystroke macros dead while the Accessibility checkbox still shows enabled. Re-toggling or re-adding the Engine in Privacy settings is the common fix. The official wiki says permissions have been unreliable since Mojave.
reported 8xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact9/10Keyboard Maestro macros not triggering✓ verified
The most repeated forum complaint: hotkey and typed-string macros silently stop firing. Usual causes are a disabled macro or group, the Engine not running, Secure Input, or lost permissions.
reported 8xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact8/10Typed string triggers stop working✓ verified
Text-expansion style triggers fail after OS updates, migrations to a new Mac, layout changes or when Input Monitoring is missing. They also do not fire in password fields or in the editor itself.
reported 7xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact7/10Keyboard Maestro problems on macOS Tahoe✓ verified
Forum threads on macOS 26 report broken browser URL tokens, music tokens, Show Palette actions, Trash File on iCloud Drive and Option-key characters. Version 11.1.1 fixed some Tahoe issues, but there is no official compatibility list.
reported 6xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact7/10Click at Found Image not working✓ verified
Image-search actions fail repeatedly across Catalina, Big Sur and Sequoia, often because the Engine lacks Screen Recording permission or the screenshot no longer matches.
reported 6xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact6/10Secure Input blocks Keyboard Maestro✓ verified
While another app holds Secure Input (password fields, some password managers, terminal setting), typed strings and typing actions fail. Keyboard Maestro can detect it but cannot bypass it.
reported 6xnegativevia Other (3)workflow failure
impact6/10Keyboard Maestro Engine not launching at login✓ verified
The Launch Engine at Login setting can turn itself off or never start, typically because of app translocation, duplicate login items or a hidden login item.
reported 5xnegativevia Other (2)workflow failure
impact6/10
Keyboard Maestro is too complicated for beginners✓ verified
Reviewers and forum users call it very powerful but with a much steeper learning curve than simpler tools. Simple macros are easy, but mastering conditions, variables and tokens takes real time.
reported 8xnegativevia Other (3)expectation mismatch
impact6/10Keyboard Maestro interface looks dated✓ verified
Long-time users describe the editor as feeling about 15 years old, dense and not enjoyable to use even when they depend on it. Some ask for a visual, Shortcuts-style editor.
reported 6xnegativevia Other (2)expectation mismatch
impact5/10
Macros type or paste text too fast and drop characters✓ verified
In web and cross-platform apps macros can drop or reorder characters, or paste the wrong clipboard content. Adding pauses or raising the action delay for that macro is the standard workaround.
reported 5xnegativevia Other (2)workflow failure
impact5/10
Keyboard Maestro is Mac only✓ verified
There is no Windows, Linux or iOS version, so users on mixed setups look at AutoHotkey or other tools. Macros also do not sync to iPhone.
reported 6xnegativevia Other (2)user type mismatch
impact5/10
Paid upgrade for each major version✓ verified
A license covers version 11 indefinitely, but earlier owners pay US$25 to upgrade (purchases since 1 March 2023 upgrade free). Some users dislike paying for major releases, though there is no subscription.
reported 4xmixedvia Other (2)hidden costs
impact3/10
Browser and app actions fail (Safari, Chrome, Adobe)✓ verified
Actions that talk to Safari, Chrome or apps like Adobe tools need extra settings (Develop menu, Allow JavaScript from Apple Events, app name). Without them actions silently fail.
reported 5xnegativevia Other (2)workflow failure
impact5/10
What Users Love
One-time US$36, no subscription
Version 11 is used indefinitely after a single purchase, which is rare among automation tools.
Huge range of actions and triggers
Hotkeys, typed strings, schedules, app and device events, palettes, scripts, variables and conditions in one app.
Active forum with developer replies
The official forum and wiki are detailed and the developer answers threads directly, including on new macOS breakage.
Works with AppleScript, shell, JavaScript and other tools
Macros can run scripts, call other apps and be triggered from tools like Stream Deck and Alfred.
Replaces text expanders
Typed-string triggers and snippets let users drop separate expander apps, with adjustable delay for apps where expansion fires too fast.
Native Apple Silicon support, long-lived app
Version 11 runs natively on Apple Silicon and the app has been maintained for many years by the same developer.
Pricing Plans
Users: 1 user per license
- ✓All actions and triggers
- ✓Typed string and hotkey triggers
- ✓Free 11.x updates
- ✓Native Apple Silicon
- ✓macOS 10.13 or later
Limitations: macOS only
Users: 1 user per license
- ✓Version 11 license
Limitations: Requires a previous license
Features
Triggers
- Hotkey triggers
- Typed string (text expansion) triggers
Does not fire in password fields
Actions
- Image search and click
Needs Screen Recording permission
- Run shell, AppleScript, JavaScript
Logic
- Variables and conditions
Utilities
- Clipboard history
Platforms
- Windows or Linux version
macOS only
- iPhone / iPad app
Pricing
- Free trial
Trial download linked from the official site
Who Should Use This?
Good Fit
Mac power users with repetitive tasks
Automating app workflows, windows and text pays back the learning time.
Text expansion users on Mac
Typed-string triggers replace a separate expander at a one-time price.
Developers and sysadmins
Runs shell, AppleScript and JavaScript and chains with other tools.
Neutral
Users who want a launcher and quick search
Does launching but Alfred or Raycast are built for search-first use.
Casual users wanting simple automations
Apple Shortcuts may be enough and far easier to learn.
Avoid
Beginners with no scripting experience
Steep learning curve and a dense editor.
Windows or Linux users
macOS only; AutoHotkey is the usual Windows choice.
Teams needing managed, locked-down Macs
Needs Accessibility and other privacy permissions that managed setups often restrict.
Regret Patterns
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Users expect set-and-forget automation but must re-check privacy permissions after updates.
Buyers expecting Shortcuts-level simplicity find a dense editor and give up before building useful macros.
Some buy for snippets and later find a lighter expander suited them better.
Macros are Mac-only and cannot be reused after changing platform.
Macros relying on screen images break when themes, resolution or permissions change.
When It Breaks Down
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
Accessibility, Input Monitoring or Screen Recording permissions are lost or stale and macros do not fire.
Typed strings and typing actions fail until the app releases Secure Input.
Translocation or login item problems stop macros from loading at startup.
Characters drop or reorder without added delay.
Found-image actions fail after resolution, theme or permission changes.
The shell has an empty default PATH so commands are not found.
Alternatives Users Switch To
Alfred
8x mentionedLauncher with workflows and snippets; friendlier but less powerful automation. Powerpack is a one-time license.
Raycast
7x mentionedModern launcher with extensions and scripts; easier UI, but not a general macro engine and has paid tiers.
AutoHotkey
7x mentionedFree scripting-based automation for Windows; pick it if you are not on a Mac.
TextExpander
6x mentionedDedicated text expansion with sync and teams, but subscription-based.
Espanso
5x mentionedFree open-source cross-platform text expander configured in YAML; no macros beyond text.
Microsoft PowerToys
4x mentionedFree Microsoft utilities with keyboard remapping and launcher, for Windows only.
Frequently Asked Questions
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