// troubleshooting guide · keyboard maestro
Keyboard Maestro Macros Not Firing
- Status
- Workaround available
- platforms:
- macOS
- updated:
- November 15, 2026
- reports:
- 3
- Method
- how we research
RUNBOOK · keyboard-maestro/macros-not-firing4 FIXES
// quick answer
When 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.
Most likely fix: Run Interactive Help
How to fix it
// try these in order, the most common fix is first
FIX 1Run Interactive Help
- 01In the Keyboard Maestro editor open Help > Interactive Help
- 02Choose 'Something expected is not happening'
- 03Follow the checks it reports
Did this fix it?FIX 2Check macro, group and trigger
- 01Select the macro group and make sure it is enabled and active in the current app
- 02Confirm the macro is enabled and has an enabled trigger and action
- 03Add a Display Text action to prove it fires
Did this fix it?FIX 3Restart the Engine and Mac
- 01Choose File > Quit Engine, then File > Launch Engine
- 02Restart the Mac if it was just updated
Did this fix it?FIX 4Read the Engine log
- 01Open Help > Open Logs Folder
- 02Open Engine.log and look for errors at the time you triggered the macro
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Hotkey or other trigger does nothing, the macro never shows as triggered, or it only works while the editor is open.
Why it happens
- C-01Keyboard Maestro Engine is not running
- C-02Macro, group or trigger is disabled
- C-03Macro has no enabled actions
- C-04Accessibility permission missing for the Engine
- C-05Secure Input is active
// this guide also covers
- keyboard maestro not working
- keyboard maestro macro not triggering
- keyboard maestro hotkey not working
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