// troubleshooting guide · keyboard maestro
Keyboard Maestro Macros Not Saving
- Status
- Workaround available
- platforms:
- macOS
- updated:
- November 15, 2026
- reports:
- 2
- Method
- how we research
RUNBOOK · keyboard-maestro/macros-not-saving3 FIXES
// quick answer
Macros fail to save when the Keyboard Maestro preferences folder or Macros.plist is not writable. Check ownership and remove spurious ACLs.
Most likely fix: Open the preferences folder
How to fix it
// try these in order, the most common fix is first
FIX 1Open the preferences folder
- 01Choose Help > Open Preferences Folder
- 02Confirm the folder and Macros.plist are writable by your user
Did this fix it?FIX 2Remove ACLs
- 01Run chmod -N on the preferences folder in Terminal
Did this fix it?FIX 3Recreate the folder
- 01Create a new preferences folder, move the contents across and relaunch
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Changes disappear after quitting, or the editor warns it cannot write preferences.
Why it happens
- C-01Preferences folder not owned by you
- C-02Macros.plist not writable
- C-03Spurious ACL entries
// this guide also covers
- keyboard maestro macros not saved
- keyboard maestro preferences write failure
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