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The shortcut does nothing

Another app probably uses the same keys. Raycast, Alfred and the ChatGPT app all use ⌥Space by default, and some other launchers and input-method switchers do too. When two apps want the same shortcut, only one of them gets it. Beckon warns you when it finds a likely clash: at the top of its menu bar menu, under the shortcut in Settings → General, and in the welcome guide. It knows macOS’s own shortcuts (such as Spotlight on ⌘Space) and Raycast, Alfred and ChatGPT while they’re running. It can’t see every app’s shortcuts, so a clash can happen without a warning.
  • Pick another shortcut for Beckon in Settings → General → Open the ring (or Choose Another Shortcut… in the menu bar menu), or change the other app’s.
  • Meanwhile, the middle mouse button and menu bar icon → Show Ring still open the ring.
Check Beckon is running: its icon (an open ring with a dot) should be in the menu bar. If not, open it from Applications. To start it automatically, turn on Settings → General → Open Beckon at login.

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I don’t see my windows

  • Accessibility isn’t allowed. Reaching an app shows “Allow Accessibility to pick a window…”. See Permissions.
  • The windows are on another Space or in full screen. Only windows on the current Space are listed.
  • Window layout is set to Apps only. Change it in Settings → Windows → Show windows as.
  • Pro has ended. Windows are in Beckon Pro. See Free and Pro.

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Thumbnails show icons instead

  • Turn on Settings → Windows → Window thumbnails.
  • Allow Screen Recording, then quit and reopen Beckon: macOS only applies it after a restart.
  • If you recently denied macOS’s “keep recording your screen?” prompt, allow Beckon again in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording.
  • A brand-new window shows its app icon until its first thumbnail is captured, a moment later.

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The middle click also clicks the app underneath

Beckon keeps the middle click from reaching other apps only with Accessibility allowed. It picks the permission up a few seconds after you allow it. If you’d rather keep the middle button for your apps, turn off Settings → General → Middle-click opens the ring.

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A permission is on, but Beckon acts as if it isn’t

Remove Beckon from the list in System Settings and add it again, once. See Permissions.

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The Dock came back

Beckon puts your Dock back whenever it isn’t running, and when Pro ends, so you’re never left without one. If Beckon is running, check Settings → Apps → Hide the macOS Dock is on, and that Pro is active (Settings → Licence).

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The Dock is still hidden after I deleted Beckon

Open Terminal and run:
If you used to have the Dock hide automatically, use -bool true instead.

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An app is missing from the ring

  • With Open apps only, apps appear only while they’re running.
  • With Beckon’s pinned apps and open apps, add it in Settings → Apps → Pinned, or right-click it on the ring while it’s running and choose Options → Keep on Ring.
  • With more than 24 apps, the last slot is +n: point at it to see the rest. Up to 43 apps fit in all (23 on the ring, 20 behind +n).

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The right-click menu is missing commands

Beckon reads an app’s own “New …” commands from its menu bar, so they match the Dock’s for most apps but not every one, and in English only (other languages get the app’s ⌘N command). The Dock’s recent documents and notification badges aren’t available to other apps.

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Still stuck?

Write to hello@withbeckon.app with your Mac’s model, your macOS version, and what you did and saw.