Alfred keyboard shortcuts

Alfred is a Mac launcher you open with a hotkey to start apps, find files, and run workflows. Its default keys run the search window and results, browse files and the File Buffer, open Clipboard History and snippets, and control the Music Mini Player.

macOS · 42 shortcuts

Search window and results

Open Alfred, move through its result list, act on a specific result, expose alternate actions, preview items, and dismiss or resize the current view.

ActionShortcuts
Show Alfred
Option + Space
Select the next result
Down
Select the previous result
Up
Action the selected result
Return
Action result 1 through 9 directly
Cmd + 1-9
Open a file or application in its default application
Cmd + O
Open Alfred Preferences
Cmd + ,
Reveal a local-file result in Finder
Cmd + Return
Show the available Actions listRequires the Powerpack's Universal Actions feature.
Option + Cmd + \
Hide Alfred or go back in a stacked view
Esc
Hide Alfred and ignore stacked views
Cmd + Esc
Toggle maximum height in supported views
Cmd + 0
Zoom in within supported views
Cmd + +
Zoom out within supported views
Cmd + -
Preview the selected result in Quick Look
ShiftorCmd + Y

File System Navigation and File Buffer

The folder-browsing controls require the Powerpack's File System Navigation feature. The File Buffer controls collect several files for one later action.

ActionShortcuts
Navigate to the home folder
~
Navigate to the root folder
/
Go to the last browsed file-system path
Option + Cmd + /
Browse the selected folder
Cmd + Down
Enter the selected folder
Return
Go up one folder
Backspace
Autocomplete the current path or selection
Tab
Show hidden files
.
Add to the File Buffer and move to the next item
Option + Down
Add or remove the selected File Buffer item
Option + Up
Remove the last item from the File Buffer
Option + Left
Action all items in the File Buffer
Option + Right
Show Actions for the selected file-system item
RightorFnorControl

Clipboard History and snippets

These Powerpack bindings open Clipboard History, copy or delete an entry, and save the selected clipboard item as a reusable snippet.

ActionShortcuts
Open Clipboard History
Option + Cmd + C
Copy the selected history entry to the current clipboard
Cmd + C
Save the selected clipboard entry as a snippet
Cmd + S
Delete the selected Clipboard History entry
Fn + Backspace

Music Mini Player

These Powerpack bindings open Alfred's Music Mini Player, control playback, rate the current track, browse upward, and rebuild the music index.

ActionShortcuts
Show the Music Mini Player
Control + Cmd + Return
Play or pause
Control + Cmd + Down
Play the next track
Control + Cmd + Right
Play the previous track
Control + Cmd + Left
Play a random album
Control + Cmd + Up
Rate the current track from zero to five stars
Control + Cmd + 0-5
Go up one folder in the Mini Player
Backspace
Reindex the music library
Cmd + R

Source

Alfred 5 cheatsheet · Checked

Default Alfred 5 hotkeys from the current official cheatsheet checked August 31, 2026. Alfred lets users change hotkeys, so modified installations can differ. Universal Actions, File System Navigation, Clipboard History, snippets, contacts, email, workflows, and the Music Mini Player require the Powerpack where noted.

Make a printable Alfred sheet