Update Workflows

[lkrangel]

Can someone explain the correct way to update workflows? I keep trying to update them but they always end up still having the icon that they need to be updated. Please help 

[Stephen_C]

Assuming you are talking about workflows from the Alfred Gallery just do this:

• Go to Alfred Preferences → Workflows.
• At the bottom of the second column click on Alfred Gallery and then Check for Workflow Updates.
• You can sort the list of workflows by Gallery updates to show the updates at the top (click on the button to the right of Filter at the top of the list) and then right click on each workflow needing an update and choose Update from Alfred Gallery.

Do note that if you make changes to a workflow from the Gallery the workflow will think it needs to be updated. If you need to make changes and avoid the workflow being overwrtitten you need to change the workflow's bundle identifier.

 

If that doesn't solve the issue for you please post with more detail about exactly what happens when you try to update a workflow (e.g., does it in fact update but the icon remain, or does it fail to update at all?) and confirm your Alfred and macOS version numbers.

 

Stephen

[lkrangel]

Hello Stephen, thank you for responding to my post so quickly.

 

Sadly, that is what I have been doing, but I haven't had any luck. When I try updating the workflow using the method you mentioned, it disappears from my list for about 10 minutes and then shows up again, still requesting an update. 

 

I tried deleting the old version and redownloading the newly updated workflow from the Gallery, but now I can't even delete the old workflow. When I try going into the alfredpreferences.app in my folders to delete it manually, I get the error message attached.

[Stephen_C]

Please confirm your macOS and Alfred version numbers.

 

When you choose "Update from Alfred Gallery” what exactly happens? Do you see anything happen on screen or any error message?

 

Where do you store your Alfred preferences? Are they stored in the default location or in some location you have set in order to sync them?

 

Edit: Are you using a VPN?

 

Stephen

Edited March 5, 2024 by Stephen_C

[simon810]

I'm experiencing the same problem: Workflows appear as upgradeable, but after updating via the "Workflow Gallery" nothing changes. The update symbol remains in place, but the workflow shows no content when clicked on in the list view. After closing the preferences window, it is as before (listed as upgradeable).

 

I'm using Alfred 5.5 on two MacBooks. The file "Alfred.alfredpreferences" lies on my iCloud-drive and is used by Alfred on both MacBooks. The path in the preferences window is set correctly. I do not use a VPN.

 

Is there any solution for this issue?

[Vero]

@simon810 Could you please follow the same steps outlined here, moving your preferences temporarily off iCloud, and ensuring you've disabled Optimised Storage?

 

 

[simon810]

Thank you for your reply.

 

After moving the preferences to the local disk, I was able to update the workflows. This lets me assume that the problem is connected with iCloud.

 

Addendum: I turned off Optimized Storage. I'm on macOS 14.4.

[lkrangel]

This also worked for me! Thank you everyone, for all of your help.

 

Another quick tip on Mac: If you don't want to completely disable optimized storage, add ".nosync" to the end of the file name that you want to remove from iCloud syncing. (Screenshot of how the unsynced file should look on your desktop)

[Belfong]

On 3/20/2024 at 5:18 AM, Vero said:

@simon810 Could you please follow the same steps outlined here, moving your preferences temporarily off iCloud, and ensuring you've disabled Optimised Storage?

 

With MacOS Sequoia, we can right click on a iCloud folder and click "Keep Downloaded" to always have a local copy. Will this improve Alfred Preference syncing?

[FireFingers21]

2 hours ago, Belfong said:

With MacOS Sequoia, we can right click on a iCloud folder and click "Keep Downloaded" to always have a local copy. Will this improve Alfred Preference syncing?

 

It will not. While that guarantees a local copy of the file, there is still added latency when saving files in an iCloud synced folder. Because Alfred needs instant read/write access to the preferences file, you'll still run into issues if you keep it in an iCloud folder.

[Batman]

Anyway to batch update workflows? If not, any chance of implementing this since it's pretty annoying to update a lot of workflows one by one.

[yinan]

Would love to have one feature to batch update workflows

[FireFingers21]

When updating workflows, a popup appears for the Workflow's Configuration. You're given the option to migrate any existing customizations, but sometimes updates can come with new customization options. In some cases, configuring these options is also required, otherwise the workflow won't run.

 

Since workflows need to be checked/configured on every install, I feel like any benefit you'd get from a batch update button would be negated.

 

It should be noted you also can't batch open .alfredworkflow files into Alfred from Finder, probably for a similar reason.