Typeahead isn't showing suggestions

If you're not seeing suggestions, work through these checks in order. Start with the Typeahead icon in the menu bar: if something needs attention, its menu says so at the top.

1. Check the Accessibility permission#

This is the most common cause. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility and make sure Typeahead is switched on. Settings › Status in Typeahead shows it too. Step by step: Granting accessibility permissions on macOS.

2. Check it isn't paused#

A dimmed menu bar icon means Typeahead is paused, or off for the app you're in. If it's paused, open the menu and choose Resume. Also check that Enable Typeahead is on in Settings › General.

3. Check it's on for this app#

The menu bar menu has a submenu for the app you're in, and it shows if Typeahead is disabled there. Some apps start off:

• Password managers, crypto wallets, finance apps and Finder stay off by design.
• Terminals and code editors are off until you switch them on in Settings › Apps.
• Google Docs needs a one-time setting: turn on screen reader support in Tools › Accessibility. Arc needs a one-time setup too.

In full-screen apps, check that Disable in Full-Screen Apps is off in Settings › Advanced.

4. Check the kind of field#

Typeahead never suggests in password fields. On the default Balanced appearance, it also stays out of search boxes and small form fields. To see suggestions there, choose Everywhere under Appearance in Settings › General. In Mail it leaves the To, Cc and Subject lines alone and suggests in the message.

5. Give the model a moment#

After Typeahead starts, or after you switch models, the model takes a moment to load. After 15 minutes without typing it sleeps, and wakes when you type again. If your Mac runs short of memory, suggestions pause and come back on their own. The menu bar menu shows when the model is loading or paused for low memory, and Settings › Status shows when it's sleeping.

6. Check your suggestion settings#

On Frequency: Fewer, only the most confident suggestions show. On Timing: Relaxed, Typeahead waits until you pause. Try Standard and Balanced in Settings › General.

Seeing a different grey suggestion? That's probably the Mac's own inline predictions. Turn them off in System Settings › Keyboard: click Edit next to Input Sources and switch off Show inline predictive text.

7. Check your plan#

If your trial or subscription has ended, Typeahead stops until you subscribe again or buy Lifetime. A monthly or yearly plan works offline after setup until 7 days after its paid-through date; after that, connect to the internet so it can check your license. Settings › License shows your plan.

8. Restart Typeahead#

Click the menu bar icon, choose Quit Typeahead, then open it again from Applications.

Still stuck?#

In Typeahead, open Settings › Status and click Copy System Report. Email it to hello@typeahead.ai with the name of the app you were typing in. We usually reply within 24 hours on business days.