What Are Alfred 2 Workflows and How Do You Find and Install Them?

Updated

Alfred 2 workflows are user-contributed extensions that add custom commands and actions to the Alfred 2 launcher on Mac OS X. You obtain them by downloading a workflow file and importing it into Alfred 2; the historical repository Packal is now archived, so the Alfred Gallery is the current place to browse for workflows and themes.

What a workflow actually is

A workflow is a package that extends Alfred 2 beyond its built-in search. Once installed, it can respond to keywords you type in Alfred, act on the selected file or text, or run a sequence of steps in the background. Packal's own description frames workflows and themes as user-contributed additions that "extend the Mac OS X application Alfred 2."

Themes are the visual counterpart: they change how Alfred looks rather than what it does. Packal listed both in the same catalog, which is why the two are often mentioned together.

Where to find workflows now

Packal was the long-standing repository for Alfred 2 workflows and themes. Its page now states plainly that it "has been archived and is no longer maintained," and directs visitors to the Alfred Gallery for workflows and themes. At the time of archiving, Packal listed 1,637 workflows and 211 themes, so it remains a useful reference for names and ideas even though it is no longer the place to download from.

Source Status Use it for
Alfred Gallery Current, recommended by Packal Browsing and getting workflows and themes
Packal Archived, unmaintained Looking up older workflow names and descriptions

If you follow a link to an old Packal listing, treat it as documentation rather than a download source, and search the Alfred Gallery for the same or an equivalent workflow.

How to install a downloaded workflow

  1. Get the workflow file. Download it from the Alfred Gallery. Workflows are typically distributed as a .alfredworkflow file.
  2. Open the file. Double-clicking a .alfredworkflow file hands it to Alfred, which opens an import prompt.
  3. Confirm the import. Alfred shows the workflow's name and contents; accept it to add the workflow to your collection.
  4. Check for required setup. Many workflows depend on something external — an API key, a companion app, or a login. Packal's catalog shows the range: RemoveBG calls the removebg API, Lastpass Search queries LastPass, and Fast note to notion sends items to a Notion page. Each of these needs its own configuration before it will work.
  5. Trigger the workflow. Type its keyword in Alfred and run it.

Verifying it works, and common snags

Run the workflow once with a simple input and confirm you get the expected result — a list of matches, an opened URL, or a confirmation message.

If nothing happens, check these in order:

  • The keyword isn't recognized. The workflow may not have imported, or its keyword may differ from what you assumed. Open Alfred's preferences and confirm the workflow is listed and enabled.
  • The workflow runs but fails partway. This usually means missing configuration — an API key, an account login, or a helper app. Re-read the workflow's own description for its requirements.
  • The workflow targets a different Alfred version. Packal's catalog is specifically for Alfred 2. A workflow built for a later Alfred release may not behave the same way, so check compatibility before relying on it.
  • The download link is dead. This is expected for archived Packal entries; find the workflow in the Alfred Gallery instead.

A practical starting point

If you're new to this, pick one narrow task you repeat often — sending a quick note somewhere, searching a service, or toggling a setting — and install a single workflow for it. Packal's random and new workflow listings show how varied the catalog is, from a Jira task manager to a dice roller. Start with one, confirm it works end to end, and only then add more; troubleshooting is far easier when you've changed one thing at a time.