What Are Alfred 2 Workflows and Themes, and How Do You Get Them?

Updated

Alfred 2 workflows are user-contributed add-ons that extend the Alfred launcher with new commands and automations, while themes change how Alfred looks. You get them by browsing a repository, downloading the workflow or theme file, and opening it so Alfred imports it. The main thing to know today is that Packal, the long-standing repository for Alfred 2 workflows and themes, has been archived and is no longer maintained; its own notice directs users to the Alfred Gallery for workflows and themes. Use Packal only as a historical catalog, and get current items from the Alfred Gallery.

What a workflow does versus what a theme does

The two are different kinds of add-on, even though repositories list them side by side.

Workflow Theme
What it changes Adds commands, keywords, and automations to Alfred Changes Alfred's visual appearance
Example from Packal "Copy File Contents" copies a file's contents without opening it; "Rolls" rolls dice "Lookfar Solarized Dark," "DarkAlfred," "Southwest"
What you install A workflow file that Alfred imports A theme file that Alfred applies
Effect on your setup New things Alfred can do New look for Alfred's window and results

A workflow is functional: after installing, you type its keyword in Alfred to trigger it. A theme is cosmetic: it changes colors and styling, not behavior. Packal's own description frames both as ways to "extend" Alfred 2, and its listings show the split clearly — workflows like a Jira task manager or a Notion quick-note sender sit under Workflows, while color schemes sit under Themes.

How to browse and install from Packal

Packal presents workflows and themes in browsable sections, with Random Workflows, New Workflows, Random Themes, and Top Contributors on its home page. At the time of its archive notice it listed 1,637 workflows and 211 themes.

To install from a repository like this:

  1. Browse or search the Workflows or Themes section and open an item's page.
  2. Download the workflow or theme file to your Mac.
  3. Open the downloaded file. Alfred imports workflows when you open the file; themes are applied through Alfred's appearance settings.
  4. Trigger the workflow by typing its keyword in Alfred, or select the theme in Alfred's preferences to confirm it applied.

The expected result is a new keyword or command in Alfred (for a workflow) or a changed look (for a theme). If nothing happens, the file may not have been associated with Alfred, or the item may target a different Alfred version.

What to do now that Packal is archived

Packal's page states plainly that it "has been archived and is no longer maintained" and points to the Alfred Gallery for workflows and themes. That changes how you should use it:

  • For new installs, start at the Alfred Gallery. It is the maintained destination named by Packal itself.
  • Treat Packal as a reference. Its listings and contributor rankings (vitor with 52 contributions, raguay with 51, deanishe with 33, among others) are useful for discovering what exists and who built it, but archived items may not be updated.
  • Check compatibility before relying on an old item. A workflow written for Alfred 2 may need adjustment on later Alfred versions; the item's page is the place to check what it targets.

How to judge a workflow or theme before installing

Because repositories are user-contributed — Packal describes all its workflows and themes as user-contributed — a quick check saves cleanup later:

  • Read what it actually does. "Copy File Contents" and "RemoveBG" (which uses the removebg API) tell you their function and, in the second case, that an external service is involved.
  • Note external dependencies. Workflows that call an API, like RemoveBG, need credentials or a service account; ones that talk to Jira or Notion need those accounts configured.
  • Check the contributor. Packal's Top Contributors list is a rough signal of who has shipped repeatedly.
  • Prefer maintained sources for anything you'll depend on. An archived listing is fine for a look; the Alfred Gallery is the better bet for something you'll use daily.

Common install and compatibility snags

  • The file opens in the wrong app. Workflow files need to be opened by Alfred; if your Mac doesn't associate them, open Alfred and import from there.
  • The keyword does nothing. Confirm the workflow is enabled in Alfred's workflow list, and that you're typing the exact keyword it defines.
  • A workflow asks for an API key or account. Items like RemoveBG or the Notion sender won't work until that service is configured; this is expected, not a bug.
  • An old Alfred 2 item behaves oddly. Since Packal is archived, its items aren't updated; check whether a current version exists in the Alfred Gallery before troubleshooting further.
  • A theme doesn't appear. Themes are applied through Alfred's appearance settings, not by triggering a keyword; select it there to confirm.

The short version: workflows add capabilities, themes change looks, both are installed by downloading and opening the file, and the maintained place to get them now is the Alfred Gallery rather than the archived Packal.