Start by checking whether Espanso is running, whether the trigger is loaded, and whether the match works from the command line. Those checks separate a missing or broken match from a problem with keyboard input or operating-system integration. If Espanso expands when you did not expect it, inspect the exact trigger and the match or package that defines it before changing other settings.
1. Check whether Espanso is running
Open a terminal or command prompt and run:
espanso statusIf the daemon is not running, check its logs and restart it:
espanso log
espanso restartThese commands are listed in the Espanso command reference mirror. If the status command reports an error, use the log output to guide the next step rather than repeatedly restarting the service.
2. Confirm the trigger is loaded
List the matches Espanso currently recognizes:
espanso match listLook for the exact trigger, including punctuation and capitalization as it appears in your configuration. If it is absent, the problem is likely in the configuration or the package that supplies the match, rather than in typing the trigger into an application.
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For a package-provided match, list installed packages and locate their files:
espanso package list
espanso path packagesEspanso packages are YAML-based configuration files. Inspect the relevant package and any recent local edits before updating, uninstalling, or reinstalling it; package commands and configuration details are in the official package documentation.
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3. Test the match without typing it
Run the match directly from the CLI, substituting your configured trigger for :trigger:
espanso match exec -t ":trigger"If the command does not execute the expected text, focus on the match definition or its package. If it works from the CLI but not when you type the trigger, the match itself can execute; investigate the live keyboard-input path, the application receiving the text, permissions, and Espanso’s service integration.
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A loaded match and successful CLI execution do not prove that keyboard-triggered expansion works. A Windows report describes this symptom on one Windows 11 Build 26200 and Espanso 2.3.0 setup, but it does not establish a general Windows cause: Windows issue report.
4. If a snippet expands unexpectedly
Identify the exact text that triggered the expansion and the application where it happened. Find that trigger in your match list, then inspect the corresponding configuration or package file. If you need to isolate it, temporarily disable or edit only the suspect match using your usual configuration method, then test again.
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Do not assume a particular trigger-boundary rule, application-specific setting, or match-precedence behavior is responsible without checking the actual configuration. The available documentation and reports do not establish a universal cause for unexpected expansion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Treat platform workarounds as version-specific
When the service runs and the match works from the CLI but live typing still fails, compare your Espanso version and operating-system version or build with any issue report you consult. The reports below describe individual setups; they are clues to investigate, not guaranteed fixes.
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- Windows: A report for Windows 11 Build 26200 and Espanso 2.3.0 describes CLI-versus-keyboard behavior, without establishing a broadly applicable remedy. See the Windows report.
- macOS 15.7.2: A user running Espanso 2.3.0 reported failure despite Accessibility approval and said that leaving
espanso daemonrunning in a terminal worked for them. This is a single-user workaround, not a general instruction: macOS report. - macOS 26 developer beta 3: An open issue for Espanso 2.2.4 reports
espanso service start --unmanagedas a workaround. The beta OS and older Espanso version make this especially specific: macOS beta issue.
Use current official troubleshooting guidance for your OS before changing permissions or attempting low-level input workarounds. The reports above do not establish how current permission behavior works across macOS versions.
6. Optional: use trigger statistics for usage, not diagnosis
Espanso’s optional trigger statistics are disabled by default. The official documentation says tracking of frequently used triggers was introduced in Espanso v2.4.0. Statistics can help show trigger usage, but do not diagnose whether keyboard capture or service integration is working: Espanso statistics documentation.
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