# Resolve a Mac Capture hotkey conflict

This guide restores the capture and Bob Refs global shortcuts when another app already owns the chord. One Carbon handler owns every Bob hotkey. A failed registration leaves every other registration intact and reports the conflict instead of swallowing the key.

## Before you start

Install Bob Mac Capture and open Settings. Default chords:

- Capture: Control-Shift-Command-I (production) or Control-Shift-Command-R (development)
- Bob Refs: Control-Shift-Command-O
- Highlights-frontmost open: Command-O (configurable)

Settings › Hotkey shows the live capture chord as **Active binding**.

## 1\. Read the conflict

Open Settings › Diagnostics. A failed capture registration reports `Hotkey conflict` with the Carbon status. A failed Refs binding reports `Refs hotkey conflict: …`. The same event is in Recent Activity (`HH:mm:ss  message`). Confirm that status string before changing a binding.

The capture hotkey then does nothing until the chord is free. Other Bob keys keep working.

## 2\. Free the shortcut or switch the binding

Quit or rebind the other app that owns the chord. Then choose **Recheck Bob** from the menu-bar item so the handler registers again.

If you need the development capture chord instead, turn off **Use production Control-Shift-Command-I** in Settings › Hotkey. That selects Control-Shift-Command-R. Turn the production toggle off only when you need that development binding.

Refs chords re-register as soon as you toggle **Open Bob Refs with Control-Shift-Command-O** or the Highlights-frontmost open key. Each action registers independently.

## 3\. Confirm the live chord

Settings › Hotkey **Active binding** shows the live capture chord. Press it and confirm the capture panel opens. For Refs, press Control-Shift-Command-O and confirm Bob Refs opens. Diagnostics no longer shows `Hotkey conflict` or `Refs hotkey conflict`.

## If it goes wrong

If Recheck Bob still reports the conflict, another process still owns that exact chord. Check Shortcuts, other menu-bar apps, and the Highlights-frontmost open key (Command-O or Control-O) separately from the global Refs toggle. Launch-at-login approval is a different permission; use [Restore Mac Capture permissions](<https://bobs-org.github.io/guides/restore-mac-capture-permissions/index.md>) when Settings › Launch reads `Requires approval in System Settings`.

## Related

- [Mac Capture settings](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/settings/index.md>)
- [Mac Capture keyboard](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/keyboard/index.md>)
- [Mac Capture diagnostics](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/diagnostics/index.md>)
- [Bob configuration](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/configuration/#mac-capture-hotkeys>)
- [Restore Mac Capture permissions](<https://bobs-org.github.io/guides/restore-mac-capture-permissions/index.md>)