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ChatGPT ⌥Space Not Working on Mac? Fixes and a One-Hotkey Alternative ​

If ⌥ Space stopped opening what you expect on your Mac, the cause is usually one of two things. Since the new ChatGPT desktop app merged Chat, Work and Codex, the old Chat Bar no longer opens on ⌥ Space — that bar still lives in ChatGPT Classic. And newer builds bind ⌥ Space to Mini by default, which takes the key away from Raycast, Alfred, or SpotAsk.

Below: how to identify which case you have, how to reassign or restore the shortcut inside ChatGPT, and — if all you want is one hotkey to ask a quick question — a free, open-source menu bar app that does exactly that and can hand the question to ChatGPT.

Written by the SpotAsk maintainers. SpotAsk is an independent open-source project, not affiliated with OpenAI. We make SpotAsk, so we are biased. Corrections are welcome via GitHub issues.

Quick answer: which ⌥Space problem do you have? ​

Check which app you have first: ChatGPT (the new merged app) or ChatGPT Classic (the older app, now renamed).

What happens when you press ⌥ SpaceLikely causeFix
Nothing happensChatGPT Classic is not running, its Chat Bar shortcut was changed, or no app owns the keyUsing ChatGPT Classic
A small floating panel, a pet, or a Codex task appears instead of a chat windowMini owns ⌥ Space in the new appMini took ⌥Space
A different launcher stopped respondingMini registered the key first, or that launcher did not get the keySet up SpotAsk on ⌥Space without fighting ChatGPT

How to enable Option+Space for ChatGPT on Mac ​

In the new ChatGPT app, Option+Space opens Mini by default. For a fuller quick window, rebind Show Mini first, then set Popout Window to Option+Space. In ChatGPT Classic, set the Chat Bar shortcut to Option+Space. Give Option+Space to only one app.

New ChatGPT app ​

  1. Open ChatGPT, then Settings, and choose Keyboard shortcuts.
  2. Rebind Show Mini off ⌥ Space first, then set Popout Window to ⌥ Space. Those two settings cannot share that key. Community reports in #31925 note this may open a Codex task rather than a plain chat, depending on the active view. Menu names change between releases. See get a quick window back. If Show Mini is missing, follow Mini took ⌥Space.
  3. If another app should have the key, clear Show Mini instead.

ChatGPT Classic ​

  1. Open ChatGPT Classic, open its settings, and find the Chat Bar shortcut. OpenAI documents that default in how to launch the Chat Bar.
  2. Record ⌥ Space if it is not already set. See Using ChatGPT Classic and Go back to ChatGPT Classic if the app is not installed.

If another app already owns ⌥Space ​

Pick one owner. Do not assign Option+Space in two apps: which app responds is unpredictable. Clear the other binding first. To give the key to SpotAsk instead, follow set up SpotAsk on ⌥Space without fighting ChatGPT.

Why ChatGPT's ⌥Space changed in 2026 ​

The new ChatGPT desktop app combines Chat, Work and Codex in one window. OpenAI's documentation states that the previous Mac app was renamed ChatGPT Classic and remains supported alongside the new app (system requirements, moving to the new desktop app). In ChatGPT Classic, the Chat Bar still launches with ⌥ Space by default and can be changed in its settings (how to launch the Chat Bar).

The new app does not open that Chat Bar on ⌥ Space. Users have reported the change since the merge (openai/codex issue #31925, still open as of Oct 27, 2026).

Separately, the new app's Mini floating panel registers ⌥ Space globally on macOS by default. OpenAI documents that the shortcut can be changed in the app's keyboard shortcut settings (ChatGPT Learn: Pets). Some users report that the Mini entry is missing from that list in certain builds (openai/codex issue #48756, still open as of Oct 27, 2026).

These are two different problems that arrived months apart. If ⌥ Space opens a small panel or a pet rather than a chat, you have the Mini problem. If nothing happens at all, you have the Chat Bar problem.

Fix it inside ChatGPT ​

This section solves the problem without installing anything else.

Using ChatGPT Classic ​

  1. Open ChatGPT Classic.
  2. Open its settings and find the Chat Bar shortcut.
  3. Record ⌥ Space if it is not already set.

ChatGPT Classic keeps the Chat Bar behavior you are used to. If it is not installed, see Go back to ChatGPT Classic.

Using the new ChatGPT app: get a quick window back ​

The new app has its own floating window command, Popout Window, with an assignable Popout Window hotkey.

  1. Open ChatGPT's settings and choose Keyboard shortcuts.
  2. Find Popout Window hotkey and record ⌥ Space.

Community reports in #31925 note that this may open a Codex task rather than a plain chat, depending on which view is active. Menu names in this app change between releases, so check the wording in your installed version.

Mini took ⌥Space from SpotAsk or another app ​

Mini is ChatGPT's small floating avatar and task window. In current builds of the unified ChatGPT app, Mini binds ⌥ Space globally on macOS by default. Because macOS global shortcut handling does not grant exclusive ownership to a single program, Mini watches keystrokes at the system level and frequently intercepts ⌥ Space before SpotAsk, Alfred, or Raycast can respond.

If pressing ⌥ Space summons a small circular icon, floating pet, or Codex task bar instead of SpotAsk's question window:

  1. Clear or rebind Show Mini: Open ChatGPT, go to Settings > Keyboard shortcuts, find Show Mini, and record a different hotkey or click the clear button.
  2. Check Popout Window: In the same shortcut list, ensure Popout Window hotkey is not also set to ⌥ Space.
  3. Keep one owner: Verify that only one app on your Mac claims ⌥ Space.
  4. Reset SpotAsk: Open SpotAsk Settings > Shortcuts, confirm Global Shortcut is ⌥ Space, and press it to confirm the window appears cleanly.

The official route is to change or clear the shortcut in Settings > Keyboard shortcuts > Show Mini. If Show Mini is not in the list — users reported this on builds 26.924 and later in #48756 — try these workarounds:

  • Switch views first. Switch to the Codex view, then search the Keyboard shortcuts list for "Show Mini" (reported in a comment on that issue).
  • Edit the keybindings file. The app reads command bindings from keybindings.json inside its Codex configuration directory (usually ~/.codex). Add a binding for the openAvatarOverlay command that maps it to a different key (reported in a comment on that issue). Fully quit and reopen ChatGPT for the change to take effect.

Community workaround, not official

The file-based route is a user-reported workaround, not a documented OpenAI feature. Back up ~/.codex/keybindings.json before editing it, and expect the file format to change between releases. Setting the binding to null did not work for at least one user in that thread.

json
[
  { "command": "openAvatarOverlay", "key": "Alt+Shift+Space" }
]

The file is a JSON array of bindings; each entry has a command, a key (or null to unbind it), and an optional version. If keybindings.json already exists, change the openAvatarOverlay entry instead of replacing the file, and keep the other entries.

Go back to ChatGPT Classic ​

If you mainly used the old floating Chat Bar, ChatGPT Classic may simply be the better fit. OpenAI states it remains supported and can run alongside the new app. Download it from OpenAI's ChatGPT download page and set its Chat Bar shortcut to ⌥ Space.

If you just want one hotkey to ask anything: SpotAsk ​

SpotAsk is a native macOS menu bar app built around one idea: a single hotkey opens a small question window, over whatever you are doing, and closes as soon as you are done.

There are three ways to use that window:

  • Answer in SpotAsk. Configure your own API key for an OpenAI-compatible service, Anthropic, or Gemini, and the answer streams in the window. This needs a key and is billed by whichever provider you choose — see use your own API key.
  • Ask ChatGPT. One click opens chatgpt.com in your default browser with the question filled in, using the ChatGPT session you are already signed in to. It opens the web version, not the desktop app. It does not consume API tokens from SpotAsk, and the question is not saved in SpotAsk's history. By default ChatGPT only pre-fills the question — you press send yourself. Auto-submitting requires a userscript, described in the External Ask guide.
  • Hand it to another tool. Route the same question to Perplexity, Grok, a desktop app, or a local CLI agent. See send a question to ChatGPT, Perplexity or a CLI agent.

A ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription does not include API access. If you want answers inside SpotAsk's own window, you need a separate API key; if you want to use your subscription, use Ask ChatGPT and let the browser handle it.

SpotAsk instant hotkey summoning and question window popup on macOS

SpotAsk is a menu bar AI launcher: free, open source, menu bar only, no Dock icon.

Set up SpotAsk on ⌥Space without fighting ChatGPT ​

The rule that matters: give ⌥ Space to one app only.

In our own testing, when two apps both install a global ⌥ Space handler, macOS does not arbitrate between them — both apps receive the keystroke, and whichever reacts first wins. The result is unpredictable and can differ between presses. Pick one owner instead of relying on luck.

Option A: give ⌥Space to SpotAsk ​

  1. In ChatGPT, clear or reassign the Mini shortcut (Keyboard shortcuts > Show Mini) and the Popout Window hotkey.
  2. In SpotAsk, open Settings > Shortcuts > Global Shortcut and confirm it is ⌥ Space.

Option B: keep ⌥Space for ChatGPT ​

  1. In SpotAsk, open Settings > Shortcuts > Global Shortcut and record a different combination, such as ⌃ ⌥ Space or ⌥ ⇧ A.
  2. Avoid ⌥ ⇧ Space if you use the Selection Assistant — that is its fixed trigger while the assistant is enabled.

You can also clear SpotAsk's global shortcut entirely and open it from the menu bar icon, from Spotlight, or through a URL or Shortcut — see open SpotAsk from Spotlight or a URL.

SpotAsk checks for conflicts within its own shortcuts only. It cannot tell that ChatGPT, Raycast, or another app already owns a key, so it will not warn you about an external owner. If the system refuses to register a combination, SpotAsk shows a generic error instead.

Install and first question ​

  1. Download the DMG from GitHub Releases, or run brew install --cask shiquda/spotask/spotask.
  2. Launch SpotAsk. It stays in the menu bar.
  3. Optionally, add an API key for in-app answers, or leave it empty and use Ask ChatGPT.
  4. Press ⌥ Space, type, and press ↩.

Detailed first-run steps: install SpotAsk and ask your first question. Full list of shortcuts: Settings & Shortcuts Reference.

Other apps that can take ⌥Space ​

ChatGPT Mini is not the only utility that can capture ⌥ Space. If ⌥ Space fails to open SpotAsk and ChatGPT is not running, another background utility or launcher likely registered the shortcut first.

General troubleshooting path on macOS ​

To isolate which application holds the hotkey:

  1. Check macOS system shortcuts: Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts. Inspect Spotlight (confirm Spotlight is on ⌘ Space, not ⌥ Space) and Input Sources (make sure language switching does not conflict).
  2. Inspect running launchers and AI utilities:
    • Alfred: Alfred allows setting ⌥ Space as its primary hotkey in Alfred Preferences > General > Alfred Hotkey (verified in Alfred help docs).
    • Raycast: Raycast allows setting ⌥ Space as the Raycast Hotkey in Raycast Settings > General (verified in Raycast manual).
    • Claude Desktop: Claude for Mac allows configuring ⌥ Space for its quick entry bar in Settings > General (verified in Anthropic docs).
  3. Methodical quit test: Quit running menu bar utilities and background apps one by one. Press ⌥ Space after quitting each app to identify which app releasing the key restores SpotAsk.
  4. Reassign or relocate: Once identified, either change that app's shortcut or rebind SpotAsk to a different key combination (such as ⌃ ⌥ Space or ⌥ ⇧ A) in SpotAsk Settings > Shortcuts.

For detailed troubleshooting on system input protection and key capture, see global shortcut conflicts in SpotAsk.

ChatGPT app vs SpotAsk: when to use which ​

ChatGPT desktop appSpotAsk
Hotkey question windowPopout Window / Mini, when the shortcut is assigned⌥ Space by default, fully customizable or clearable
In-app answersYes, with your accountYes, with your own API key
Files and screenshotsYes, nativeImages and text files as context
Account features (memory, Projects, GPTs, Work, Codex, voice)YesNo — hand the question to the web app instead
Choose the model or providerLimited to OpenAIAny OpenAI-compatible service, Anthropic, Gemini
PriceFree tier plus paid plansFree and open source; you pay only your provider
Source availableNoYes, AGPL-3.0
System requirementsSee OpenAI's system requirementsmacOS 15 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel

Use ChatGPT when you need what lives in your ChatGPT account — memory, Projects, GPTs, Work, Codex, voice, or the native app experience — or when you simply prefer it. Nothing here asks you to give that up.

Use SpotAsk when you want one key for a quick question, want to pick the model or provider yourself, want the same key to reach ChatGPT or a local agent, or want an open-source app with no telemetry.

Many people use both: SpotAsk owns ⌥ Space for quick questions, and Ask ChatGPT hands the ones that need your account to the browser.

TIP

SpotAsk is free and open source. Download for Mac or run brew install --cask shiquda/spotask/spotask. Keep ChatGPT for everything else.

FAQ ​

Why doesn't Option+Space open ChatGPT anymore on Mac? The new ChatGPT desktop app does not open the old Chat Bar on ⌥ Space; that bar remains in ChatGPT Classic. In the new app, ⌥ Space is used by Mini by default. Assign the Popout Window hotkey, change the Mini shortcut, or switch back to ChatGPT Classic.

How do I enable Option+Space for ChatGPT on Mac? In the new ChatGPT app, ⌥ Space opens Mini by default. For a fuller quick window, rebind Show Mini first, then set Popout Window to ⌥ Space. In ChatGPT Classic, set the Chat Bar shortcut to ⌥ Space. Give ⌥ Space to only one app.

How do I change or turn off the ChatGPT Mini shortcut? Open ChatGPT's settings, choose Keyboard shortcuts, and find Show Mini. Record another combination or clear it. If it is missing from the list, switch to the Codex view and search again, or edit the openAvatarOverlay binding in ~/.codex/keybindings.json and restart the app.

Is ChatGPT Classic still available for Mac? Yes. OpenAI states that the previous Mac app was renamed ChatGPT Classic and remains supported alongside the new app.

Does SpotAsk use my ChatGPT Plus subscription? Not directly. Ask ChatGPT only opens chatgpt.com in your browser, using the login you already have there. Answers inside SpotAsk need your own API key, and a Plus or Pro subscription does not include API access.

Why does Option+Space open ChatGPT Mini instead of SpotAsk? If both apps are installed, ChatGPT's Mini floating panel often registers Option+Space ahead of SpotAsk at the macOS system level. Because macOS global shortcuts are non-exclusive, whichever app installs its event tap first captures the keystroke. To fix it, open ChatGPT Settings > Keyboard shortcuts, clear or change Show Mini, and re-test Option+Space in SpotAsk.

Can ChatGPT Mini and SpotAsk both use Option+Space? No. You should not assign Option+Space to both apps. In testing, both apps attempt to hook the keystroke, leading to unpredictable behavior: either one fires inconsistently or both attempt to open at once. Always give Option+Space to one app only and move the other to an alternate shortcut.

How do I find which app is using Option+Space on my Mac? First check macOS System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts (Spotlight and Input Sources). Next, inspect hotkey preferences in running background utilities, launchers (such as Alfred or Raycast), and AI assistants (like ChatGPT Mini or Claude Desktop). Quitting background apps one by one reveals which app holds the key; once identified, reassign its shortcut or follow our global shortcut conflicts guide.

Can SpotAsk and ChatGPT both use ⌥Space? Don't. In our testing both apps receive the keystroke when each installs its own global handler, and the winner is unpredictable. Give ⌥ Space to one app and move the other to a different combination.

Is SpotAsk made by OpenAI? No. SpotAsk is an independent open-source project, unaffiliated with OpenAI.

Last updated: November 6, 2026. ChatGPT details were checked against OpenAI's official help pages, macOS 26.7.1, and public GitHub issues on that date. SpotAsk 0.3.4 (build 30) was evaluated on macOS.

Related: Troubleshooting, External Ask, Settings & Shortcuts Reference

Native macOS menu-bar AI assistant

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