FAQ
Answers about permissions, capturing, local data, the background helper, and troubleshooting.
Permissions
Why does Capd need Accessibility access?
Accessibility lets Capd read selected text, detect secure fields, and read the current tab in Firefox-based browsers. It is optional. Without it, hotkey capture falls back to content already on the clipboard; CLI capture and search continue to work.
Capd stopped seeing my selection after an update
macOS can revoke Accessibility when an app’s code signature changes. Open
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, remove the existing Capd
entry, and add the app again. capd doctor reports the current permission state.
Why does macOS ask about Safari, Chrome, and Arc separately?
Those browsers share their current tab through Automation, and macOS stores permission per app. Declining one browser means Capd cannot capture its current URL or rendered page, but other capture methods still work.
Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf, and Waterfox use Accessibility for their current tab, so they do not need this Automation permission.
Capturing
Why was a capture blocked?
Secure input was active, usually because a password field was focused or a password manager had enabled the system secure-input flag. Capd deliberately reads and stores nothing in that state. Leave the secure field and try again.
Why is page content missing or marked thin?
The fetch may have timed out, exceeded 10 MB, or reached a page that requires a login. Very short responses are marked thin rather than treated as full articles. The URL, title, selection, and note remain searchable.
Capturing a page from Safari, Chrome, or Arc can preserve content already
rendered in your signed-in browser. You can also retry with capd refetch.
Can I capture a screenshot region?
Capd does not include a screenshot tool. Press ⌃⇧⌘4 to copy a macOS region screenshot to the clipboard, then press ⌃⌥C. You can also drag an existing image file to the notch or menu-bar icon.
What happens when I capture the same thing twice?
Capd updates the existing capture’s timestamp and seen count. It does not create a duplicate. Common tracking parameters and URL fragments are ignored during matching.
Data
Where is my library, and how do I back it up?
The default location is ~/Library/Application Support/capd/. Copy the complete
folder for a full backup, including captured images. capd export creates a
lossless JSON data export; image files remain in the assets/ folder.
Can I import bookmarks?
There is no provider-specific importer. A plain list of URLs can be captured in bulk:
cat urls.txt | capd add -Each URL becomes its own deduplicated, searchable capture.
Does Capd sync between Macs?
No. Capd is intentionally local to one Mac and does not operate a sync service.
Background helper
What is capd-agent in my login items?
It is Capd’s enrichment helper. It extracts readable page content and runs OCR even when the menu-bar app is closed. It idles when no captures are waiting.
Captures are stuck in pending
Run capd status to check the queue and helper state. If the helper is missing or
stopped, capd doctor attempts to repair it. Processing is intentionally less
concurrent on battery power, so a large queue can take longer away from a
charger.
Other
Is there a configuration file?
No. Hotkeys, page fetching, update checks, and automatic tagging are controlled
in Settings. CAPD_DIR is the only environment variable and changes the storage
root.
Why isn’t Capd in the Mac App Store?
Reading the frontmost browser tab requires capabilities unavailable inside the App Sandbox. Capd is distributed as a signed and notarized direct download and through Homebrew instead.
My hotkey does not work
Another app or macOS may already own the shortcut. Open Settings and record a new combination; the recorder warns about known system conflicts.