Introducing Auto Attach - Help us shape the future of Alter
We feel this new feature changes everything so we need your opinion.
Samuel ROY & Olivier Legris
May 29, 2026
Hey everyone,
We are excited to introduce Auto Attach, a powerful new way to use Alter.
With this update, you can now double-tap the command key to automatically attach your active window’s context to Alter, making your workflow faster and more intuitive. Beyond active windows, AutoAttach can seamlessly load files, folders, or specific notes directly into your workspace context for immediate action.
How it works
Double-tap the command key, and Alter slides in from your chosen side, with the active window already wired in as context. No copy-paste, no menus—just ask and you're done.
Streamline Your Workflow with QuickHub Attach
We are excited to introduce Auto Attach, a new way to integrate Alter directly into your active workspace. By simply double-tapping your chosen trigger key (configured in your settings), Alter instantly grabs your active window—a browser tab, document, or specific app—and pulls it into your chat as context. No more manual copy-pasting; just a single, fluid gesture to bridge your work and your AI assistant.
How to Configure Your Setup
Setting it up is simple. Open Alter and head to Settings, then navigate to the Shortcut section. Select Auto Attach to choose your preferred trigger key (like Command) for the double-tap gesture. Once configured, you are ready to start attaching context on the fly.
Advanced Context Control: Files and Folders
Auto Attach goes well beyond just grabbing your active window. It is built to intelligently handle your specific files and folders:
Active Window Integration: When you double-tap in any application, that window is immediately wired into your prompt, allowing you to ask questions or get assistance on what you are looking at right now.
File & Folder Handling: You can go further by simply selecting a file or folder in Finder before using the gesture. Alter will recognize your selection and automatically load those files into the conversation context.
Media Transcription: For supported files, such as audio or video recordings, simply select the file and trigger the shortcut. Alter will automatically process and transcribe the content, making it instantly searchable and actionable within your chat.
What's next?
We are just beginning this journey with QuickHub Attach and would love your feedback on how it performs in your specific applications or browser workflows.
Send me an email at [email protected] or join us on Discord to share your thoughts and help us shape how it behaves in the future.
As always, thank you for being a part of this journey.
Cheers,
Olivier & Sam
Full Changelog
New Features & Enhancements
Auto Attach: Added double-tap shortcuts for instantly attaching QuickHub to the active app, with context such as selected files and folders. Default: double cmd
QuickHub attached mode: Added conversation switching from the close pill, automatic selected-file context when attaching QuickHub.
Shortcut flexibility: Added double-tap Command, Option, and Shift shortcut options.
Tools and skills: Added a click destination for skills, surfaced connected Applications from the Apps Gallery, and added an action option to disable the Task tool.
Task and Flow permissions: Better propagation of workspace permissions to Task and Flow tools.
Bug Fixes & Stability
Auto Attach and QuickHub reliability: Fixed crashes when closing attached QuickHub, allowed closing the final remaining tab, handled Enter correctly from text input, opened context strip details reliably.
Focus and shortcut handling: Prevented QuickHub from focusing the tools manager when opened, ignored command chords for double-command detection, and fixed fullscreen double-command attachment to the current app.
Attachments and images: Fixed follow-up image attachments, rehomed provisional workspace attachments, removed intermediate image deduplication steps, and improved AppSense screenshot attachment.
Skills and workspaces: Canonicalized provider tool names, used safer workspace mount aliases, fixed runtime skill permissions for ephemeral workspaces, and fixed path validation for directories in the Task tool.
Scheduled runs and conversations: Waited for MCP tools in scheduled runs, linked workspace conversations for schedules, and released task conversations with their parent view model.
Recording and provider stability: Improved recording and transcription failure reporting, and prevented malformed skill names from causing OpenRouter provider errors.
Tool management: Linked active tools to the remote MCP view from "See all".