Why Vauz Asks for Your V-Key Before Exporting
Exporting writes your saved logins to a file on disk. Vauz now asks you to prove who you are before it does that, even though the vault is already unlocked
Why an Unlocked Vault Is Not Enough
An unlocked window is not proof that the person who unlocked it is still sitting in front of it. An export is a copy of your logins that leaves the vault and lives on as a file, so it is treated as its own decision rather than something an already-open window is entitled to do
What You Will Be Asked For
The prompt appears before the file save dialog, so cancelling it writes nothing at all
Exporting Without Encryption
Encrypted export is the default, and the encryption toggle starts switched on every time you open the panel
If you turn encryption off, Vauz warns you first that the file will contain every password in readable form, and defaults that warning to Cancel. If you acknowledge the risk, Vauz will ask for your V-Key, if you have it set up
An unencrypted export is a complete, readable copy of your vault. Anything that can read that file — backup software, cloud sync, another user on the machine — can read every password in it
You Are Asked Again Each Time
Authenticating once authorises one export. Starting another export asks again
Changing what you are exporting also re-asks, because you approved a different export from the one you are now making
- Switching format, for example JSON to CSV, prompts again
- Turning encryption on or off prompts again
If you authenticate and then cancel the save dialog, nothing was written, so Vauz does not make you authenticate a second time for the same export settings
Passphrase Requirements
An encrypted export asks for a passphrase, which must be at least 12 characters and pass a strength check
This passphrase is not stored anywhere and cannot be recovered. Without it the export file cannot be opened, by you or by anyone else. Remeber it well before you rely on the backup
If You Enter the Wrong V-Key
The field turns red and shakes, and you can try again
Repeated failures trip the same lockout your unlock screen uses. When that happens during an export:
- the export prompt closes
- the Import / Export panel closes
- the vault locks and the window returns to the lock screen, with the countdown
Nothing is written. Once the countdown ends you must unlock the Vauz app with your V-Key before doing anything else
Wrong V-Key attempts count towards the same lockout wherever you make them, so failures here and on the lock screen add up together
The Saved File Keeps Its Format
The save dialog only offers the extension matching what you chose. An encrypted export is saved as an encrypted file and cannot be renamed in the dialog into something that looks unencrypted
This matters because the file's name is how you will judge it later. A file called .json that is actually encrypted — or worse, one that looks encrypted and is not — is a trap for the version of you that finds it in six months
Common Questions
Can I turn the prompt off?
No. It is the check that stops an unattended unlocked window from becoming a copy of your vault. There is no setting to remove it
I authenticated but no file appeared
Check whether you cancelled the save dialog that follows. Vauz writes nothing until you choose a location
How do I authenticate?
If your vault has no V-Key and no TouchID configured, there is nothing to authenticate against, so the export proceeds directly. Setting up a V-Key enables this protection
Related Articles
- Understanding the "This File Is Not a Complete Backup" Warning
- Why Some Entries Were Skipped During Import
If you are asked to authenticate repeatedly within a single export, or the prompt does not appear when you expect it, please contact Vauz support with your operating system and what you were exporting