When binding the extension does not work
Pressing Begin binding asks the Vauz desktop app to pair with your browser. When that does not work, the extension replaces the welcome screen with an explanation and a short list of things to try, rather than leaving you on "click Yes, Allow" for a prompt that is never going to appear
This page covers each of those screens: what it means, and what to do about it
Try this first. A large share of these end the same way — open the Vauz desktop app, leave it running, and press Try again. Vauz introduces itself to your browser when it starts, so an app that has never been opened on this computer, or has been moved or updated since it last ran, has nothing registered for the extension to reach
"Vauz app not found"
Firefox could not find the Vauz desktop app on this computer, so the extension has nothing to connect to
Your browser looked for Vauz and found nothing registered. This is the screen you see if Vauz has never been opened on this computer, or if it was removed
Open the Vauz desktop app and leave it running
Make sure it has been opened at least once
Vauz registers itself with Firefox the first time it starts. Installing it is not enough on its own
Come back to the extension and press Try again
If Vauz is installed and has been opened before, see Extension cannot connect to main Vauz app
"Vauz app stopped unexpectedly"
Vauz was found, but it closed straight after Firefox started it
The registration is intact and your browser found Vauz — it just did not stay running long enough to answer. Moving or updating the app is the usual cause, because what your browser has on file still points at where the app used to be
Open the Vauz desktop app and make sure it stays open
If it was updated or moved recently, start it once from its new location
That is what lets it re-register with your browser
Then press Try again
"Could not reach the Vauz app"
The connection to the Vauz desktop app closed before binding could finish
The connection opened and then dropped part-way through. Unlike the screen above, Vauz did not report why
Open the Vauz desktop app and leave it running
If it is already open, quit it completely and start it again
Quitting matters here: autofill runs through a helper process that can outlive the app window. See How to Fully Quit Vauz
Then press Try again
"This extension is not approved"
Vauz refused the connection because this build of the extension is not one it recognises
Vauz only pairs with the published Vauz Autofill extension. It checks the identity your browser reports for the extension, not one the extension claims for itself, so a build installed from somewhere else is turned away even if it looks identical
Check that you installed Vauz Autofill from the official add-ons listing
A copy from anywhere else will not be accepted, by design
Update both Vauz and the extension to their latest versions
If you did install from the official listing and still see this, please tell us — include your Vauz version and your extension version. This message means something is claiming to be the extension and failing the check, which is worth looking into
"Could not prepare encryption keys"
The extension could not generate the keys it uses to talk to Vauz securely
This one is about your browser rather than about Vauz. Every conversation between the extension and the app is encrypted with keys the extension generates for itself, and it could not create them
Nothing in your vault is affected. The keys are only used to protect the channel between the extension and the app, and fresh ones are made when you pair again
"Binding unsuccessful"
Something went wrong while connecting to the Vauz desktop app
The catch-all, shown when the reason does not match any of the cases above
Make sure the Vauz desktop app is open
Restart Firefox and press Try again
If it keeps failing, reinstall the extension
Technical details
Every one of these screens carries a Technical details button when your browser reported a reason of its own. It is hidden by default because the message comes from Firefox rather than from Vauz and is rarely meaningful on its own — but it is the single most useful thing to include if you write to us
A different screen: "Vauz needs to be reconnected"
If the extension opens on Vauz needs to be reconnected with a Reconnect button, binding is not failing — the pairing existed and is no longer recognised. Your saved passwords are untouched. Follow Understanding the "Vauz needs to be reconnected" Message instead
If none of it helps
Resetting the extension clears everything it has stored and starts the pairing from scratch. See Vauz Autofill Extension troubleshooting
Still stuck? Please contact Vauz support with your operating system, your Firefox version, your Vauz version, the exact wording of the screen you are seeing, and whatever Technical details shows