What is the Credentials Helper?
A tiny desktop app you run once on your own computer to authorise Rust Pulse to receive your Rust+ pairing notifications.
The Credentials Helper is a small desktop app that you run once per computer. After that, you can close it and forget it exists.
What it actually does
To pair a Rust server with Rust+, the Rust+ companion service needs to register a push token against your Steam account on Facepunch's site. That registration must happen in a real Chromium browser logging into Steam — it can't be done server-side, because Facepunch flags any login attempt from a datacentre IP.
So Rust Pulse ships the helper. It:
- Opens a real Chromium window to Facepunch's Rust companion site.
- You sign in with Steam in that window. Steam authenticates you on Steam's own page — neither the helper nor Rust Pulse sees your password.
- The helper captures the resulting push credentials.
- Uploads them encrypted to the Rust Pulse backend.
From then on, when you press ESC → Rust+ → Pair with Server in-game, the pairing notification reaches Rust Pulse and your server appears on the dashboard.
Why a separate app and not the dashboard
A web page can't run the Chromium login flow Facepunch requires. It has to be a desktop app. That's the only reason this thing exists.
Once paired, can I uninstall it?
Yes. After your servers are paired and visible on the dashboard, the helper has done its job. Uninstalling won't break your paired servers. You only need to re-run it if you want to pair from a new Steam account or re-pair after a long period of inactivity.
Pages in this section
- Install & pair — download, run, paste the code.
- Connect with Rust+ — the one-time Steam OpenID flow.
- Security model — what's encrypted, what isn't, who sees what.
- Troubleshooting — common pairing issues.