RUST PULSEWiki
Credentials Helper

Troubleshooting

Common helper issues and how to fix them.

"Invalid or expired code" on Activate

  • Codes expire 10 minutes after the dashboard issues them.
  • A user can have up to 3 active codes at a time; the 4th invalidates the oldest.
  • Fix: refresh the dashboard's Setup page to generate a new code, paste that one.

SmartScreen / Gatekeeper warning on install

  • Unsigned beta builds will warn. Right-click → Open (macOS) or More info → Run anyway (Windows).
  • Retail builds are signed (Windows: standard code-sign cert; macOS: Apple Developer ID + notarisation).

Facepunch login window is blank

  • Facepunch's site uses a session cookie that can collide with a stale entry in the helper's persist:rustplus partition. Clear it via File → Reset Steam session in the helper menu, then re-launch.

"Connection refused" from rustpulse-api

  • The helper reads RUSTPLUS_API_BASE from its environment (or defaults to https://api.rustpulse.app). For local dev override: 
    RUSTPLUS_API_BASE=http://localhost:3000 npm run start
  • If you're on the prod build pointing at prod and getting connection refused, the API may genuinely be down. Check discord.gg/rustpulse for the live status board.

Credentials uploaded but dashboard still says "not installed"

  • The FCM listener reconciles every 30s. Refresh after 60s.
  • Check the API logs for [fcm] credential decrypt failed — means your CREDS_ENCRYPTION_KEY doesn't match what encrypted the bundle (the same env value must be set on the API process that decrypts as was set when encrypting).

Keychain unavailable on Linux

  • safeStorage returns false on Linux without libsecret. The helper falls back to plaintext storage and surfaces a yellow warning bar.
  • Fix: install gnome-keyring or kwalletmanager (depending on your DE) and restart the helper.

"Steam ID mismatch" error on upload

  • The API rejects credential uploads when the Steam ID inside the FCM bundle doesn't match the Steam ID on the helper's session.
  • Most common cause: you signed into Steam through Facepunch's Chromium window with a different Steam account from the one you used to pair the helper.
  • Fix: sign out of Steam in the helper's Chromium window, sign back in with the correct account.