A 401 means the key; a 429 means a limit; no response means the host or network.
The connect command prints nothing or fails
curl -fsSL hides errors. Run it once without -s: curl -fL <url>, and check for a proxy, a typo in the address or a stale URL. The client is a bash script; on Windows use WSL.
skilvault: command not found
The client is ~/.local/bin/skilvault. Run it by that path, or add an alias (The skilvault client).
Skills not found or not fetched
'<name>' is not in your entitled skills — run: skilvault list
The skill is not in your library, does not exist, or has been unpublished. Run skilvault list; add it under My skills if it is missing.
download of '<name>' failed
The pack could not be downloaded — usually because the skill was removed from your library or unpublished a moment ago, or you reached your hourly limit (Usage & rate limits). Retry, then check skilvault list.
sha256 mismatch for '<name>'
What was downloaded does not match its checksum. The client deletes it and stops. Retry once — a flaky connection can cause this. If it repeats, do not work around it; tell the operator, because it can indicate something between you and the server is altering downloads.
refusing '<name>' v<version>: it is not signed by a trusted key
The version your library points at has no valid signature from the keys your client was installed with. The client stops before downloading or reading anything. Do notwork around it (Security & privacy); tell the operator — either the version was never signed, or the server is not serving what the operator published.
refusing '<name>' v<version>: this machine already used a newer version (a rollback)
The server offered an older version than one this machine has already used. Tell the operator; a genuine fix is always published as a new, higher version.
ssh-keygen not found or no trusted signing keys
The client checks signatures with OpenSSH's ssh-keygen (standard on macOS and Linux) and the key file written by the installer. Install OpenSSH, or reinstall the client from your dashboard.
refusing to replace an unmanaged personal skill '<name>'
You already have your own skill folder with that name, so SkilVault leaves it alone (left … alone (not installed by SkilVault)). Rename or move yours if you want the SkilVault skill there, then run skilvault sync.
invalid skill name
Skill names are a single word or hyphenated words such as commit-lint — no slashes or dots. Copy the name from skilvault list.
Claude does not use my skills
A skill I installed is not available as a slash command
Start a new Claude Code session or run /reload-plugins. Confirm the folder exists: ls ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md. Only skills you installed get a slash command; skills you only read on demand do not (Skills in your CLI).
Claude never searches or reads my library
Check that ~/.local/bin/skilvault exists and that your CLI's skills folder contains a skilvault/SKILL.md stub (re-run the connect command if not), then start a new session. You can always ask directly: “Run skilvault list and use the <name> skill.”
Keys, slots and limits
Plan cap reached (1 keys). Revoke one or upgrade.
You have as many active keys as your plan allows. Revoke one you no longer use, or upgrade (API keys). This also blocks Replace with a new key on the free plan — revoke first.
The Add button says “No free slot”
Every slot is in use. Remove a skill you no longer need to free one (Choosing your skills).
“over your plan cap — remove N to add others”
Your plan has fewer slots than you have skills, usually after a downgrade. Remove skills until you are within the limit.
unknown or revoked API key (401)
The key on that machine was revoked — by you, by a password reset, or because a plan change reduced your allowed keys. Create a new key and reconnect (Connecting a machine).
rate limit exceeded — retry within the hour (429)
You reached an hourly limit. Wait, or spread work across keys, or upgrade — see Usage & rate limits. Capacity returns gradually as the last hour rolls.
Signing in
“That email and password combination doesn't match an account”
Check the email address and password. If you cannot remember it, use Forgot password? (Your account).
“Too many failed sign-in attempts”
After 10 failures in 15 minutes for the same email and network, sign-in pauses. Wait a few minutes and try again.
“That reset link is invalid or has expired”
Reset links work once and expire after 30 minutes. Request a new one from the sign-in page.
Billing
I paid but I am still on the free plan
Confirmation can take a few seconds. Refresh the Billing page. If it does not update within a few minutes, contact the operator with your account email.
“Checkout is temporarily unavailable”
Try again — an existing checkout is reused, so you will not be charged twice. If it keeps failing, contact the operator.