Troubleshooting Common Issues
Solutions to frequently reported problems with PassLink.
"Secret not found" Error
Cause: The secret has already been viewed or has expired.
Solutions:
- Ask the sender to create a new secret
- Check if the link was opened in a preview (Slack, email clients sometimes fetch URLs automatically)
- Verify the complete URL was copied (including the
#keyfragment)
Copy Button Not Working
Cause: Some browsers restrict the Clipboard API in certain contexts.
Solutions:
- Try manually selecting the text and using Ctrl+C / Cmd+C
- On iOS Safari, tap and hold the text to select it
- Ensure you're on HTTPS (required for Clipboard API)
- Update your browser to the latest version
Link Shows Wrong Preview
Cause: Some messaging apps cache link previews.
Solutions:
- The preview is generic by design — it never reveals the secret content
- If the preview shows an error, try sharing the link again
- Rich previews are supported in Slack, Teams, Discord, and WhatsApp
Secret Expired Too Early
Cause: Expiration is calculated server-side from creation time.
Solutions:
- Check the expiration time you selected when creating the secret
- Time zones: the expiration countdown starts at creation time (UTC)
- If the issue persists, contact us through the feedback widget
Browser Shows Security Warning
Cause: Very rare. Usually caused by corporate network filters.
Solutions:
- PassLink uses HTTPS with TLS 1.3 — this is safe
- Check if your corporate VPN or proxy is intercepting HTTPS traffic
- Try accessing from a different network