Connected, Key saved, or Linked: what each Connections badge really means

The Connections screen shows a small badge on every connector. This article explains what each badge actually promises, so you know how much to trust it and what to do when a service fails even though its badge looks fine.

The badges

• Connected (green): the app checked for a live presence on this computer right now, and the check passed. This is the strongest badge.
• Key saved (amber): a key for this service is in the app's encrypted vault. The key has not been tested against the service yet. It is proven the first time Otto actually uses it, so a saved key can still turn out to be expired or wrong. Account-based connectors show Login saved instead of Key saved, but it means the same thing.
• Linked (dim): the connection lives at the account level, not on this machine, and it has never been checked live. The badge means "this was linked at some point", nothing more.
• Not yet: nothing is set up for this connector.

Saving a key now switches the tool on

When you paste and save a key on a connector, that key and the tool it powers are treated as one setup step. The service turns on for Otto right away. You do not have to go find a second switch to enable it, and you will not be asked for the same key again. Adopting a key the app found on your computer works the same way.

The reverse is also true: choose Remove key and the tool that needed it is switched back off in the same action.

Tool access: browsing and computer control

Two connectors under Computer + browser cover what Otto can do on your machine:

• Web browsing: switch on Web browsing (Chrome or Safari) under Tool access so Otto can open, read, and research pages in a signed-in window using your own logins. Anything that submits or posts waits for you.
• Control this computer: switch on Control this computer under Tool access. Reading the screen is on by default. Moving the mouse and typing need write permission here plus the operating-system control permission, and Otto never moves money or sends on its own.

Why a Linked service can still fail

Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive are linked through your own claude.ai account connectors. The app can only see that a link once existed. It cannot check whether the link still works, so a Gmail draft can fail while the badge still says Linked. To fix it:

1. Choose Manage on the Gmail row. It opens your claude.ai connector settings.
2. Relink Gmail there.

Restarting the app does not reconnect Gmail. Only relinking does.

Good to know

• A saved key is only ever shown as a masked preview. The full value stays encrypted with your computer's own keychain and is handed only to the tool that needs it, so removing one key never affects the others.
• A saved key counts as usable only if it still decrypts on this machine. After a keychain or computer change, remove the key and paste it again. The service itself is fine.

Still stuck? Email bookedsolid@kivimedia.freshdesk.com and a person will help.