Chrome Extension: setup, sessions, and fixes

The FLUF Chrome Extension and what to do when it stops working

Some marketplaces — including Vinted and Facebook Marketplace — keep accounts safer when you stay signed in on your own device. The FLUF Chrome extension keeps that connection alive in the background so FLUF can crosslist, sync stock, and mark items as sold for those channels. You sign in on the marketplace as normal, and the extension takes care of the rest.

For every other channel the extension isn't required.

The extension needs a computer — it can't be installed on a phone

This is the single most common reason people can't get it working. The FLUF extension is a Chrome extension, and Chrome extensions only exist on desktop Chrome — on a Windows PC, a Mac, or a Chromebook. Chrome on an Android phone or an iPhone can't install extensions at all, and neither can Safari on an iPhone or iPad. It isn't a FLUF limitation and there's no setting to turn on.

So if you've been tapping Connect on your phone and nothing happens:

• Open fluf.io/connect in Chrome on a computer, install the extension there, and connect the channel once. It's a one-off — after that you can crosslist to it from your phone or the FLUF app as normal.
• Or start with the channels that need no extension at all. Depop, eBay, Etsy and Shopify connect straight from your phone in a couple of taps.

When you need the extension

You need the extension installed on a computer, and signed in to your marketplace account, if you use:

• Vinted (any country)
• Facebook Marketplace
• Poshmark
• Vestiaire Collective
• Grailed
• Mercari
• Whatnot
• Wallapop
• Yaga
• Gumtree
• leboncoin
• KlosetKlub

You don't need the extension for the other channels FLUF supports — including Depop, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Kleinanzeigen, Marktplaats, ASOS, Allegro and Temu, all of which connect from a phone.

How to check it's installed and running

1. Open a new tab in Chrome and go to chrome://extensions.
2. Find FLUF Utility in the list.
3. Make sure the toggle is on (blue).
4. Open Vinted or Facebook in another tab and log in as you normally would.

If the extension isn't there, install it from the Chrome Web Store by searching for "FLUF Utility", then click Add to Chrome.

Common situations and how to fix them

"FLUF says I'm not connected to Vinted, but I am logged in"

You'll see a red dot on the channel's card in Connect → Channels. It means the extension hasn't picked up your latest session yet. Two steps fix it:

1. Sign in to Vinted in Chrome — on your own country's Vinted site. Clicking the red dot opens it for you.
2. Click the FLUF Connect icon in your Chrome toolbar (the puzzle-piece icon if it isn't pinned), then press Refresh Channel Connections.

Give it a few seconds and the dot turns green. You do not need to disconnect and reconnect the channel — that's a bigger job than this needs.

If the dot is still red after that, sign out of Vinted, sign back in, and press Refresh Channel Connections again.

The same two steps work for every channel that shows a red dot.

"Vinted is asking me to solve a captcha"

Vinted occasionally shows a captcha (an "are you human?" puzzle). This is normal and protects your account. Solve it in your browser tab on Vinted itself — once you're past it, FLUF can resume crosslisting and syncing automatically. Nothing on the FLUF side needs changing.

"Crosslisting to Vinted or Facebook isn't happening"

Make sure you have at least one Chrome window open with Vinted or Facebook signed in. If Chrome is closed or you're signed out, jobs sit in the queue until you reopen the browser.

"Facebook items waiting — open Facebook Marketplace to resume"

Open Facebook Marketplace in the same Chrome browser where FLUF Utility is installed, then refresh the tab. In FLUF, open Extension Status and expand Active queues to see which items are waiting. If you've already handled those items on Facebook Marketplace, use Clear Facebook to remove them from the waiting list.

"Nothing happens when I click Connect" / "My channels stopped syncing for no reason"

The most common cause is that Chrome has switched the extension off and is waiting for you to approve it.

This happens whenever we add support for a new marketplace. A new channel needs extra browser permissions, and Chrome will never grant those on its own — it disables the extension and parks it until you say yes. Until you do, the extension isn't running, so clicking Connect does nothing and your channels quietly stop syncing.

To switch it back on:

1. Type chrome://extensions into your address bar and press Enter.
2. Find FLUF in the list. It will either be toggled off, or show a note asking you to approve new permissions.
3. Enable it, and approve the permissions when prompted.

The extension will then update itself and reconnect automatically. Head to your Channels page to confirm everything is back on.

FLUF will message you if we notice this has happened, but it's worth checking here first any time your channels go quiet unexpectedly.

"The extension is installed but greyed out"

Click the puzzle-piece icon at the top right of Chrome, find FLUF Utility, and pin it. Then reload your Vinted or Facebook tab. If the icon stays grey, restart Chrome.

"I switched browsers / cleared my cookies"

You'll need to sign back in to Vinted or Facebook in Chrome. FLUF Connect itself doesn't need anything — once you're signed back in, the next sync cycle will pick up where you left off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the extension needed for some marketplaces?

A handful of marketplaces protect accounts by keeping each login tied to the device it was created on. The extension respects that protection while still letting FLUF do the work for you. The result is the same — automatic crosslisting and syncing — without putting your account at risk.

Does the extension see my passwords or banking details?

No. The extension only carries out the actions you've asked FLUF to handle on your behalf. It doesn't read passwords, payment methods, or messages.

Will the extension drain my battery or slow down Chrome?

No. It only wakes up when FLUF has something to do, and the work is small.

Can I use Chrome on a different computer?

Yes. Install the extension on each Chrome you use and sign in to your marketplace on each. FLUF will use whichever browser is open at the time.

Still stuck?

Email us at [email protected] with your username and the marketplace you're having trouble with. We'll take a look.