Confirm a provider and model are connected, then check whether the provider reports a quota or authentication error.
Reference
Troubleshooting and FAQ
Fixes for common problems, answers to frequent questions, and how to delete your Vector account.
Common problems
Start the development server in Terminal and use the local URL the development server prints.
Open a repository first and confirm the folder is writable. Git repositories provide the cleanest isolated-workspace flow.
Open the deployment log, verify the build command and output directory, and check required environment values.
Preview builds are not yet notarized by Apple, so macOS blocks them on first launch. Try to open Vector once, then go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, find the message about Vector, and choose Open Anyway. Or run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Vector.app in Terminal. You only need to do this once.
Preview installers are not yet code-signed. Choose More info, then Run anyway.
Make the file executable first with chmod +x on the downloaded AppImage, then run it.
Those 1.99.99 builds are missing the terminal component for their processor, and a copy that does not open never checks for updates. Download 1.99.100 or later from vectordev.ai/download with your free Vector account and install it over the old one; your repositories and settings stay where they are.
Open Settings → Updates & about and choose Check now, or choose Check for Updates in the Vector menu on macOS. When the update has downloaded, choose Restart to update (Restart in the macOS menu's dialog). Versions before 1.99.2 have no Updates & about page: choose Update Vector at the bottom of the left sidebar, which downloads the update and restarts in one step. On Linux, in-app updates only work when you run the AppImage itself. If no update appears, download the latest installer from vectordev.ai/download with your free Vector account and install it over the old one; your repositories and settings stay where they are.
If Restart to update (Restart in the Vector menu's update dialog, or Update Vector before 1.99.2) does nothing or shows an error, or Vector closes and does not reopen, first quit Vector if it is still open. Then download the DMG from vectordev.ai/download with your free Vector account, drag Vector to Applications to replace the old copy, and open it from Applications. Your repositories and settings stay where they are.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vector upload my repository?
Vector works on a local repository and does not upload it to Vector's servers by default. Prompts, selected files, tool results, and local-memory context can be sent to the model provider you choose; publishing, Git, MCP, and cloud workflows send only the data required by those connected services.
Where are model provider keys stored?
Provider credentials are stored with Vector's local application data and are not written into your repository. Keep normal operating-system account security enabled and never paste secrets into repository files.
Can several agents work on one repository?
Yes, in two ways. Inside one session, Vector's agent starts subagents on its own for big tasks and runs them in the same checkout. For separate responsibilities, create agent workspaces: each works on its own copy or Git worktree, and you decide which changes are reviewed and merged.
What is the difference between a subagent and a subagent specialist?
A subagent is general purpose: it takes whatever self-contained piece of the task Vector's agent hands it. Vector starts them for big tasks, one per independent part, and does small tasks itself. A subagent specialist is one of eight named agents, such as Review or Debug, with a fixed focus and its own permissions. Agents you define yourself count as custom specialists. Vector uses both on its own, and both appear in the chat and in Background tasks.
Is there a limit on how many subagents Vector runs?
No. Vector sets no cap, though it starts subagents only for big tasks. Your computer and your provider's rate limits are the practical limits, and each subagent spends its own tokens. By default, subagents cannot start subagents of their own.
Can I stop Vector from using subagents?
Yes. In the desktop app, switch off General subagents in Settings → Agents. In the terminal, from 1.99.99, set agent.general.disable to true in ~/.config/vector/vector.json, or in a repository's vector.json for that repository only. In the terminal it takes effect the next time you start Vector there. Vector's agent then does the work itself, except parts that fit a subagent specialist, which it can still hand to one. You can also still call a specialist yourself with @ and its name.
Can I edit code myself?
Yes. Switch from Agent to Editor to search the repository, open files in tabs, edit directly, use diagnostics, and keep the same session agent beside the code.
Does the browser replace Chrome or Firefox?
No. It is a controlled browser for previewing the repository, testing, and completing approved web workflows alongside the active agent session.
Do I need an API key?
Not for free models. Sign in to Vector to use Free models inside of Vector, provided by Vector at no cost to you while Vector's service has them on, within a daily limit for each account; a limit or an unavailable endpoint stops the request without a paid fallback. Otherwise connect a provider with your own API key or sign in with ChatGPT. Requests to free models whose providers don't train ask OpenRouter to deny data collection, which excludes endpoints OpenRouter records as training on prompts. Free models whose providers may train are labelled "May train on your prompts" and are sent only after you accept that once. Providers may keep prompts and outputs under their own policies, and these routing controls do not cover local history or account logging.
Is Vector free?
Yes. Create a free Vector account with Google or email, then download the desktop app from your account page. The same account signs in the terminal agent. Connect your own model provider to start; that provider bills its own usage.
Delete your account
You can delete your Vector account yourself, from the account page. It cannot be undone, so Vector asks you to type your own email address first. From desktop 1.99.109 you can also do it in the app: Settings → Account → Delete account… asks for your email, then for a fresh sign-in on vectordev.ai in your browser, and then deletes the account from the app.
- Open your account
Go to vectordev.ai/account and sign in.
- Scroll to Account
The last section on the page, under Sign out, has Delete account….
- Type your email to confirm
The delete button stays disabled until the address you type matches the one on the account.
What deletion does
- Your sign-in
- The account and its email and name are deleted. You can create a new account with the same address afterwards; it will not be the same account, and nothing is restored to it.
- CLI tokens
- Revoked, so a terminal already signed in with
vector loginstops verifying. Without this they would keep working until they expired, up to ninety days later. - Vector Codium
- Any Codium plan is cancelled at once, and the credits left, this month's or purchased, can no longer be used.
What deletion does not touch
Your repositories, your sessions and Vector's memory live on your own machine, and deleting the account does
not reach them. Remove them yourself: sessions and memory are in Vector's data directory (vector db
path prints where the database is), and vector uninstall removes the CLI and its files.
Anything you published to your own Vercel or Supabase account belongs to those accounts and stays there.
If the account page reports that deletion is not configured, nothing was changed. Write to support and it will be done by hand.