How Autofill Works

Automatically enter your credentials

Overview

Autofill automatically enters your saved usernames and passwords on websites, saving time and preventing typos.

Using Autofill

Method 1: Click the extension icon

  1. Navigate to a website login page
  2. Click the Vault icon in your toolbar
  3. Your matching logins appear automatically
  4. Click a login to autofill

Method 2: Keyboard shortcut

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+L (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+L (Mac)
  • If one login matches, it fills automatically
  • If multiple match, a selection popup appears

Method 3: Right-click context menu

  1. Right-click any username or password field
  2. Select Heimlane Vault from the menu
  3. Choose Autofill and select a login

Method 4: Click the Vault icon in the field

  1. Some fields show a small Vault icon when focused
  2. Click it to see matching logins
  3. Select one to autofill

How Vault Matches Logins

Vault matches logins to websites using the URI (URL) field:

  • Exact domain match: github.com matches https://github.com/login
  • Subdomain handling: login.microsoft.com matches Microsoft entries
  • Multiple URIs: One login can have multiple URLs

When Autofill Doesn’t Work

Some situations where autofill may not work:

  • Website uses unusual form elements
  • Login form loads dynamically after page load
  • Website specifically blocks autofill
  • Multiple logins match the same site

Solution: Use copy/paste from the extension popup instead.

Configuring Autofill Behavior

In the extension settings:

  • Auto-fill on page load: Automatically fill when you visit a login page
  • Default URI match detection: How strictly URLs must match
  • Show autofill menu on form fields: Show Vault icon in input fields

Tips

  • Add all URL variations where you use a login
  • Use keyboard shortcuts for faster access
  • If autofill enters the wrong login, update the URI field
  • Some sites work better with copy/paste than autofill

Troubleshooting

Issue: Wrong login is autofilled Solution: Edit the entry and update the URI to be more specific. Use “Starts with” or “Exact” match type.

Issue: Autofill doesn’t appear on a site Solution: Ensure you’re logged into the extension. Try refreshing the page. Some banking sites block all autofill.

Issue: Only username fills, not password Solution: Some sites have multi-step logins. Fill username first, then trigger autofill again for password.

← Back to Vault Help