How can we help?

Choose the symptom closest to what you're experiencing.

⚙️
Setup & first use
Just installed, or configuring the extension for the first time.
🔍
Nothing is being detected
Extension is installed but not highlighting anything on pages.
🔑
Key or AI detection
API key not accepted, AI detection not activating, or usage questions.
📧
Specific platform not working
Detects on websites but not in Gmail, Outlook, Slack, or another app.
⚙️ Setup & first use
1
Make sure the extension is pinned Click the puzzle-piece icon (⊞) in your Chrome toolbar. Find unmask.shield and click the pin icon. The shield badge should now appear in your toolbar at all times.
2
Visit a page with flagged language and reload Navigate to a news article, corporate press release, or policy document and reload the page. Flagged phrases appear as coloured underlines. Try the Dense Language Test page — you should see 120–140 highlights immediately.
3
To scan emails, enable the toggle Email and message scanning is off by default. Open the extension popup and toggle Emails & Messages on. Then reload your inbox. Which platforms are supported →
4
To unlock AI detection, add your API key Phrase matching works without any key. For AI detection, get a free key → (takes 30 seconds), then paste it into the extension popup under AI Detection. More on AI detection →
5
To add your organisation's own phrases Open the popup → My Phrase LibraryCompany Repository. Upload a JSON file of your phrases. Format guide →
Full step-by-step installation guide: docs.html → Installation →
🔍 Nothing is being detected
The extension icon is there but shows no count

The most common cause is that the page doesn't contain any phrases from the detection library — or hasn't loaded them yet. Try these in order:

  • Reload the page (the extension scans on load)
  • Open the Dense Language Test page — it should immediately show 120–140 highlights. If it does, detection is working correctly and the page you were on genuinely has no flagged phrases.
  • Check the extension is not paused — click the shield icon and confirm the main toggle is on.
The test page shows highlights but real sites don't

The library flags institutional and bureaucratic language — it won't trigger on most general web content. Try policy documents, corporate press releases, government statements, or sustainability reports. The report page shows the kind of content that triggers detections.

If a specific site you expect to trigger isn't being scanned, it may use a very unusual DOM structure. Contact support with the URL.

The test page shows nothing either

This means phrase detection itself isn't running. Check:

  • Is the extension enabled in Chrome? Go to chrome://extensions and confirm unmask.shield is toggled on.
  • Did you install from developer mode? If so, try reinstalling from the Chrome Web Store for a clean install.
  • Has Chrome blocked the extension on that page? Some enterprise-managed Chrome installs block extensions on internal URLs.

If none of these apply, email support with your Chrome version and OS.

I'm trying to scan a PDF or document editor

PDFs and document editors (Word Online, Google Docs, PowerPoint, OneNote) can't be scanned directly — they use proprietary rendering that doesn't expose text to the extension. Use the clipboard scan instead:

  • Select all text in the document (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A)
  • Copy (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
  • Click Scan in the extension popup

Full list of supported platforms →

🔑 Key or AI detection
I don't have a key yet

The free Personal key includes 50 AI detection scans per day — no credit card needed. Register here → Your key arrives by email within a minute.

If you need higher limits or API access, see the pricing page →

My key says "not yet activated"

Check your email (including spam) for the activation message. Keys are activated instantly on registration — if you haven't received the email within 5 minutes, email hello@unmask.tools with the address you registered with.

I need to retrieve my API key

Visit your account page → and enter the email address you registered with. We'll send you a one-time sign-in link to view your API key, plan, and usage. The link expires after 15 minutes.

Check a key:

Status
Activated
Tier
AI used today
Daily limit
Plans and limits: docs.html → Plans & billing →  ·  Upgrade: pricing page →
📧 Specific platform not working
Email and message scanning is off by default. Open the extension popup and toggle Emails & Messages on before testing any platform.

Select your platform:

Gmail
  • Make sure Emails & Messages is toggled on in the popup.
  • Open an email thread (not just the inbox list) — the scanner reads the open message body.
  • Reload the tab after enabling the toggle for the first time.
  • Compose scanning also works — flagged language in your draft appears in the popup while you write.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Gmail page →
Outlook Web
  • Works on outlook.office.com, outlook.live.com, and Microsoft-managed MCAS proxy URLs.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on, then open an individual email (click to open, don't just hover).
  • Outlook Desktop (the native app) is not supported — only the web version.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Outlook page →
Slack
  • Works on app.slack.com in Chrome — not the desktop app.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload the Slack tab.
  • The scanner reads the visible message pane. Scroll to load older messages if needed.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Slack page →
Microsoft Teams
  • Works on teams.microsoft.com in Chrome.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload the Teams tab.
  • Teams Desktop (native app) is not supported — use Teams in the browser.
  • If your organisation uses MCAS proxy, the extension still works — MCAS URLs are supported.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Teams page →
WhatsApp Web
  • Works on web.whatsapp.com.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload. Open a chat — the scanner reads the visible message thread.
  • WhatsApp mobile/desktop apps are not supported.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated WhatsApp page →
LinkedIn
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload the LinkedIn tab.
  • Open a message thread — the scanner reads the visible conversation.
  • Compose scanning works in the message input box.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated LinkedIn page →
Telegram Web
  • Works on web.telegram.org (both Web K and Web A versions).
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload. Open a chat to scan messages.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Telegram page →
Proton Mail
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload. Open an individual email to scan it.
  • Proton Mail renders messages inside an iframe — the extension handles this automatically.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Proton Mail page →
Discord
  • Works on discord.com in Chrome — not the desktop app.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload. Open a channel or DM to scan messages.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Discord page →
Google Chat
  • Works on chat.google.com.
  • Toggle Emails & Messages on and reload. Open a space or DM to scan messages.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Google Chat page →
Microsoft Copilot
  • Works on copilot.microsoft.com and m365.cloud.microsoft.
  • The extension scans Copilot responses automatically — no toggle needed.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Copilot page →
SharePoint
  • The extension scans SharePoint pages and search results automatically — no toggle needed.
  • Works in read mode; edit mode compose boxes are not scanned.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated SharePoint page →
Viva Engage (Yammer)
  • Enable the email/messaging toggle in the extension popup to scan posts and compose boxes.
  • Works on engage.cloud.microsoft and web.yammer.com, including MCAS proxy.
  • Compose detection scans your post as you type — the badge appears above the editor if phrases are found.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Viva Engage page →
Microsoft Loop
  • Enable the email/messaging toggle in the extension popup to scan Loop pages.
  • Works on loop.cloud.microsoft — the full page editor is scanned automatically.
  • Compose detection watches the editor as you type — the badge appears if phrases are found.
Supported platforms table → 🧪 Test on simulated Loop page →
Word Online & Google Docs
  • These editors use proprietary rendering — the extension cannot scan them inline.
  • Use the clipboard scan: select all (Ctrl+A), copy (Ctrl+C), then click Scan in the popup.
  • Results appear in the popup's Detections panel. Click any phrase to copy it, then use the editor's Find bar (Ctrl+F) to locate it in the document.
Document editor scan details →
PDF files
  • Open the PDF in Chrome, select all text (Ctrl+A), copy (Ctrl+C), then click Scan in the extension popup.
  • If the PDF is image-based (scanned document), there is no text to copy — OCR is not currently supported.
  • The text is processed entirely in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.
PDF scanning details →
Other platforms

Check the full platform support matrix for your app — it lists every tested platform with read and compose status.

Platform support matrix → or Platform table in FAQ →

Still stuck? Our team typically replies within one business day.

Email support →

Before emailing, check the full FAQ — it covers every feature in detail.