Troubleshooting Spek Icons and Sidebar Issues

Running into issues with the Spekit Chrome Extension? Use this guide to troubleshoot Spek icons not appearing, a nonresponsive sidebar, and how to report a problem if these steps don't resolve it.

1. Spek Icons Not Appearing

Step 1: Ensure the Spek Icon Setting Is Enabled

1. Open the Sidekick (extension).
2. Click on the three dots and select Settings.
3. Within Settings, toggle on the Spek icon setting.
4. The page will auto-refresh and enable the Spek icons for the current page.

Step 2: Ensure the Spek Title/Label Matches 1:1 with the Text You're Trying to Embed the Spek On

This step usually gets overlooked but it's essential to check whether the Spek label matches 1:1 with the text on the page.

For example, in the screenshot below, the intended Topic name ("Selling to the CRO") is where the Spek icon was meant to appear, but the Spek title/label has a slight mismatch, i.e., "Selling to the CR0."

Step 3: Check Topic Configuration

1. Open the associated Topic where the Spek lives.
2. Go to Topic Settings.
3. Check whether the Topic contains the URL of the page.
4. If not, add the URL within the Topic and save it.
5. To speed up the process, open the Sidekick and click on the Spekit (or your company's) logo at the top of the Sidekick, as it acts as a hidden refresh button.
6. Refresh the page and check again.

2. Sidebar Not Responding

Work through the steps below in order. Each step builds on the previous one — move to the next only if the current step does not resolve your issue.

Step 1: Refresh the Page

The fastest and simplest fix. Press F5 or click the browser's refresh button to reload the current page. Check if Spek icons reappear or if the sidebar responds.

Step 2: Update Your Extension to the Latest Version

Follow the steps in How to Force Update the Spekit Chrome Extension.

Step 3: Toggle the Spekit Extension Off and Back On

1. Click the Extensions (puzzle piece) icon in your Chrome toolbar.
2. Select Manage Extensions.
3. Find Spekit in the list and click the toggle to turn it off.
4. Wait a few seconds, then click the toggle again to turn it back on.
5. Refresh the page and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 4: Update Chrome to the Latest Version

An outdated version of Chrome can cause compatibility issues with the Spekit extension.

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2. Click Settings → About Chrome.
3. Chrome will automatically check for updates. If an update is available, it will download and install it.
4. Click Relaunch to apply the update, then retest.

Step 5: Restart Chrome Using the Restart Command

1. In your Chrome address bar, type chrome://restart and press Enter.
2. Chrome will fully close and reopen, restoring all your previously open tabs.
3. Check if the issue is resolved after Chrome restarts.

Step 6: Remove and Re-Add the Spekit Extension (Last Resort)

If none of the above steps resolved your issue, uninstalling and reinstalling the Spekit extension will force Chrome to fetch the latest version from the Chrome Web Store.

To remove the Spekit extension:

1. Right-click the Spekit icon in your Chrome toolbar.
2. Click Remove from Chrome.
3. Click Remove in the confirmation dialog to uninstall the extension.

To re-add the Spekit extension:

1. Visit the Spekit listing on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome and confirm the installation.
3. Click the Spekit icon in your Chrome toolbar to open the extension. If it is not visible, click the puzzle piece (Extensions) icon and pin Spekit to your toolbar.
4. Log in to your Spekit account.
5. Refresh the page. Spek icons should now appear and the sidebar should be accessible.

Still having issues? If none of the above steps resolved your problem, please reach out to support@spekit.co.

3. How to Report a Problem with the Spekit Extension

The easiest way to report a problem is from within the extension itself using the built-in feedback option.

1. Open the Spekit Chrome Extension by clicking the Spekit icon in your toolbar.
2. Click the ellipsis (…) at the top of the extension panel.
3. Select Report a Problem from the dropdown menu.
4. A form will appear. Fill in the details describing what is going wrong with the extension.
5. Click Submit when you are done.