If KeePassium couldn’t communicate with a helper application

This article describes what to do if KeePassium shows this error:

Couldn’t communicate with a helper application

Why this happens

This error comes from the system. It means that there is an integration problem between the system and your cloud storage app. (More precisely, with its file provider module — the helper application — responsible for providing files to other apps.)

The system serves as an intermediary between KeePassium and file provider. When KeePassium tries to load a file, the app asks the system to reach out to the file provider app and get the file.

However, sometimes the file provider app has an internal problem and does not respond to the system. So the system can only tell KeePassium "I tried, but it did not respond" and KeePassium can only relay that message to you.

Since the problem is between the cloud provider app and the system, there is nothing we can do about it on KeePassium's side.

Helper application is not the cloud provider app

The helper application (file provider) is a special module responsible for integration with other apps. It is a part of your cloud provider's app, but works independently from the app. So it often happens that OneDrive/Google Drive app works just fine, but you still get the helper application error.

Solutions

There are three possible workarounds:

Restart your device

This also restarts the helper application, and this might be enough to fix its integration with the system.

Reinstall the cloud provider app

This is another way to fix the problem that made the helper application unresponsive.

Use the direct cloud connection instead

In Databases screen, tap → Connect to Server, and select your cloud there (if available). This way, KeePassium would communicate with your cloud directly, without any intermediate apps.