Claude in Chrome extension not connecting to Claude Code CLI

Environment:

• Claude Code version: 2.1.19
• macOS: Darwin 25.1.0
• Chrome: Version 144
• Extension ID: fcoeoabgfenejglbffodgkkbkcdhcgfn (installed in Profile 10)

Issue:
The Chrome extension shows "Browser extension is not connected" even though:

• Native messaging host exists at ~/.claude/chrome/chrome-native-host
• Native messaging manifest is configured in ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/com.anthropic.claude_code_browser_extension.json
• The --claude-in-chrome-mcp process is running (verified via ps aux)
• Chrome has been fully restarted
• Extension page opens at chrome-extension://fcoeoabgfenejglbffodgkkbkcdhcgfn/index.html

Steps tried:

1. Restarted Chrome completely
2. Verified extension is enabled
3. Verified native host script is executable and points to correct Claude binary
4. Multiple tabs_context_mcp calls all return "not connected"

Expected: Extension connects automatically when Claude Code is running with --chrome flag

Actual: Connection never establishes despite all components appearing to be in place