[BUG] Chrome Extension and CLI not communicating - "Browser extension isn't connected" error

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Description

The Chrome extension for Claude Code is installed and visible in Chrome, but when attempting to open a website through the Claude CLI, I consistently receive the error message: "The browser extension isn't connected."

Expected Behavior

The Chrome extension should communicate properly with the Claude CLI, allowing me to open websites from the CLI without connection errors.

Actual Behavior

Every time I try to open a website from the CLI, the extension fails to connect and displays: "The browser extension isn't connected."

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install the Claude Chrome extension in Chrome browser
2. Ensure the extension is added and enabled
3. Open Claude CLI
4. Attempt to open any website using the CLI command to open in browser
5. Observe the error: "The browser extension isn't connected"

Environment

• Chrome extension: Installed and enabled
• Claude CLI: Active and attempting to communicate with the extension
• Error occurs consistently, every time

Additional Context

The extension appears to be properly installed in Chrome (visible in extensions list), but there seems to be a communication breakdown between the CLI and the browser extension. This prevents the CLI from being able to open websites in the browser.

What Should Happen?

The Chrome extension should communicate properly with the Claude CLI. When I attempt to open a website through the CLI, the browser extension should connect without errors and successfully open the requested URL in the Chrome browser.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

I have installed Claude chrome extension, I have enabled chrome in the claude CLI, but when I type this in the Claude CLI - "Go to code.claude.com/docs, click on the search box,
type "hooks", and tell me what results appear", then it gives error that - "The browser extension isn't connected."

Use claude --chrome in powershell and extension should also installed in your chrome, give that prompt in CLI, then see the message of "The browser extension isn't connected.".

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.23

Platform

Other

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

_No response_