[Bug] Chrome Extension (claude-in-chrome) broken on Windows since v2.1.20 - Named Pipe path missing in getSocketPaths

Resolved 💬 4 comments Opened Feb 2, 2026 by alex2zimmermann-ux Closed Feb 4, 2026

Title: [Bug] Chrome Extension (claude-in-chrome) broken on Windows since v2.1.20 - Named Pipe path missing in getSocketPaths

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Describe the bug

Since v2.1.20, the Chrome Extension MCP (claude-in-chrome) no longer connects on Windows. The extension sidebar shows "Waiting for Claude Code..." indefinitely. All browser automation tools (tabs_context_mcp, navigate, read_page, etc.) fail.

To reproduce

  1. Install Claude Code 2.1.20+ on Windows
  2. Install the Chrome Extension "Claude in Chrome"
  3. Run claude --chrome
  4. Try tabs_context_mcp → fails, extension never connects

Root cause found

The function xQ4() (getSocketPaths) in cli.js returns socket paths for the MCP Socket Pool to search. On Windows, it only returns Unix-style paths:

  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\claude-mcp-browser-bridge-<username>
  • /tmp/claude-mcp-browser-bridge-<username>

But the native host (Rj6()) creates a Windows Named Pipe at:

  • \\.\pipe\claude-mcp-browser-bridge-<username>

The Named Pipe path is never added to the search list, so the Socket Pool can never find it.

Why it worked in v2.1.19: socketPath was resolved directly (via _Z6(context)), not through the Socket Pool. The migration to the Socket Pool (gKq via QKq) broke Windows.

Fix

Add the Windows Named Pipe path to xQ4():

// Add before "return A" in xQ4():
if(TNY()==="win32"){let w=`\\\\.\\pipe\\${K}`;if(!A.includes(w))A.push(w)}

TNY() is the already-available minified os.platform(). This adds \\.\pipe\claude-mcp-browser-bridge-<username> to the socket search list on Windows only.

Full patch details in this gist: https://gist.github.com/alex2zimmermann-ux/c4532b4f8b94640c6cde81c7f7552d8e

Expected behavior

Chrome Extension should connect and browser automation tools should work on Windows.

Environment

  • OS: Windows 10/11
  • Claude Code version: 2.1.20+ (broken), 2.1.19 (worked)
  • Shell: Git Bash / PowerShell
  • Chrome Extension: Claude in Chrome (latest)

Additional context

The fix is minimal (one line) and only affects Windows. Unix/macOS paths remain unchanged. Verified working after applying the patch.

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