[BUG] Claude Code Desktop App (Conductor) – Chrome Extension Connection Failure

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?

conductor will not connect to chrome extension.

What Should Happen?

the chrome extension should connect to conductor the way it has always done and not waste a full days work (unsuccessfully) trying to troubleshoot it

Error Messages/Logs

Still **not connected**. The Chrome extension isn't responding. A few things to check:

1. **Extension installed?** — Visit [claude.ai/chrome](https://claude.ai/chrome) to install it
2. **Logged in?** — You need to be logged into claude.ai in Chrome with the same account running Claude Code
3. **Restart Chrome** — If you just installed the extension, a full Chrome restart is needed
4. **Extension enabled?** — Check `chrome://extensions` and make sure it's toggled on

Let me know once you've checked these and I'll retry.

Steps to Reproduce

Summary
The Claude Code desktop application (v2.1.38) cannot connect to the Claude in Chrome browser extension, despite the extension being installed, enabled, and verified as connected. The Claude Code CLI (v2.1.44) connects to the same Chrome extension on the same machine without issues. Cowork also connects fine.
Environment

OS: macOS (Apple Silicon)
Claude Code Desktop App: v2.1.38
Claude Code CLI (brew): v2.1.44
Chrome Extension: Claude in Chrome (Beta) — single extension installed
Browser: Google Chrome
Account: Max Plan

Steps to Reproduce

Install Claude in Chrome extension from Chrome Web Store
Ensure Chrome is running with extension enabled
Open Claude Code desktop app (v2.1.38)
Start a new conversation
Ask Claude to interact with Chrome (e.g., "take a screenshot of my Chrome tab")
Claude responds: "The Chrome extension is not connected"

Expected Behaviour
The desktop app should detect and connect to the Chrome extension, the same way the CLI does.
Actual Behaviour
The desktop app cannot connect. Every new conversation reports the extension is not connected.
Key Finding
Running claude --chrome from Terminal (CLI v2.1.44) and then /chrome shows:

Status: Enabled
Extension: Installed
/mcp shows: claude-in-chrome · ✓ connected

The desktop app (v2.1.38), on the same machine, same Chrome browser, same extension — cannot connect.
Troubleshooting Already Performed

Confirmed extension installed and enabled in chrome://extensions
Confirmed only one Claude extension installed
Restarted Chrome fully (Cmd+Q) multiple times
Restarted desktop app multiple times
Started multiple new conversations
Ensured Chrome was running before launching desktop app
Ran /mcp in desktop app — initially showed "No MCP servers configured"
Ran /chrome in desktop app — returned "Unknown skill: chrome"
Upgraded CLI via brew upgrade claude-code (2.0.76 → 2.1.44)
Ran claude --chrome and /chrome in CLI — Chrome connected successfully
Set "Enabled by default: Yes" in CLI
Verified native messaging host files exist at ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/:

com.anthropic.claude_browser_extension.json ✓
com.anthropic.claude_code_browser_extension.json ✓

Signed out and back into desktop app
After all of the above, /mcp in desktop app terminal shows claude-in-chrome · ✓ connected but the desktop app GUI still reports "Chrome extension is not connected"

Possible Causes

The desktop app (v2.1.38) may bundle its own Claude Code binary separate from the brew CLI (v2.1.44), and its Chrome/MCP integration may have a bug
The desktop app may not read the global Chrome config set by the CLI's /chrome command
Potential account identity mismatch: desktop app authenticates via GitHub OAuth (the only option available), while Chrome's claude.ai uses email sign-in — these may resolve to different internal identities
Issue began ~13 Feb 2026, possibly after an automatic update

Current Workaround
Using claude --chrome from Terminal instead of the desktop app. This works but lacks the desktop GUI features.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.38 or earlier

Claude Code Version

2.1.44

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_