[BUG]

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?

claude-in-chrome consistently fails to connect to the Chrome extension, even after verifying all configuration is correct. Every tool call returns "Browser extension is not connected", making browser automation completely unusable.

What Should Happen?

After launching with claude --chrome, Claude Code should establish a connection to the Chrome extension and allow browser automation (listing tabs, taking screenshots, interacting with web pages).

Error Messages/Logs

Browser extension is not connected
(Returned on every claude-in-chrome tool call, including list_connected_browsers and tabs_context_mcp)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install the Claude Chrome extension from https://claude.ai/chrome (extension ID: fcoeoabgfenejglbffodgkkbkcdhcgfn, version 69)
2. Sign in to claude.ai in Chrome with the same account used in Claude Code CLI
3. Enable the extension in chrome://extensions/
4. Launch Claude Code CLI in VS Code terminal with: claude --chrome
5. Ask Claude to use any claude-in-chrome tool (e.g., "list connected browsers")
6. Result: "Browser extension is not connected"

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

2.1.121 (Claude Code)

Claude Code Version

Claude Team (via claude.ai)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

All configuration has been manually verified:

• Native Messaging Host registry key exists: HKCU\Software\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\com.anthropic.claude_code_browser_extension
• The JSON path in the registry points to the correct file
• Extension ID in the JSON matches the installed extension (fcoeoabgfenejglbffodgkkbkcdhcgfn)
• claude.exe exists and runs correctly at: C:\Users\user1\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@anthropic-ai\claude-code\bin\claude.exe
• Chrome was fully restarted after extension installation
• Both Chrome and Claude Code CLI are signed in with the same account
• Clicking the extension icon opens a Claude chat sidebar — the extension itself is functional, but the CLI↔extension handshake never succeeds