claude-in-chrome: extension not connecting despite enabled, correct account, and full Chrome restart

Description

mcp__claude-in-chrome__tabs_context_mcp (and other claude-in-chrome tools) consistently return:

Browser extension is not connected. Please ensure the Claude browser extension is installed and running (https://claude.ai/chrome), and that you are logged into claude.ai with the same account as Claude Code.

Troubleshooting already done (all unsuccessful)

1. Confirmed the "Claude" extension is present and toggled on in chrome://extensions.
2. Confirmed the Chrome browser is logged into claude.ai with the same account as the Claude Code session.
3. Toggled the extension off and on in chrome://extensions.
4. Fully quit Google Chrome (osascript -e 'quit app "Google Chrome"', not force-kill) and reopened it (open -a "Google Chrome"), waiting several seconds in between.

After every one of these steps, tabs_context_mcp still returns the same "not connected" error.

Environment

• OS: macOS (Darwin 25.3.0)
• Claude Code running locally
• Browser: Google Chrome (extension confirmed installed/enabled per chrome://extensions)

Expected behavior

After confirming the extension is enabled, the correct account is logged in, and restarting Chrome, claude-in-chrome tools should connect successfully.