Agent skill · software engineering · sickn33
claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting
Diagnose and fix Claude in Chrome MCP extension connectivity issues. Use when mcp__claude-in-chrome__* tools fail, return "Browser extension is not connected", or behave erratically.
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific troubleshooting commands and scripts for managing native messaging conflicts between Claude.app and Claude Code CLI that are not widely documented.
What it needs
About 5k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 44,571 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Claude in Chrome MCP Troubleshooting Use this skill when Claude in Chrome MCP tools fail to connect or work unreliably. When to Use mcpclaude-in-chrome tools fail with "Browser extension is not connected" Browser automation works erratically or times out After updating Claude Code or Claude.app When switching between Claude Code CLI and Claude.app (Cowork) Native host process is running but MCP tools still fail When NOT to Use Linux or Windows users - This skill covers macOS-specific paths and tools (~/Library/Application Support/, osascript) General Chrome automation issues unrelated to the Claude extension Claude.app desktop issues (not browser-related) Network connectivity problems Chrome extension installation issues (use Chrome Web Store support) The Claude.app vs Claude Code Conflict (Primary Issue) Background: When Claude.app added Cowork support (browser automation from the desktop app), it introduced a competing native messaging host that conflicts with Claude Code CLI. Two Native Hosts, Two Socket Formats Component Native Host Binary Socket Location ----------- ------------------- ----------------- Claude.app (Cowork) /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Helpers/chrome-native-host /tmp/claude-mcp-browser-bridge-$USER/<PID>.sock Claude Code CLI ~/.local/share/claude/versions/<version> --chrome-native-host $TMPDIR/claude-mcp-browser-bridge-$USER (single file) Why They Conflict 1. Both register native messaging configs in Chrome: com.anthropic.claudebrowserextension.json → Claude.app helper com.anthropic.claudecodebrowserextension.json → Claude Code wrapper 2. Chrome extension requests a native host by name 3. If the wrong config is active, the wrong binary runs 4. The wrong binary creates sockets in a format/location the MCP client doesn't expect 5. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills sickn33/claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting