claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting
by trailofbitsclaude-in-chrome-troubleshooting helps diagnose and fix Claude in Chrome MCP connectivity issues on macOS. Use it when mcp__claude-in-chrome__* tools fail, the browser extension says “Browser extension is not connected,” or browser automation becomes flaky after an update or app switch. This skill is a practical repair guide for Claude Code and Claude.app conflicts.
This skill scores 78/100, which means it is a solid listing candidate for users who need targeted help troubleshooting Claude in Chrome MCP connectivity. It gives directory users enough evidence to install with confidence if they hit the documented failure modes, though it is narrower than a general-purpose browser automation skill.
- Explicit trigger conditions for common failures like "Browser extension is not connected" and erratic MCP tool behavior.
- Strong operational specificity: macOS-only scope, Claude.app vs Claude Code conflict explanation, and native-host/socket details reduce guesswork.
- Substantial, non-placeholder content with valid frontmatter, long-form guidance, and repo/file references supporting trustworthiness.
- Narrow fit: it is macOS-specific and explicitly excludes Linux, Windows, general Chrome automation, and non-browser Claude.app issues.
- No install command or supporting scripts/resources are present, so users must rely on the written troubleshooting workflow rather than bundled automation.
Overview of claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill
What this skill does
The claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill helps you diagnose and fix Claude in Chrome MCP connectivity problems on macOS. It is most useful when mcp__claude-in-chrome__* tools fail, the browser extension says “Browser extension is not connected,” or browser automation becomes flaky after an update or app switch.
Who should use it
Use the claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill if you rely on Claude Code or Claude.app to drive Chrome and need a fast way to isolate whether the problem is the native host, socket path, app conflict, or browser-side setup. It is aimed at people who want a practical repair guide, not a general MCP tutorial.
What makes it different
The key value of claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting for Browser Automation is that it focuses on the real failure mode: two competing native hosts, two different socket formats, and macOS-specific paths that can silently break the connection. That makes it more useful than a generic “restart Chrome” prompt when the extension appears installed but still cannot connect.
How to Use claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill
Install the skill
Run the claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting install step with the repo’s recommended skills command, then load the skill in the same environment where the browser automation failure happens. If you are using a skills manager, install from trailofbits/skills and keep the macOS browser session consistent with the tool session you are debugging.
Give the skill the right failure signal
The best claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting usage starts with a concrete symptom, not a vague request. Good inputs include:
- “
mcp__claude-in-chrome__clickreturns Browser extension is not connected.” - “Claude Code can see the browser, but actions time out after switching to Claude.app.”
- “Native host is running, but Chrome automation is unreliable only on this machine.”
Read the first files in order
For a good claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting guide workflow, start with SKILL.md, then inspect any linked repo context the skill points to, especially the sections about when to use it, when not to use it, and the Claude.app vs Claude Code conflict. If you need to confirm the operational details, pay attention to the host binary paths and socket location examples before changing anything.
Use it as a diagnosis workflow
Treat the skill as a decision tree: confirm you are on macOS, identify whether Claude.app Cowork or Claude Code is active, verify the native host in use, and compare the expected socket format with the actual one. The highest-value outputs come from telling the skill which app is active, what exact MCP tool failed, and whether the issue started after an update or app switch.
claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill FAQ
Is this only for macOS?
Yes. The claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill is built around macOS paths and tooling such as ~/Library/Application Support/ and osascript. If you are on Linux or Windows, it is the wrong fit and will add confusion instead of clarity.
Is this the same as a normal Chrome automation prompt?
No. A generic prompt may help you try browser steps, but claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting is specifically for connection failures between Claude tooling, the native host, and Chrome. It is better when the browser is present but the automation layer is broken or inconsistent.
Do beginners need to know MCP internals first?
No. The skill is useful even if you do not know the native messaging architecture. What matters most is giving it the exact error text, the active app, and the point where the connection breaks so the skill can narrow the problem quickly.
When should I not use it?
Do not use claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting for ordinary website bugs, Chrome extension install problems, or general Claude.app desktop issues that are not browser-related. In those cases, a broader browser or app support workflow is usually a better match.
How to Improve claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting skill
Report the environment, not just the error
Better results come from specifying the app combination, because the main failure mode is a host conflict. Include whether you are using Claude Code CLI, Claude.app Cowork, or both, plus the Chrome version and whether the problem began after an update.
Share the exact tool behavior
The claude-in-chrome-troubleshooting guide works best when you provide the exact MCP call and its output, not a paraphrase. “mcp__claude-in-chrome__navigate hangs for 30 seconds” is much more useful than “browser stuff is broken,” because timeout, disconnect, and erratic behavior usually point to different fixes.
Use the first answer to isolate the branch
After the skill gives you a likely cause, feed back the result of the first verification step before moving on. If you confirm the wrong native host, the wrong socket path, or that Claude.app is currently competing with Claude Code, say so explicitly; that turns the next pass into a targeted fix instead of another broad diagnosis.