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docs/troubleshooting.md

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auto-accept installation prompt.
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- Find a specific error in the output of the `chrome-devtools-mcp` server.
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Usually, if your client is an IDE, logs would be in the Output pane.
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- Search the [GitHub repository issues and discussions](https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp) for help or existing similar problems.
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## Debugging
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`npx chrome-devtools-mcp --browser-url http://127.0.0.1:9222`
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- **Use Powershell or Git Bash** instead of WSL.
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### Connection timeouts with `--autoConnect`
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If you are using the `--autoConnect` flag and tools like `list_pages`, `new_page`, or `navigate_page` fail with a timeout (e.g., `ProtocolError: Network.enable timed out` or `The socket connection was closed unexpectedly`), this usually means the MCP server cannot handshake with the running Chrome instance correctly. Ensure:
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1. Chrome 144+ is **already** running.
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2. Remote debugging is enabled in Chrome via `chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`.
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3. You have allowed the remote debugging connection prompt in the browser.
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4. There is no other MCP server or tool trying to connect to the same debugging port.

scripts/test.mjs

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@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ const nodeArgs = [
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function installChrome(version) {
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try {
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return execSync(
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`npx @puppeteer/browsers install chrome@${version} --format "{{path}}"`,
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`npx puppeteer browsers install chrome@${version} --format "{{path}}"`,
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)
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.toString()
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.trim();

skills/troubleshooting/SKILL.md

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---
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name: troubleshooting
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description: Uses Chrome DevTools MCP and documentation to troubleshoot connection and target issues. Trigger this skill when list_pages, new_page, or navigate_page fail, or when the server initialization fails.
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---
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## Troubleshooting Wizard
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You are acting as a troubleshooting wizard to help the user configure and fix their Chrome DevTools MCP server setup. When this skill is triggered (e.g., because `list_pages`, `new_page`, or `navigate_page` failed, or the server wouldn't start), follow this step-by-step diagnostic process:
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### Step 1: Find and Read Configuration
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Your first action should be to locate and read the MCP configuration file. Search for the following files in the user's workspace: `.mcp.json`, `gemini-extension.json`, `.claude/settings.json`, `.vscode/launch.json`, or `.gemini/settings.json`.
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If you find a configuration file, read and interpret it to identify potential issues such as:
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- Incorrect arguments or flags.
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- Missing environment variables.
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- Usage of `--autoConnect` in incompatible environments.
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If you cannot find any of these files, only then should you ask the user to provide their configuration file content.
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### Step 2: Triage Common Connection Errors
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Before reading documentation or suggesting configuration changes, check if the error message matches one of the following common patterns.
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#### Error: `Could not find DevToolsActivePort`
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This error is highly specific to the `--autoConnect` feature. It means the MCP server cannot find the file created by a running, debuggable Chrome instance. This is not a generic connection failure.
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Your primary goal is to guide the user to ensure Chrome is running and properly configured. Do not immediately suggest switching to `--browserUrl`. Follow this exact sequence:
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1. **Ask the user to confirm that the correct Chrome version** (e.g., "Chrome Canary" if the error mentions it) is currently running.
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2. **If the user confirms it is running, instruct them to enable remote debugging.** Be very specific about the URL and the action: "Please open a new tab in Chrome, navigate to `chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`, and make sure the 'Enable remote debugging' checkbox is checked."
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3. **Once the user confirms both steps, your only next action should be to call the `list_pages` tool.** This is the simplest and safest way to verify if the connection is now successful. Do not retry the original, more complex command yet.
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4. **If `list_pages` succeeds, the problem is resolved.** If it still fails with the same error, then you can proceed to the more advanced steps like suggesting `--browserUrl` or checking for sandboxing issues.
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#### Symptom: Server starts but creates a new empty profile
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If the server starts successfully but `list_pages` returns an empty list or creates a new profile instead of connecting to the existing Chrome instance, check for typos in the arguments.
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- **Check for flag typos:** For example, `--autoBronnect` instead of `--autoConnect`.
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- **Verify the configuration:** Ensure the arguments match the expected flags exactly.
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#### Other Common Errors
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Identify other error messages from the failed tool call or the MCP initialization logs:
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- `Target closed`
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- "Tool not found" (check if they are using `--slim` which only enables navigation and screenshot tools).
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- `ProtocolError: Network.enable timed out` or `The socket connection was closed unexpectedly`
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- `Error [ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND]: Cannot find module`
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- Any sandboxing or host validation errors.
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### Step 3: Read Known Issues
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Read the contents of https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/docs/troubleshooting.md to map the error to a known issue. Pay close attention to:
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- Sandboxing restrictions (macOS Seatbelt, Linux containers).
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- WSL requirements.
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- `--autoConnect` handshakes, timeouts, and requirements (requires **running** Chrome 144+).
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### Step 4: Formulate a Configuration
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Based on the exact error and the user's environment (OS, MCP client), formulate the correct MCP configuration snippet. Check if they need to:
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- Pass `--browser-url=http://127.0.0.1:9222` instead of `--autoConnect` (e.g. if they are in a sandboxed environment like Claude Desktop).
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- Enable remote debugging in Chrome (`chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`) and accept the connection prompt. **Ask the user to verify this is enabled if using `--autoConnect`.**
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- Add `--logFile <absolute_path_to_log_file>` to capture debug logs for analysis.
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- Increase `startup_timeout_ms` (e.g. to 20000) if using Codex on Windows.
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_If you are unsure of the user's configuration, ask the user to provide their current MCP server JSON configuration._
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### Step 5: Run Diagnostic Commands
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If the issue is still unclear, run diagnostic commands to test the server directly:
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- Run `npx chrome-devtools-mcp@latest --help` to verify the installation and Node.js environment.
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- If you need more information, run `DEBUG=* npx chrome-devtools-mcp@latest --logFile=/tmp/cdm-test.log` to capture verbose logs. Analyze the output for errors.
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### Step 6: Check GitHub for Existing Issues
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If https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/docs/troubleshooting.md does not cover the specific error, check if the `gh` (GitHub CLI) tool is available in the environment. If so, search the GitHub repository for similar issues:
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`gh issue list --repo ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp --search "<error snippet>" --state all`
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Alternatively, you can recommend that the user checks https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/issues and https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/discussions for help.

src/bin/chrome-devtools.ts

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import {VERSION} from '../version.js';
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import {commands} from './cliDefinitions.js';
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import {generateCustomHelp} from './customHelp.js';
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const argv = hideBin(process.argv);
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if (argv.length === 0 || argv[0] === '--custom-help') {
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console.log(generateCustomHelp(VERSION, commands));
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process.exit(0);
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}
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async function start(args: string[]) {
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const combinedArgs = [...args, ...defaultArgs];
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const y = yargs(argv)
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const y = yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
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.scriptName('chrome-devtools')
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.showHelpOnFail(true)
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.usage('chrome-devtools <command> [...args] --flags')
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.usage(
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`Run 'chrome-devtools <command> --help' for help on the specific command.`,
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)
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.demandCommand()
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.version(VERSION)
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.strict()
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.help(true);
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.help(true)
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.wrap(120);
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y.command(
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y.command('stop', 'Stop chrome-devtools-mcp if any', async () => {
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process.exit(0);
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return;
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await stopDaemon();
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name => args[name].required,
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);
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const optionalArgNames = Object.keys(args).filter(
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name => !args[name].required,
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);
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let commandStr = commandName;
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for (const arg of requiredArgNames) {
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commandStr += ` <${arg}>`;
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}
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for (const arg of optionalArgNames) {
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commandStr += ` [--${arg}]`;
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}
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y.command(
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commandStr,
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commandDef.description,

src/bin/customHelp.ts

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src/cli.ts

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describe:
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'Exposes a "slim" set of 3 tools covering navigation, script execution and screenshots only. Useful for basic browser tasks.',
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},
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viaCli: {
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type: 'boolean',
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describe:
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'Set by Chrome DevTools CLI if the MCP server is started via the CLI client (this arg exists for usage stats)',
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hidden: true,
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},
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} satisfies Record<string, YargsOptions>;
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export type ParsedArguments = ReturnType<typeof parseArguments>;

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