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To use the OpenClaw browser extension, install OpenClaw’s native host on the machine running Chrome, approve or load the extension in Chrome, configure OpenClaw to use the chrome browser profile, choose how much tab access to grant, and verify the live connection. An extension that merely appears as “Installed” is not necessarily connected.
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The extension lets OpenClaw automate eligible tabs in an existing, signed-in Chrome profile through Chrome’s chrome.debugger interface. It is an automation bridge—not a chat box, page-sharing panel, or tab copilot.
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The OpenClaw Chrome extension connects OpenClaw’s browser tool to selected tabs in a real Chrome profile. That means automations can work with sessions that are already signed in, subject to the tabs and access mode you allow.
The extension uses Chrome’s chrome.debugger interface to automate eligible tabs. Its popup is primarily a control and status panel. It shows whether the extension is connected, which access mode is active, and a Pause/Allow control for the current eligible tab.
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It does not add a conversational assistant inside each web page. You should think of it as a permissioned connection between OpenClaw and Chrome, not as a separate browser application. The extension also does not copy a page into a separate sharing panel; OpenClaw works through the browser connection and the tabs that the current permission state exposes.
Requirements and supported browser arrangements
Use one of the browser environments documented for the extension:
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OpenClaw must be installed on the same machine as Chrome, or an OpenClaw browser node must run on that machine. The documented guide covers macOS and Linux, and Windows uses a self-contained native bootstrap executable.
On macOS, launch browsers other than Google Chrome once before setup if you intend to use them. This creates the browser’s user-data directory, which the installer needs to discover the profile. If you are using ordinary Google Chrome, make sure the profile containing the accounts and tabs you want to automate is the profile you actually open during pairing.
You also need a running OpenClaw Gateway for a fresh local pairing. If Chrome is hosted on another computer, run a browser node on that computer and connect it to the configured remote Gateway instead. The terminal from which you issue commands can be elsewhere; what matters is that the extension and its native helper are on the Chrome host and that the selected Gateway or node can reach them.
Prepare the host before installing
- Identify the computer on which the target Chrome profile is running.
- Install OpenClaw on that computer, or plan to run its browser node there.
- Close or be prepared to restart Chrome if it was open while native-host registration was performed.
- Decide whether you need the real signed-in profile, an isolated managed profile, or a user-approved DevTools attachment.
These choices prevent a common mistake: installing the extension on one computer while trying to list tabs from a different browser host or a different OpenClaw profile.
Install the native host and extension
The native host is the local helper that allows the extension and OpenClaw to communicate. Installing the Chrome extension without registering this helper leaves setup incomplete.
Standard installation
- On the machine that hosts Chrome, open a terminal.
- Run
openclaw browser extension install. - Keep that command running while you complete the Chrome steps. Do not close the terminal immediately after starting the installer.
- On macOS, the command registers the native host and requests the official Store extension. If Chrome was already open, fully quit and reopen it when convenient.
- In Chrome, approve or enable OpenClaw when Chrome presents the relevant permission or extension prompt.
Chrome owns the approval decision. OpenClaw cannot restart Chrome for you or silently approve Chrome’s permissions. The installer can prepare the native side and direct you to the Store, but Chrome still controls whether the extension is enabled.
Linux and Chromium-based installations
After native-host registration succeeds, add OpenClaw from the Chrome Web Store in the supported Chromium browser. Confirm that the extension is enabled in the browser’s extension manager, then return to the OpenClaw popup to inspect its connection state. If you use a Chromium build with a separate profile directory, verify that the browser profile opened in that build is the one you intend to pair.
Windows installation
Windows uses the packaged OpenClaw.BrowserBootstrap.exe native executable. Complete the bootstrap installation, approve or enable the extension in Chrome, and keep the OpenClaw Gateway or browser-node process available while pairing. If Chrome is running on a different Windows account or machine than the one where the bootstrap was installed, the extension will not be able to use that helper.
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For automation or diagnosis, use the installer’s JSON output and examine each part separately:
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- native-host installation
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- native-host health
A successful installation report confirms setup actions, not a live browser connection. You still need to check the popup and list tabs through the browser CLI. Treat “Store discovered” or “native host installed” as intermediate results rather than proof that OpenClaw can control a tab.
Install an unpacked extension for development
An unpacked build is useful when you are developing or testing the extension rather than installing the Store package.
- Run
openclaw browser extension install --no-store. - Leave the install command running while you finish the browser setup.
- In Chrome, open
chrome://extensions. - Turn on Developer mode.
- Select Load unpacked.
- Choose the path printed by the installer.
The installer checks the recorded unpacked path and a deterministic extension ID. If Chrome reports a different directory or the expected extension ID is not present, remove the incorrect unpacked entry and load the exact path printed by the installer. Loading a copy from a manually chosen directory can produce an extension that looks right but does not match the native-host registration.
Configure OpenClaw to use Chrome
Installing and enabling the extension does not automatically make every OpenClaw browser command target that Chrome profile. Select the built-in chrome profile, or make it the default profile:
openclaw config set browser.defaultProfile chrome
The equivalent profile configuration uses driver: "extension". This tells OpenClaw to use the extension-backed browser driver rather than an isolated managed browser. If a command explicitly names another browser profile, that explicit choice takes precedence over the default and can make a healthy extension appear to be missing.
Run the Gateway or browser node
For a local setup, keep openclaw gateway run running, or use the managed Gateway service. This process is needed for fresh local pairing and for browser commands that target the local Gateway.
For a remote arrangement, the browser node runs on the machine where Chrome is open. The extension connects on that browser-node host, while the node connects to its configured remote Gateway. In that arrangement, run browser commands against the intended Gateway or node rather than assuming the computer running your terminal also hosts Chrome.
Local and remote pairing sequence
For local pairing, start the Gateway, open the target Chrome profile, and then inspect the extension popup. For a browser node, start the node on the Chrome host, confirm that it is connected to the remote Gateway, and use the same profile and authentication policy on both sides. The extension’s connection state is meaningful only in the context of the Gateway or node it is configured to reach.
Choose how much tab access to grant
Open the extension popup after installation. It displays the current connection state and access mode.
All tabs
All tabs exposes every eligible ordinary tab in that Chrome profile, except tabs you have paused for the current browser session. This is the broadest mode and is the mode used by fresh automatic pairings. “All” still means eligible tabs under the extension’s rules; it is not a promise that every special browser page or internal tab can be automated.
Pause or allow the current tab
Use the popup’s Pause/Allow control to stop or restore access for the current eligible tab. Pausing a tab limits what OpenClaw can touch during the current browser session; it does not uninstall the extension or delete your Chrome session. If a tab is missing from a CLI listing, check whether it is paused before changing the installation.
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Narrower access modes
Select a narrower mode when OpenClaw should not have broad visibility across the profile. The exact choices are presented by the extension popup. Existing valid pairings retain their stored access mode, while a new automatic pairing starts with All tabs unless you change it.
Choose the least access that supports the task. For example, pause unrelated tabs before automating a sensitive signed-in session, and review the popup again when switching tasks. A connection can be healthy while a particular tab remains unavailable because its access state is intentionally restricted.
Verify that the connection is live
Perform both a visual check and a CLI check. They answer different questions.
Check the popup
- Open Chrome’s extension menu.
- Open the OpenClaw extension popup.
- Confirm that it reports a connected state.
- Check the displayed access mode and whether the current tab is allowed or paused.
If the popup says the extension is installed but not connected, setup is not complete. Continue with the diagnostic commands below.
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Run:
openclaw browser --browser-profile chrome tabs
Run this against the Gateway or browser node that is supposed to control Chrome. A successful result should show the eligible tabs available through the selected profile and access mode. If it returns no tabs, compare the profile, host, and access mode before reinstalling anything.
Use the extension status and JSON diagnostics
These commands separate installation state from pairing and runtime state:
openclaw browser extension statusopenclaw browser extension setup --action inspect --jsonopenclaw browser extension setup --action verify --browser-profile chrome --json
Use the inspection output to check installation, Store discovery or approval, extension paths and IDs, and native-host health. Use verification with --browser-profile chrome to test the profile and connection OpenClaw will actually use. The status command is useful for a quick human check; JSON output is better for scripts because it lets you distinguish a missing helper from a profile or pairing mismatch.
Supported pairing and CDP commands are also available for flows that require them, but they do not replace checking the popup and listing tabs.
Troubleshoot an installed-but-unavailable extension
Work through the checks in order. The usual problem is that one setup layer succeeded while another did not.
1. Refresh setup status
Run openclaw browser extension status, then inspect the JSON setup report. Determine whether the failure is in native-host registration, Store approval, extension discovery, or runtime health.
2. Confirm the native helper
Verify that the native host or, on Windows, OpenClaw.BrowserBootstrap.exe, is present and healthy. If the helper is missing, rerun openclaw browser extension install on the machine that actually runs Chrome.
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3. Check Chrome approval and enablement
Open Chrome’s extension manager and confirm that OpenClaw is enabled. Chrome may require a separate approval even after the native host has been registered. OpenClaw cannot make this decision on Chrome’s behalf.
4. Verify the browser profile
Make sure the intended Chrome profile is open and that OpenClaw is configured for chrome. A browser command aimed at the managed openclaw profile will not list tabs from your signed-in Chrome session. Likewise, a command aimed at a different named profile can succeed while showing an unrelated, empty browser context.
5. Check the Gateway or node location
If Chrome is on another computer, the browser node must run there. Confirm that the node is connected to the expected remote Gateway and that you are running the tab-list command against that node or Gateway.
6. Check version, port, profile, and authentication alignment
The official guidance treats mixed builds or mismatched profile, port, or key settings as unsupported. Ensure the Gateway, browser node, native helper, and extension come from compatible builds and use the same configured profile, port, and authentication policy. A successful process on one side does not compensate for a different port or authentication policy on the other.
7. Recheck access mode
The extension can be connected while the current tab is paused or while a narrower access mode hides the tab you expected to see. Inspect the popup, use Allow for the intended tab, and confirm the selected mode before rerunning the tab command.
8. Restart Chrome only when appropriate
If Chrome was open during initial registration, fully quit and reopen it when convenient, especially on macOS. Do not treat a restart as a substitute for checking native-host health, profile selection, and Gateway connectivity.
Choose the right OpenClaw browser mode
OpenClaw provides three practical choices. The right one depends on whether you need existing sign-ins, isolation, and someone physically present to approve a prompt.
| Mode | Browser session | Remote-debugging approval | Extension required | Access model | Typical host arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
profile="chrome" |
Your existing signed-in Chrome profile | No blocking Chrome remote-debugging prompt; the extension provides the connection | Yes | Popup access mode, including All tabs and Pause/Allow | Local Chrome host or a separate browser node |
profile="openclaw" |
Isolated managed browser | Not applicable to the extension flow | No | Managed by the isolated browser profile | OpenClaw-managed browser environment |
profile="user" |
User’s browser through the DevTools attach flow | Someone must be present to approve Chrome’s prompt | No extension required for this mode | Granted through the attach prompt | Browser where a person can approve the prompt |
Use profile="chrome" when existing sessions matter
Choose this mode when OpenClaw needs to work with accounts already signed in to your real Chrome profile, particularly when automation should continue without someone sitting at the computer. Install and pair the extension, then control exposure with the popup’s access mode.
Use profile="openclaw" for isolation
Choose the managed profile when you want a separate browser context and do not need the cookies, accounts, or tabs in your everyday Chrome profile. This avoids extension setup, but it also means existing Chrome sign-ins are not automatically available.
Use profile="user" when a person can approve attachment
Choose the user profile when someone is present to approve Chrome’s remote-debugging prompt through the DevTools attach flow. This is a different connection path from the extension-backed chrome profile.
Security and access hygiene
The extension’s access mode is the practical boundary for which eligible tabs OpenClaw can reach. Broad access is convenient, but it can expose unrelated signed-in sessions to automation. Use All tabs only when that breadth is intentional, and pause tabs that should remain outside the task. When a task ends, review the popup rather than assuming the previous tab choice still matches the next task.
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For teams or remote machines, document which computer hosts Chrome, which node reaches the Gateway, and which profile name is configured. This simple inventory prevents accidentally pairing a work profile, a personal profile, or an unattended browser node with the wrong automation job.
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The documented workflow is software-based. It identifies no required physical accessory, book, or special browser hardware: you need a supported Chrome-family browser, OpenClaw on the Chrome host or a browser node there, and the Gateway or node processes required for your arrangement. Any hosting or service cost depends on how you operate OpenClaw, but the extension instructions do not specify a separate hardware purchase or a published referral offer.
Do not buy a peripheral simply to install the extension. First confirm that the browser host, native helper, profile, and Gateway arrangement meet the requirements above.
A repeatable setup checklist
- Chrome, Chrome for Testing, or Chromium is installed.
- OpenClaw is installed on the Chrome host, or a browser node is running there.
openclaw browser extension installcompleted on that host.- The extension is approved and enabled in Chrome.
- The native helper is present and healthy.
- The
chromeprofile is selected, orbrowser.defaultProfileis set tochrome. driver: "extension"is used for the extension-backed profile configuration.- The Gateway or browser node is running and reachable.
- The popup reports connected and shows the intended access mode.
- The current tab is allowed rather than paused.
openclaw browser --browser-profile chrome tabslists the expected eligible tabs.
What “installed” does—and does not—mean
Installation is only the first layer. The native host may be registered while Chrome has not approved the extension; the extension may be enabled while the Gateway is stopped; or the connection may be live while the current tab is paused. Treat these as separate states:
- Installed: the native helper and extension files are present.
- Approved: Chrome has enabled the extension.
- Configured: OpenClaw is targeting the
chromeprofile with the extension driver. - Paired: the extension can communicate with the Gateway or browser node.
- Accessible: the chosen access mode allows the tab you need.
- Verified: the popup is connected and the CLI lists the expected tabs.
Only the final two checks demonstrate that an automation command can reach the intended tab.
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How do I install the OpenClaw Chrome extension?
On the Chrome host, run openclaw browser extension install and keep it running while setup completes. Approve or enable OpenClaw in Chrome, then check the popup. On Linux and supported Chromium browsers, add the Store extension after native-host registration. Windows uses OpenClaw.BrowserBootstrap.exe.
Why does Chrome say the extension is installed but OpenClaw cannot use it?
Installation does not prove approval, pairing, profile selection, or tab access. Confirm that Chrome enabled the extension, the native helper is healthy, the Gateway or browser node is running, the chrome profile is selected, and the popup says connected.
How do I let OpenClaw control my existing signed-in Chrome tabs?
Configure the built-in chrome profile, use driver: "extension", pair the extension with the local Gateway or browser node, and choose an access mode in the popup. Use All tabs only when broad access is intended.
What command verifies that OpenClaw can see the tabs?
Run openclaw browser --browser-profile chrome tabs against the Gateway or browser node that hosts or reaches Chrome. The popup should also report a connected state.
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Yes. Run openclaw browser extension install --no-store, open chrome://extensions, enable Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select the exact path printed by the installer. The recorded path and deterministic extension ID must match.
What is the difference between All tabs and Pause/Allow?
All tabs exposes every eligible ordinary tab in the profile except tabs paused for the current session. Pause/Allow changes access for the current eligible tab. A tab can therefore be hidden even while the extension itself remains connected.
Does the extension work when Chrome is on another computer?
Yes, if an OpenClaw browser node runs on the computer hosting Chrome and connects to the configured remote Gateway. Run browser commands against that intended node or Gateway, not automatically against the computer where your terminal is open.
Should I use the chrome, openclaw, or user browser profile?
Use chrome for an existing signed-in session and extension-backed remote automation, openclaw for an isolated managed browser, and user when someone can approve Chrome’s DevTools remote-debugging prompt.
The Bottom Line
Install the native host where Chrome runs, approve the extension in Chrome, select the chrome profile, keep the Gateway or browser node available, and limit access with the popup. Verify both the connected state and openclaw browser --browser-profile chrome tabs; “Installed” alone is not enough.
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