Extension connection timeout with unpacked Playwright MCP Bridge v0.0.68 on Windows

[ArtemisAI]

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26200
• Chrome: 145.0.7632.160
• Extension: Playwright MCP Bridge v0.0.68 (unpacked, loaded from local directory)
• Extension ID: jihlagpjfhfhgbnemkgojmonbbjnglkk
• playwright-cli: via npx @playwright/mcp@latest
• Token: Set via PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_EXTENSION_TOKEN env var

Steps to Reproduce

1. Load Playwright MCP Bridge v0.0.68 as unpacked extension in Chrome
2. Extension shows enabled, no errors in chrome://extensions
3. Run: PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_EXTENSION_TOKEN=<token> playwright-cli -s=nc open --extension

Expected

playwright-cli connects to the extension and opens a session.

Actual

Extension connection timeout. Make sure the "Playwright MCP Bridge" extension is installed.
See https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp/blob/main/packages/extension/README.md

Additional Context

• No other extensions installed (Claude in Chrome extension was removed to rule out interference)
• CDP method (--remote-debugging-port=9222) works fine as a workaround
• The unpacked extension ID (jihlagpjfhfhgbnemkgojmonbbjnglkk) differs from what appears to be the Web Store ID (mmlmfjhmonkocbjadbfplnigmagldckm) — this may cause native messaging host lookup to fail

[yury-s]

See #1402 (comment)