Stable Browser

Set up reliable browser automation using Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) instead of the flaky browser extension relay. Use when browser relay keeps disconnecting, throwing WebSocket 403 errors, or when you need stable headless/headed browser control for web scraping, form filling, social media posting, or any browser automation task. Replaces profile="chrome" with a rock-solid CDP connection.

Replace the unreliable browser extension relay with a direct Chrome DevTools Protocol connection.

The Problem

The OpenClaw browser extension relay (profile="chrome") frequently breaks:

• WebSocket 403 errors
• Port confusion (gateway port vs relay port)
• Dropped connections mid-automation
• "Can't reach browser control service" errors
• Badge/tab attachment confusion

The Fix: Chrome CDP

Launch Chrome with a debug port and connect directly. No extension needed.

Quick Setup

Run the setup script to configure everything:

bash

bash scripts/setup-cdp.sh

This will:

1. Create a dedicated Chrome profile at ~/.chrome-debug-profile
2. Add browser.cdpUrl to your OpenClaw config
3. Create a LaunchAgent (macOS) so Chrome starts on login
4. Verify the connection works

Manual Setup

If you prefer to set things up manually, see references/manual-setup.md.

Usage

After setup, always use profile="openclaw" (not profile="chrome"):

text

browser(action="snapshot", profile="openclaw")
browser(action="navigate", profile="openclaw", targetUrl="https://example.com")
browser(action="screenshot", profile="openclaw")

Key Differences from Extension Relay

Feature	Extension Relay	CDP Direct
Stability	Frequent disconnects	Rock solid
Setup	Install extension + attach tab	One-time script
Auth/Cookies	Shares your main Chrome	Dedicated profile
Speed	Extra hop through extension	Direct protocol
Headless	No	Optional (--headless=new)

Dedicated Profile

The CDP browser uses ~/.chrome-debug-profile — a separate Chrome profile. This means:

• Log into sites once, stays logged in
• Your main Chrome is untouched
• No extension conflicts
• Survives Chrome updates

Tips

• First run: Log into any sites you need (Google, GitHub, X, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Multiple tabs: CDP manages all tabs — use targetId to pin a specific tab
• Headless mode: Add --headless=new to the launch command for invisible operation
• Port conflict: If port 9222 is taken, change it in both the launch command and config
• Restart Chrome: pkill -f 'remote-debugging-port=9222' && sleep 1 && bash scripts/setup-cdp.sh

Troubleshooting

• "Can't reach browser": Chrome isn't running with debug port. Run setup-cdp.sh or launch manually
• Port 9222 in use: Another Chrome or process grabbed it. Kill it: lsof -i :9222
• Stale session: Chrome crashed. Kill and restart: pkill -f chrome-debug-profile
• Profile corruption: Delete ~/.chrome-debug-profile and re-run setup