Failed to assume control of Chrome

[Dion_tw]

Hi all,

This questions has probably been asked before, but i can't seem to get of Chrome anymore.

Now my script doens't do anything..

I check the extension, its still on and working. I already (just to be sure) deleted and installed it again. 

Also, i deleted all cookies but nothing seems to be helping.

Anyone know why this suddenly happends??

[VJR]

Perhaps some tips from the official help around this error.

Error ‘Failed to assume control of Microsoft Edge/Chrome/Firefox’ - Microsoft Support

If you've done everything related to extension, check the very bottom of the above link..it has some pointers about a few more checks.

[Dion_tw]

Tried it all except:

• Only for Chrome: Check and set the "exit_type" parameter to "normal" at %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Preferences

Don't know how to access it and check.

[VJR]

In Windows Run type %localappdata% and press Enter and check the above path

[NikosMoutzou]

Hello @Dion_tw .

Please also check the following:

• Check Windows Event Viewer for errors
• Check whether PAD.BrowserNativeMessageHost.exe is running for your browser 
  • Close all browsers 
  • Open only the browser you are using for automation  
  • Open Task Manager 
  • Navigate to Details tab 
  • Look for PAD.BrowserNativeMessageHost.exe
• Look for errors in background script 
  • Go to chrome extensions chrome://extensions/ 
  • Enable developer mode 
  • Find Microsoft Power Automate extension 
  • Click on background.html 
  • This will open the developer tools    
  • Check in Console tab for any errors 
• Check if the message host points to the right location 
  • Open registry editor 
  • Navigate to Computer\ HKEY_CURRENT_USER \SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\com.robin.messagehost  
  • Check the value of the registry key 
• Check for company policies blocking the message host 
  • Open registry editor 
  • Navigate to: 
    • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingBlocklist
    • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingBlocklist 
  • Check if there are any policies blocking the message host from running. 
  • Note: By default, PAD registers the extension both in HKLM and HKCU hence NativeMessagingUserLevelHosts shouldn't prevent the extension from running. If native messaging is explicitly blocked via NativeMessagingBlocklist policy, make sure that "com.robin.messagehost" is added to your NativeMessagingAllowlist policy.   

[Dion_tw]

Thanks! I opened it in notepad and saw 'Exit_type' on Crashed?? I changed it to 'Normal'. Doesn't seem to be helping?

[VJR]

Probably needs a restart, exit re-open, signout, or end from Task Manager etc.

Also check out steps from @NikosMoutzou 

[VJR]

Probably needs a restart, exit re-open, signout, or end from Task Manager etc.

Also check out steps from @NikosMoutzou 

[Dion_tw]

Thankyou for the extensive steps! I see no 'PAD.BrowserNativeMessageHost.exe' in my task manager under details? I also see this when i look at my background.html in the console: 'Unchecked runtime.lastError: Error when communicating with the native messaging host'. 

Anything i can do to resolve this?

[NikosMoutzou]

Hello @Dion_tw . Could you please inform me regarding the below:

• Power Automate for desktop version
• Have you downloaded Power Automate for desktop from Windows store?
• Windows version
• Are there any errors in the Event viewer?

[Dion_tw · Accepted solution]

I found the solution! When I open Chrome and go to my designated website, the website automatically opens a second browser. Before this was never a problem, but as of yesterday, the robot apparently got confused and didn't know which window to take control over. 

I solved it by navigating to the first screen of the website, close the second window and THEN do my actions. Still weird to me why this was never a problem before but okay..

Thanks anyway for all the help and tips! Much appreciated:)