feat: Add skill which helps with onboarding of the mcp server (#1083)

- **feat: add troubleshooting skill definition and expand documentation
with details on autoConnect timeouts and extension debugging
conflicts.**
- **docs: Simplify troubleshooting skill instructions by removing
explicit tool mentions and updating the troubleshooting guide link.**
- **docs: Update troubleshooting guide to recommend and correct usage of
`--logFile` for capturing debug logs.**
- **docs: Enhance troubleshooting guide with 'Tool not found' error,
`--autoConnect` Chrome 144+ requirement, and `startup_timeout_ms` tip
for Windows.**
- **docs: Clarify that Chrome 144+ must be running for `--autoConnect`
and add a verification step for remote debugging.**
- **feat: Add an initial troubleshooting step to read and interpret MCP
configuration, renumbering subsequent steps.**
- **docs: Add detailed troubleshooting steps for `Could not find
DevToolsActivePort` and other common connection errors.**
- **docs: Add troubleshooting guidance for empty profile creation due to
typos or misconfiguration.**

Author: natorion

docs/troubleshooting.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
   auto-accept installation prompt.
 - Find a specific error in the output of the `chrome-devtools-mcp` server.
   Usually, if your client is an IDE, logs would be in the Output pane.
+- Search the [GitHub repository issues and discussions](https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp) for help or existing similar problems.
 
 ## Debugging
 
@@ -98,3 +99,12 @@ Possible workarounds include:
      `npx chrome-devtools-mcp --browser-url http://127.0.0.1:9222`
 
 - **Use Powershell or Git Bash** instead of WSL.
+
+### Connection timeouts with `--autoConnect`
+
+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:
+
+1. Chrome 144+ is **already** running.
+2. Remote debugging is enabled in Chrome via `chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`.
+3. You have allowed the remote debugging connection prompt in the browser.
+4. There is no other MCP server or tool trying to connect to the same debugging port.

skills/troubleshooting/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+---
+name: troubleshooting
+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.
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting Wizard
+
+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:
+
+### Step 1: Find and Read Configuration
+
+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`.
+
+If you find a configuration file, read and interpret it to identify potential issues such as:
+
+- Incorrect arguments or flags.
+- Missing environment variables.
+- Usage of `--autoConnect` in incompatible environments.
+
+If you cannot find any of these files, only then should you ask the user to provide their configuration file content.
+
+### Step 2: Triage Common Connection Errors
+
+Before reading documentation or suggesting configuration changes, check if the error message matches one of the following common patterns.
+
+#### Error: `Could not find DevToolsActivePort`
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+1. **Ask the user to confirm that the correct Chrome version** (e.g., "Chrome Canary" if the error mentions it) is currently running.
+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."
+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.
+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.
+
+#### Symptom: Server starts but creates a new empty profile
+
+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.
+
+- **Check for flag typos:** For example, `--autoBronnect` instead of `--autoConnect`.
+- **Verify the configuration:** Ensure the arguments match the expected flags exactly.
+
+#### Other Common Errors
+
+Identify other error messages from the failed tool call or the MCP initialization logs:
+
+- `Target closed`
+- "Tool not found" (check if they are using `--slim` which only enables navigation and screenshot tools).
+- `ProtocolError: Network.enable timed out` or `The socket connection was closed unexpectedly`
+- `Error [ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND]: Cannot find module`
+- Any sandboxing or host validation errors.
+
+### Step 3: Read Known Issues
+
+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:
+
+- Sandboxing restrictions (macOS Seatbelt, Linux containers).
+- WSL requirements.
+- `--autoConnect` handshakes, timeouts, and requirements (requires **running** Chrome 144+).
+
+### Step 4: Formulate a Configuration
+
+Based on the exact error and the user's environment (OS, MCP client), formulate the correct MCP configuration snippet. Check if they need to:
+
+- Pass `--browser-url=http://127.0.0.1:9222` instead of `--autoConnect` (e.g. if they are in a sandboxed environment like Claude Desktop).
+- 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`.**
+- Add `--logFile <absolute_path_to_log_file>` to capture debug logs for analysis.
+- Increase `startup_timeout_ms` (e.g. to 20000) if using Codex on Windows.
+
+_If you are unsure of the user's configuration, ask the user to provide their current MCP server JSON configuration._
+
+### Step 5: Run Diagnostic Commands
+
+If the issue is still unclear, run diagnostic commands to test the server directly:
+
+- Run `npx chrome-devtools-mcp@latest --help` to verify the installation and Node.js environment.
+- 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.
+
+### Step 6: Check GitHub for Existing Issues
+
+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:
+`gh issue list --repo ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp --search "<error snippet>" --state all`
+
+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.