Opening devtools in the MCP-controlled Chrome crashes the browser

[richardkmichael]

Description of the bug

If I open the devtools in the Chrome being controlled by the MCP server, Chrome will immediately crash.

Unfortunately, I must restart the MCP server, which can be tricky when mid-workflow in the LLM harness. e.g., Plan mode in Claude Code, when it is asking questions, soliciting permissions, etc. -- I need to stop / cancel that workflow, use the /mcp command and restart it.

Reproduction

1. Use the MCP to open a page, try: https://github.com/issues/mentioned
2. Chrome opens (correctly displaying Chrome is being controlled by automated test software), page renders.
3. Manually open the devtools.
4. Chrome starts rendering the devtools, briefly visible, then crashes.

Expectation

1. Chrome wouldn't crash :)
2. The MCP server could recover without requiring any harness or client-side interaction. e.g., Check if the browser has died, and relaunch it.

MCP configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chrome-devtools": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "chrome-devtools-mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

MCP Server log

Here's the MCP server log. Chrome crashed near the end, but didn't seem to log anything crash-specific.

Log

2025-12-12T03:10:52.941Z mcp:log Starting Chrome DevTools MCP Server v0.12.0
2025-12-12T03:10:52.970Z mcp:log Chrome DevTools MCP Server connected
2025-12-12T03:11:38.244Z mcp:log Starting Chrome DevTools MCP Server v0.12.0
2025-12-12T03:11:38.273Z mcp:log Chrome DevTools MCP Server connected
2025-12-12T03:12:32.006Z mcp:log navigate_page request: {
  "type": "url",
  "url": "https://github.com/issues/mentioned"
}
2025-12-12T03:12:34.618Z mcp:log Detecting open DevTools windows
2025-12-12T03:12:34.619Z mcp:log navigate_page context: resolved
2025-12-12T03:12:34.619Z mcp:log Detecting open DevTools windows
2025-12-12T03:12:36.234Z mcp:log Detecting open DevTools windows
Trying to load the allocator multiple times. This is *not* supported.
[17523:2626131:1211/191238.902643:ERROR:google_apis/gcm/engine/registration_request.cc:292] Registration response error message: DEPRECATED_ENDPOINT
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.020460:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:431] Version: 144.0.7547.0, opt, ARM_64, command line: /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --wake-all --enable-logging --vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/enterprise_companion/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.020623:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:434] OS version: 14.8.2, System uptime (seconds): 242174, parent pid: 17523
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.022235:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS START event to the history log
[17600:2626735:1211/191252.028388:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:431] Version: 144.0.7547.0, opt, ARM_64, command line: /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --crash-handler --database=/Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/Crashpad --url=https://clients2.google.com/cr/report --annotation=prod=Update4 --annotation=ver=144.0.7547.0 --handshake-fd=6 --enable-logging --vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/enterprise_companion/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2
[17600:2626735:1211/191252.028557:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:434] OS version: 14.8.2, System uptime (seconds): 242174, parent pid: 1
[17600:2626735:1211/191252.030012:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS START event to the history log
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.030374:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_reporter.cc:122] Crash handler launched and ready.
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.030977:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_client.cc:105] Found 0 completed crash reports
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031021:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_client.cc:123] Found 0 pending crash reports
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031073:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/RLZ/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031083:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/AndroidStudio2021.2/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031090:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/consentOptions/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031098:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17598:2626731:1211/191252.031236:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:106] Crash reporting initialized.
[17598:2626743:1211/191252.031453:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/app/app_wakeall.cc:56] Launching `/Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --wake`
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.036985:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:431] Version: 144.0.7547.0, opt, ARM_64, command line: /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --wake --enable-logging --vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/enterprise_companion/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.037143:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:434] OS version: 14.8.2, System uptime (seconds): 242174, parent pid: 17598
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.038554:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS START event to the history log
[17603:2626751:1211/191252.044414:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:431] Version: 144.0.7547.0, opt, ARM_64, command line: /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --crash-handler --database=/Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/Crashpad --url=https://clients2.google.com/cr/report --annotation=prod=Update4 --annotation=ver=144.0.7547.0 --handshake-fd=6 --enable-logging --vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/enterprise_companion/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2
[17603:2626751:1211/191252.044562:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:434] OS version: 14.8.2, System uptime (seconds): 242174, parent pid: 1
[17603:2626751:1211/191252.045972:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS START event to the history log
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.046335:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_reporter.cc:122] Crash handler launched and ready.
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.046905:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_client.cc:105] Found 0 completed crash reports
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.046953:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/crash_client.cc:123] Found 0 pending crash reports
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047011:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/RLZ/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047022:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/AndroidStudio2021.2/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047031:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/consentOptions/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047038:ERROR:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/util/file/file_io_posix.cc:145] open /Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Crashpad/settings.dat: No such file or directory (2)
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047213:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:106] Crash reporting initialized.
[17601:2626747:1211/191252.047367:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/ipc/update_service_internal_proxy_mojo.cc:59] Run
[17601:2626747:1211/191306.385533:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/app/app.cc:53] Shutdown: 0
[17601:2626747:1211/191306.386850:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS END event to the history log
[17601:2626747:1211/191306.386897:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:468] UpdaterMain (--wake) returned 0.
[17598:2626743:1211/191306.461726:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/app/app_wakeall.cc:66] `/Users/rmichael/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/144.0.7547.0/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --wake` exited 0
[17598:2626731:1211/191306.462501:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/app/app.cc:53] Shutdown: 0
[17598:2626731:1211/191306.464478:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS END event to the history log
[17598:2626731:1211/191306.464530:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:468] UpdaterMain (--wake-all) returned 0.
[17523:2626131:1211/191307.951530:ERROR:google_apis/gcm/engine/registration_request.cc:292] Registration response error message: DEPRECATED_ENDPOINT
[17603:2626751:1211/191316.403147:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS END event to the history log
[17603:2626751:1211/191316.403227:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:468] UpdaterMain (--crash-handler) returned 0.
[17600:2626735:1211/191316.406069:VERBOSE2:chrome/updater/event_history.cc:227] Emitted a UPDATER_PROCESS END event to the history log
[17600:2626735:1211/191316.406141:VERBOSE1:chrome/updater/updater.cc:468] UpdaterMain (--crash-handler) returned 0.


# Opened devtools here -- Chrome crashed, seemingly logging nothing

# Restarted the MCP from within claude-code.

2025-12-12T03:14:41.961Z mcp:log Starting Chrome DevTools MCP Server v0.12.0
2025-12-12T03:14:41.992Z mcp:log Chrome DevTools MCP Server connected
2025-12-12T03:14:42.665Z mcp:log Starting Chrome DevTools MCP Server v0.12.0
2025-12-12T03:14:42.679Z mcp:log Chrome DevTools MCP Server connected

Chrome DevTools MCP version

latest -- 0.12.0

Chrome version

143.0.7499.110 (Official Build) (arm64)

Coding agent version

Claude Code 2.0.67

Model version

Sonnet 4.5

Chat log

No response

Node version

v24.11.1

Operating system

macOS

Extra checklist

• I want to provide a PR to fix this bug

[OrKoN]

Can you please provide the crash ID from chrome://crashes?

[OrKoN]

I am able to reproduce with Github but not with other pages like https://developers.google.com/ or example.com. There is no crash ID for me.

The MCP server could recover without requiring any harness or client-side interaction. e.g., Check if the browser has died, and relaunch it.

we do have the code for this but it looks like the browser is not crashing/disconnecting completely. Will investigate.

[OrKoN]

Turns out this was not a browser crash but a crash of the MCP server itself (terminating the MCP server process terminates the child browser process). That is why there was no crash ID or relevant logs.

[richardkmichael]

Thank you!

[achiya-automation]

Opening DevTools crashing the MCP server on macOS arm64 is frustrating.

If you're looking for an alternative on macOS — Safari MCP doesn't use DevTools Protocol at all. It works through native AppleScript + a Swift daemon, so there's no CDP connection to drop.

https://github.com/achiya-automation/safari-mcp

80 tools, ~5ms per command, keeps all your Safari logins. Works with Claude Code/Cursor/Windsurf.