What happened?

TestComplete retrieves data from Google Chrome and Chromium-based Edge via the SmartBear Test extension that should be installed into the browser. This message is displayed when TestComplete is unable to access the extension.

What to do?

1. Check if the extension is installed

In Chrome or Edge, open the Extensions page.

You will see a list of extensions.
Find SmartBear Test Extension in the list.
If the extension is in the list, enable it:

Click the image to enlarge it.

Enabling the SmartBear Test extension in Chrome

Click the image to enlarge it.

Enabling the SmartBear Test extension in Edge

If you are going to test local web pages (their URLs start with the file:// prefix), select also the Allow access to file URLs check box.

2. If extension is not in the list

It means that it was either not installed, or it was removed from the browser. Install the extension manually:

Launch the browser (Chrome or Chromium-based Edge).
Open the SmartBear Test Extension page of the appropriate web store:

Chrome Web Store

Edge Add-ons
Click Add or Get.

Note: If you do not have Internet access or access to the Chrome Web Store on your machine, you can install the SmartBear Test Extension as described in Installing Without Internet Access.

After installing the extension, you may need to restart the browser.

3. Check if tcCrHost.exe is running and its ID is valid

Make sure that the tcCrHost process is running on your computer.

You can do it for example by using the Windows Task Manager. Switch the Task Manager to the More details mode. On Windows 10, the tcCrHost process may be displayed as a child process of the Google Chrome process.

If the process is not running, make sure that the tcCrHost.exe utility exists on your computer. By default, the executable is installed along with the SmartBear Test Extension and resides in the following folder:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SmartBear\tcCrExtension\<alphanumeric_ID>
Make sure that one of the following keys is present in your Windows registry (depending on the browser you use):

Chrome:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\testcomplete12.smartbear.chrome.extension

Edge:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Edge\NativeMessagingHosts\testcomplete12.smartbear.chrome.extension

Its value must specify a valid path to the tcCrHost.exe utility (see above).
Make sure that the actual ID of your SmartBear Test Extension installed in your web browser matches the ID that the tcCrHost.json file specifies.

To get the ID of the installed extension in the web browser
To get the ID of the installed extension in the web browserTo get the ID of the installed extension in the web browser
1. Launch your web browser (Chrome or Edge).
2. In the web browser, open the Extensions page.
3. Enable the Developer mode:
  
  Click the image to enlarge it.
  
  Enabling the Developer mode in Chrome
  
  Click the image to enlarge it.
  
  Enabling the Developer mode in Edge
4. Locate the SmartBear Test Extension in the extension list and check the extension’s ID:
  
  Click the image to enlarge it.
  
  Checking the extension ID in Chrome
  
  Click the image to enlarge it.
  
  Checking the extension ID in Edge
To get the ID that the tcCrHost.json file specifies
To get the ID that the tcCrHost.json file specifiesTo get the ID that the tcCrHost.json file specifies
1. On your computer, locate the file at the following path:
  
  C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SmartBear\tcCrExtension\<alphanumeric_ID>\tcCrHost.json
2. Open the file by using any editor of your choice (for example, Notepad).
  
  {
    "name": "testcomplete12.smartbear.chrome.extension",
    "description": "TestComplete NP Plugins Host",
    "path": "tcCrHost.exe",
    "type": "stdio",
    "allowed_origins": [
      "chrome-extension://gmhjclgpamdccpomoomknemhmmialaae/"
    ]
  }
If the IDs are different, add the actual ID of your SmartBear Test extension to the tcCrHost.json file manually.

Message - SmartBear Test Extension Is Not Installed or Is Disabled.

What happened?

What to do?

1. Check if the extension is installed

2. If extension is not in the list

3. Check if tcCrHost.exe is running and its ID is valid

See Also