# real-browser

A local MCP server plus a Chrome extension: the agent sends tool calls and your already-open tab carries them out, cookies and SSO login intact.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 57
- Author: ofershap
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/ofershap/real-browser-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/real-browser

## What it does

real-browser has two halves. One is a server on your machine, the other is a Chrome extension. Your agent talks MCP; the browser window you are working in does the actual clicking.

Transport is a WebSocket on localhost. Start the server with `npx -y real-browser-mcp` inside your client, then add the extension from the Chrome Web Store or load the `extension/` folder unpacked through `chrome://extensions`. Green dot on the toolbar icon means the channel is up. Grey means the server has not started yet.

This is the wrong tool for parallel CI runs on a clean profile; Playwright covers that case. Chrome 136+ refuses `--remote-debugging-port` against the default profile, which is why the bridge is an MV3 extension instead of a CDP attach. Without the extension connected the server does nothing.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add real-browser -- npx -y real-browser-mcp
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add real-browser -- npx -y real-browser-mcp
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "real-browser": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "real-browser-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "real-browser": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "real-browser-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add real-browser npx -y real-browser-mcp
```

## When to use it
- verify a fix on the staging page you are already signed into
- walk a form past SSO without logging in again
- read the console and DOM of the tab where the bug reproduced
- drive your own Chrome profile rather than a fresh Chromium
- hand the agent the tab that already shows the broken state

## Example prompts
- Open the staging tab and check that the form submits without errors.
- Grab the console output on the page where the bug reproduced for me.
- Follow that link in the Chrome tab I already have open and show me what appears after login.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 386989
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33918
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81115
- [browser-use](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/browser-use.md) — MCP server · ★ 119160
- [Codebase Memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/codebase-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 47392
- [mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 43872

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md