What is the state of the extension when the browser does not have any windows?

[Jackie Han]

When the user closes the last tab, the browser does not have any windows, and the browser does not completely exit, what is the state of the extension at this time?

From the Chrome task manager and extensions' behavior, I found, all extensions do not exist (killed) and do not work at this time. No MV2/MV3 background process, no browser action, no chrome.idle state, no events, no alarms.

At this time, open a new window, all extensions start like Chrome first launch.

Jackie Han

[Stefan Van Damme]

Hi Jackie,

That is a Mac thing/feature (and not Chrome on Windows computer)?

Thanks,

Stefan vd

[Jackie Han]

Sorry, I don't have a Windows computer.

On macOS, it is. For example, if the extension uses `chrome.power` to let the computer keep awake, when closing the last tab, it loses this effect.

[wOxxOm]

You need to add "background" to "permissions" in manifest.json to keep the extension run and react to events in this scenario.

[wOxxOm]

And "Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed" must be enabled in Chrome's settings. It's on by default unless pre-configured via policies, AFAIK.

[Jackie Han]

Thanks! It works.

I noticed only one extension added the "background" permission, all extensions background scripts and general websites service worker can live.

There is a document for it.

[Jackie Han]

After half a month, unfortunately, the "background" permission will be cut off starting with Chrome 109 on macOS.

[Jackie Han]

https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/g/chromium-extensions/c/7E5W4HQ8v_Y/m/mC_sKlEuBAAJ