Automating Chrome Extension in Testsigma

You can automate the Chrome extension in Testsigma using two methods:

Hybrid Execution: Run on the Chrome browser installed on your local machine.
Cloud Execution: Run on the Chrome browser in Testsigma Lab, SauceLabs, or Browserstack.

This article discusses setting up and running automated Chrome extension tests in Hybrid & Testsigma Lab environments.

Automating a Chrome Extension

A Chrome extension improves the browser's capabilities. Add extensions from the Chrome Web Store or search for the extension to find the store link.

Create a CRX File

Go to CRX Viewer.
Select Open in this viewer.
Choose CRX and download the file (This file is necessary for automation).
Searching for .html?$ and find files like panel.html and popup.html. The popup.html file is usually the target for automation.
Go to chrome://extensions/ and access the popup.html file.
Locate the plugin you wish to automate and access its unique ID.
In this case unique ID is epmomlhdjfgdobefcpocockpjihaabdp.

Hybrid Mode: Local Test Execution

Setup and start Testsigma Agent. For more information, refer to the documentation on setting up Testsigma Agent.
Place the CRX file to your Testsigma Agent folder.
Specify the Extensions path in the Desired Capabilities.

Name Data Type Value

goog:chromeOptions String {"extensions":["extension.crx"]}

Name	Data Type	Value
goog:chromeOptions	String	{"extensions":["extension.crx"]}

You can also add multiple extensions, with this format for Values: {"extensions":["extension1.crx"],["extension2.crx"]}.

When the test execution starts, the desired capabilities will install the extension automatically. You can verify the installation by checking for the extension icon in the browser's top-right corner.

With Chrome version 137, Google has disabled the use of command-line switches like --load-extension in stable builds to improve security and stability. Instead, you can configure the following in Desired Capabilities:

Name	Data Type	Value
goog:chromeOptions	String	{"args":["--disable-features=DisableLoadExtensionCommandLineSwitch"]}
goog:chromeOptions	String	{"args":["--load-extension=Place the file path here"]}

Steps to Get the Extension Path

Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the Chrome extension source viewer extension.
Click Add to Chrome to install the extension.
Once added, go back to the Chrome Web Store.
While viewing the Chrome extension source viewer extension’s page, click the Chrome extension source viewer extension in your browser toolbar.
Select Download as ZIP from the available options.
Extract the zip file and copy the file path along with the file name.

{"args":["--load-extension=Place the file path here"]}

NOTE:

When copying a file path on Windows, it appears like this: C:\testing\downloads\extension. However, in the Desired Capabilities, you must escape backslashes like this: C:\\testing\\downloads\\extension.

Hybrid Mode: Cloud Test Execution

Repeat the same Desired Capabilities we have discussed in the above section before executing the test plan.

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