Use your own Chrome
Let a bot work in your own browser, signed in as you, with the Machine extension. Install it, ask for it, see what's happening, and take your browser back.
The Machine browser that bots normally use is separate from yours, so it isn't signed in to your accounts. When you want a bot to work in your own browser, signed in as you, use the Machine extension.
Good for:
- downloading invoices from a supplier portal you're signed in to,
- updating a listing in a web app you use,
- collecting information from a page you're looking at.
It works in Chrome, and in other Chromium browsers like Edge and Brave. It needs Chrome 125 or later. It works on Windows and Mac.
Install the extension
Open the folder menu
In a This PC thread, click the folder chip above the message box. Under This PC, find Your Chrome. Until the extension is added, it says Extension not added.
Add it to Chrome
Click Add. The Chrome Web Store opens. Click Add to Chrome there.
Keep Chrome open
The extension connects to Machine Desktop by itself. Click its icon in Chrome's toolbar: it should say Connected to Machine Desktop. In the folder menu, the Your Chrome row now shows Connected and Say "use my browser" to work in your tabs.
Other ways to get it
The extension is on the Chrome Web Store, free. It's unlisted, so searching the store won't find it. Use one of these links instead:
- On the download page, find the Chrome extension card and click Add to Chrome.
- Open the Machine extension on the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome.
Then keep Chrome and Machine Desktop open, and it connects by itself.
Install it manually
If the Web Store doesn't work for you:
- In the folder menu's Your Chrome row, click install manually. Machine Desktop shows a folder on your computer.
- In Chrome, go to
chrome://extensions. - Turn on Developer mode (top right).
- Click Load unpacked and choose that folder.
Ask a bot to use your browser
- Open Chrome on the page you want the bot to work on.
- In a This PC thread, say so in your message: "use my browser", "use my Chrome", or "use my tabs".
Use my browser: on this page, download every invoice from last month into my shared folder.
Use my Chrome to fill in this form with the details in contact.txt.
The bot works in the tab in front.
Without one of those phrases, bots use the Machine browser, never yours.
What you'll see
While a bot works in your browser:
- Chrome shows a bar saying it started debugging this browser. This is normal: it's how the extension controls the tab.
- The extension's icon shows ON.
- Its popup says Machine is working in N tab(s).
Take your browser back
Any of these releases your browser immediately:
- click Cancel on Chrome's started debugging bar,
- click the extension's icon and choose Stop — release all tabs,
- press the Stop shortcut, Ctrl+Alt+Esc (⌘⇧Esc on Mac),
- click Stop in Machine Desktop.
The bot closes only tabs it opened itself. Your own tabs are just released, never closed. After stopping, the next task uses the Machine browser again unless you ask for yours.
Extension status
| The extension says | Means | Do |
|---|---|---|
| Connected to Machine Desktop | Ready. | Nothing. |
| Machine is working in N tab(s) | A bot is using your browser. | Watch, or stop it. |
| Machine Desktop is not running | Machine Desktop is closed. | Open it, then click Try again. |
| Machine Desktop not set up | The connection isn't set up yet. | Open a This PC thread in Machine Desktop once, then click Try again. |
Privacy
Your browser is signed in as you
In your own browser, a bot can do anything you could do on those websites. Watch it work, and stop it if anything looks wrong. Bots follow safety rules about payments, sending, and passwords, but you're in charge.
- The extension only acts when you ask for your browser.
- It talks only to Machine Desktop on your computer, not to the internet.
- Machine Desktop sets up a small helper so the extension can reach it. It needs no admin rights.
Without the extension
On Windows and Mac, with Apps, mouse and keyboard on, a bot can still use your browser window by looking at the screen and clicking, like a person. The extension is faster and more precise.