Troubleshooting Browser Compatibility Issues in Leapwork with Chrome and Edge

Introduction:

If you’re facing the challenge of receiving the error message, "No browser window is open, so navigation cannot continue," while using your automation flows, don’t worry—this is a common situation that can arise after updating to the latest versions of browsers like Chrome and Edge. Fortunately, this issue is often due to factors like mismatched browser and driver versions, and it can be resolved with a few straightforward steps. This article will guide you through troubleshooting and fixing this issue, ensuring that you are able to execute your automation flow smoothly.

Possible Reasons for the Issue:

1. Windows Updates: Recent updates to Windows might impact how your browser works.

2. Driver Updates: If your browser drivers are outdated or don’t match your browser version, it can cause problems.

3. Browser Updates: New versions of Chrome or Edge may not work well with your current setup.

4. Group Policy Restrictions: Your organization’s settings may prevent proper automation.

5. User Privileges: You might not have the necessary permissions to run the browser smoothly.

Steps to Resolve the Issues:

1. Use Selenium Manager (Beta) for Automatic Driver Management

Start by enabling Selenium Manager (Beta) in Leapwork to automatically manage browser drivers. This ensures that the browser and its corresponding driver are always compatible and updated.

To learn how to enable and use this feature, refer to the article:

🔗 How to Use Selenium Manager (Beta) in Leapwork

This is the recommended first step, as it often eliminates manual driver issues altogether.

2. Check Browser and Driver Compatibility:
Ensure both the browser and its corresponding driver are updated to the same version. For example, both should be at version 129 for Edge or Chrome. For instructions on how to update the drivers, please click Chrome and Edge

3. Test on Different Machines:

Create a New Flow: Start a fresh test flow in Leapwork and run it locally.
Cross-Browser Testing: Test the flow in both Chrome and Edge to see if the issue persists in one or both.
Agent Machine Testing: Run the flow on a designated agent machine to determine if the issue is specific to one computer.

4. Use the Leapwork Browser Extension:
In the Start Browser block, uncheck the Selenium option for one of the failing flows and try running it again. The reason being, this can help you by turning off some Selenium settings that might be causing issues, allowing the browser to start without those problems and possibly fixing the navigation error.

5. Run the Browser with Custom Settings:
Launch the browser using these parameters to create a clean environment for automation:

--remote-debugging-port=9222
--incognito
--guest
--no-sandbox
--user-data-dir=C:\testprofile\

Why These Settings Matter:

--remote-debugging-port=9222: Lets you connect to the browser for easier troubleshooting.
--incognito: Opens the browser in private mode, so nothing is saved after you close it.
--guest: Starts the browser in guest mode, giving you a clean session without personal data.
--no-sandbox: Turns off extra security features, which can help during testing.
--user-data-dir=C:\testprofile: Tells the browser to use a specific folder for saving your settings and data, letting you run it with a fresh profile.

These parameters simply need to be mentioned in the “ Start Options” property of the Start Browser block as in the following image.

Note: The Selenium option must be checked for these settings to take effect.

6. Repair or Reinstall Edge:
If the problem continues with Edge, repair the browser:

Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
Select Microsoft Edge and choose Repair.

If the repair doesn’t work, consider reinstalling Edge. It will ensure that you have the latest version and all necessary files in place for optimal performance.

7. Check Proxy Settings:
a. Make sure your system's proxy settings are not interfering with Leapwork and the browsers. Adjust these settings if necessary. The steps are as follows: b. Open your computer’s Settings.
c. Click on Network & Internet.
d. Select Proxy from the left menu.
e. Ensure Automatically detect settings is on.
f. If not using a proxy, make sure Use a proxy server is off.
g. Save any changes you make.
h. Close and reopen your browser.

8. Review Windows Event Viewer:

Open Event Viewer and look for any critical errors that occurred during the execution of your flow.
1. Pay attention to application errors or warnings that could indicate issues affecting browser functionality. Windows Event Viewer helps you spot errors or warnings that could affect your browser's performance. By checking these logs, you can find clues about what’s causing the issues and take steps to fix them.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most compatibility issues between Leapwork and the latest versions of Chrome and Edge.

For further assistance or clarification, please contact our Priority Support team.