# JabRef browser extension: cannot connect to JabRef

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [August 11, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473 "2022-08-11T10:33:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mlep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/mlep/32/387_2.png) [@mlep](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mlep)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473/1 "2022-08-11T10:33:52Z")

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I am using JabRef (extracted from JabRef-5.8-portable\_linux.tar.gz) on a Linux OS. JabRef Browser Extension (for Firefox) is unable to send a reference to JabRef: it displays the message

> Error connecting to JabRef. Attempt to post Message on disconnected port  
> (even if JabRef is opened).

The browser error console displays:

> Unchecked lastError value: Error: Could not establish connection. Receiving end does not exist. webrequest.js:126  
> onBeforeRequest moz-extension://b342d794-3acb-42de-a1d6-f2a26fc58a3d/js/webrequest.js:126

How to make JabRef Browser Extension aware of my JabRef window?

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473/2 "2022-08-11T15:03:37Z")

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Hm as far as I know nothing has changed recently regarding this. I tested on mac with firefox and latest dev build and it works fine.

Maybe some other extension interfering with it?

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**Author:** ![mlep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/mlep/32/387_2.png) [@mlep](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mlep)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 7:52am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473/3 "2022-08-12T07:52:49Z")

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@Christoph : did you test with the _portable_ version?

Investigating a bit: after installing the _non portable_ version of JabRef 5.7 (the one recently released), the JabRef browser extension is able to open JabRef and transfer the data (= a new entry is created). So, it looks like the JabRef browser extension is happy in my browser. 😉

However, with the _portable_ version of JabRef 5.7, I get the message _Error connecting to JabRef_ even if JabRef is already opened (if JabRef is closed, obviously, the extension has no way to know where the JabRef software is located). So the issue seems linked to my use of the _portable_ version, and can be summarized as **“how to make the JabRef browser extension aware that I am using the portable version?”**

Rationale: I would like to use the portable version so that testing the development versions do not interfere with my OS.

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473/4 "2022-08-12T16:13:49Z")

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I think I found the solution in the help files for how to configure the path for the extension:

> **[Browser Extension](https://docs.jabref.org/collect/jabref-browser-extension#installation-and-configuration)**
>
> The official browser extension automatically identifies and extracts bibliographic information on websites and sends them to JabRef with one click.

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**Author:** ![mlep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/mlep/32/387_2.png) [@mlep](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mlep)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-browser-extension-cannot-connect-to-jabref/3473/5 "2022-08-13T13:31:18Z")

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Thank you Christoph! This put me on the right path. I had to alter the .json file so that the proper path to jabrefHost.py is set. I am going to alter the help file accordingly.