For moderators: this is a 1st stackoverflow result in google for this topic thats why it needs an update.

Answer after a lot of research:

I've been long trying to finally fix this issue. The solution works for vite bundler in versions 2.9.5 through 5.2.11 (the last one i tested) with Manifest V3 Google Chrome (v125 2024).

Complete code: https://github.com/Toumash/crxjs-vite-plugin-react-devtools (feel free to clone)

Use import 'react-devtools'; in your content_script entry and use devtools as a standalone app - as you pointed out the react devtools chrome extension cannot communicate with other extension (the one you're developing)

Improvements:

  1. To not bundle this package into production extension build use a conditionally imported file. I've added the following into my package.json
{
...
 "imports": {
    "#env-import/*.ts": {
      "development": "./src/*.dev.ts",
      "production": "./src/*.prod.ts"
    }
  }
...
}
  1. Add a file devtools.dev.ts containing only the import 'react-devtools';.
  2. Add a file devtools.prod.ts with nothing in it (empty file)
  3. In your content_scripts/index.ts add import '#env-import/devtools.ts'; to conditionally import the devtools script
  4. Install react-devtools standalone package npm i -D react-devtools
  5. Add react-devtools to the npm scripts section "react-devtools": "react-devtools",
  6. Now you can finally just run your extension and npm run react-devtools and it works

Original (mine) answer on Github

Answer from Toumash on Stack Overflow
🌐
React
react.dev › learn › react-developer-tools
React Developer Tools – React
It is available for several popular browsers: Install for Chrome · Install for Firefox · Install for Edge · Now, if you visit a website built with React, you will see the Components and Profiler panels.
🌐
Chrome Web Store
chromewebstore.google.com › detail › react-developer-tools › fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi
React Developer Tools - Chrome Web Store
React Developer Tools is a Chrome DevTools extension for the open-source React JavaScript library. It allows you to inspect the React component hierarchies in the Chrome Developer Tools.
Discussions

React Developer Tools not appearing in Chrome
They've been really finicky for me lately too. I'd recommend trying to restart the browser. Also, closing the chrome dev tools and reopening it usually helps the react extension show up finally for me. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/reactjs
9
4
November 4, 2023
How to add react-devtools for chrome extension development?
I am inserting a react component into a web page - Everything seems to work well but im not able to get the react dev tools working. After reading online it seems like this could be caused by: React More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
react dev tools not loading in Chrome browser
Can someone tell me how to get it to use the React Developer Tools? ... If you opened a local html file in your browser (file://...) then you must first open chrome extensions and check off "Allow access to file URLs". More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
how to use react developer tools in chrome
The library for web and native user interfaces. Contribute to facebook/react development by creating an account on GitHub. More on github.com
🌐 github.com
1
September 10, 2023
🌐
Codecademy
codecademy.com › article › react-devtools-tutorial
How to Use React Developer Tools (With Example) | Codecademy
Learn to install and use React Developer Tools to inspect components, debug apps, and modify React elements in Chrome.
🌐
DebugBear
debugbear.com › blog › react-devtools
Getting Started with React DevTools in Chrome | DebugBear
December 1, 2025 - The React Developer Tools browser extension for Chrome contains a powerful suite of debugging tools for React apps.
🌐
Hongkiat
hongkiat.com › home › add react.js explorer to chrome with react developer tools
Add React.js Explorer to Chrome with React Developer Tools - Hongkiat
February 24, 2017 - Every web developer should already know about the amazing Chrome Developer Tools. This feature is built right into Chrome and it lets developers inspect pages and edit or remove elements right from within the browser.
🌐
React
legacy.reactjs.org › blog › 2014 › 01 › 02 › react-chrome-developer-tools.html
React Chrome Developer Tools – React Blog
January 2, 2014 - Today we’re releasing the React Developer Tools, an extension to the Chrome Developer Tools. Download them from the Chrome Web Store. You will get a new tab titled “React” in your Chrome DevTools.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/reactjs › react developer tools not appearing in chrome
r/reactjs on Reddit: React Developer Tools not appearing in Chrome
November 4, 2023 -

For some reason I cannot find the developer tools in Chrome. Why could that be?

I posted my question in StackOverflow, but I hope I could find here a solution faster:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77421852/react-developer-tools-wont-appear-in-chrome

I uploaded pictures in that link, in case you want to see it directly.

Please help!

Find elsewhere
🌐
React Native
reactnative.dev › docs › react-native-devtools
React Native DevTools · React Native
February 20, 2026 - React Native DevTools is based on the Chrome DevTools frontend. If you have a web development background, its features should be familiar.
Top answer
1 of 2
1

For moderators: this is a 1st stackoverflow result in google for this topic thats why it needs an update.

Answer after a lot of research:

I've been long trying to finally fix this issue. The solution works for vite bundler in versions 2.9.5 through 5.2.11 (the last one i tested) with Manifest V3 Google Chrome (v125 2024).

Complete code: https://github.com/Toumash/crxjs-vite-plugin-react-devtools (feel free to clone)

Use import 'react-devtools'; in your content_script entry and use devtools as a standalone app - as you pointed out the react devtools chrome extension cannot communicate with other extension (the one you're developing)

Improvements:

  1. To not bundle this package into production extension build use a conditionally imported file. I've added the following into my package.json
{
...
 "imports": {
    "#env-import/*.ts": {
      "development": "./src/*.dev.ts",
      "production": "./src/*.prod.ts"
    }
  }
...
}
  1. Add a file devtools.dev.ts containing only the import 'react-devtools';.
  2. Add a file devtools.prod.ts with nothing in it (empty file)
  3. In your content_scripts/index.ts add import '#env-import/devtools.ts'; to conditionally import the devtools script
  4. Install react-devtools standalone package npm i -D react-devtools
  5. Add react-devtools to the npm scripts section "react-devtools": "react-devtools",
  6. Now you can finally just run your extension and npm run react-devtools and it works

Original (mine) answer on Github

2 of 2
-1

In manifest v3 it's afaik not possible to use a remote script (even though the docs suggest otherwise).

What you can do instead is include the script from the standalone devtools in your extension files.

So instead of including: <script src="http://localhost:8097"></script> as the docs describe, open that url in your browser, save the JS as file in your chrome extension folder, then include that file. For example <script src="/react-devtools.js"></script>.

Once you have done that the devtools will show in the standalone app.

🌐
Chrome Web Store
chromewebstore.google.com › detail › react-inspector › gkkcgbepkkhfnnjolcaggogkjodmlpkh
React Inspector - Chrome Web Store
Easily detect React components source code from Chrome! ■Requirements ・Installed React Developer Tools ・Works only with development builds.
🌐
Electron
electronjs.org › devtools extension
DevTools Extension | Electron
on Windows it is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions; ... Pass the location of the extension to the ses.loadExtension API. For React Developer Tools v4.9.0, it looks something like:
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › react-devtools
react-devtools - npm
Use react-devtools outside of the browser. Latest version: 7.0.1, last published: 5 months ago. Start using react-devtools in your project by running `npm i react-devtools`. There are 38 other projects in the npm registry using react-devtools.
      » npm install react-devtools
    
Published   Oct 20, 2025
Version   7.0.1
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @pkellner › using-the-react-debugger-extension-7ea0bcbf2b50
Using the React Developer Extension | by Peter Kellner | Medium
June 3, 2020 - Open up the chrome dev tools , and navigate to the first tab, which chrome calls Elements. Since the dev tool knows nothing about React, these are just HTML elements. ... Let’s right click on our actual rendered header of the page, choose ...
🌐
GitHub
github.com › facebook › react-devtools
GitHub - facebook/react-devtools: An extension that allows inspection of React component hierarchy in the Chrome and Firefox Developer Tools. · GitHub
An extension that allows inspection of React component hierarchy in the Chrome and Firefox Developer Tools. - facebook/react-devtools
Starred by 11K users
Forked by 1.8K users
🌐
GitHub
github.com › facebook › react › issues › 27355
how to use react developer tools in chrome · Issue #27355 · facebook/react
September 10, 2023 - how to use react developer tools in chrome#27355 · Copy link · p2216 · opened · on Sep 10, 2023 · Issue body actions · No description provided. Reactions are currently unavailable · No one assigned · No labels · No labels · No type · No projects ·
Author   p2216
🌐
Finsemble
documentation.finsemble.com › troubleshoot and debug › react developer tools
React Developer Tools | Finsemble
React Developer Tools are debugging tools for the open-source React library. It allows you to inspect the React component hierarchies in Chrome's Developer Tools.
🌐
Techjockey
techjockey.com › home › website development tools › app development software › blog › top 7 react developer tools for chrome
Top 7 React Developer Tools for Chrome
January 5, 2026 - React Developer Tools are a type of chrome extension used to add a set of React-specific inspection widgets to assist you with the app development procedure. When you run these tools on Chrome, you can get a view of the application’s components ...
🌐
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › how-to-use-react-devtools
How to Use React Developer Tools – Explained With Examples
May 6, 2024 - Installing the React developer ... it. If you use Chrome, visit the Chrome Webstore and search for "React", then select "React Developer Tools" and click the "Add to Chrome" button to install it....