devtools-unlock

DevTools Unlock Open

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Install from Chrome Web Store:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/devtools-unlock/cehphgjpnlhlonahcldfbomncionnhdo

Building a Chrome extension? Start from chrome-extension-boilerplate-ai — Vite 8 · MV3 · typical prod build ~100–300ms. Docs ·

A Chrome / Firefox extension that restores normal DevTools on sites that deliberately block inspection.

It injects before page scripts run and neutralizes anti-debug logic such as disable-devtool (and similar custom detectors), so opening DevTools no longer blanks the page, force-reloads, or redirects you away.

Why this project exists

Many sites ship front-end “anti-debug” libraries to discourage casual inspection. A common choice is disable-devtool: once DevTools opens, the page may wipe the DOM, reload, jump to a dead URL, or freeze the tab. Streaming and player sites often go further—detectors live inside cross-origin iframes, so the parent page looks fine while the player silently dies.

That is painful when you are a developer trying to understand how a page works: network calls, player pipelines, bundling, or embedding patterns. Manual workarounds (console snippets, userscripts, one-off breakpoints) break easily and do not survive a full reload before the detector wins.

This repo started from that exact friction—sites such as anikai.watch (player frames with their own detectors; notes under analysis/anikai/)—and grew into a small, per-host unlock tool:

Patch known detection / punishment paths early (document_start, MAIN world)
Opt-in per hostname (default off; also covers iframe hosts found on the tab)
Keep research samples and console/Tampermonkey fallbacks outside the store package

Intended use: legitimate front-end research, learning, and debugging. It does not grant access beyond what the browser already loads for you.

Install

Channel	Link
Chrome Web Store	DevTools Unlock Open
Unpacked Chrome	`pnpm build` → load `dist/chrome` — see Local load
Firefox 128+	`pnpm build:firefox` — see Firefox
Source	github.com/webLiang/devtools-unlock

After install: open the target site → enable unlock in the toolbar popup → the page reloads → DevTools should work normally.

Layout

devtools-unlock/
├── src/pages/          ← background, popup, unlock IIFE, embedWatch
├── public/             ← _locales + icons (copied into dist)
├── manifest.js         ← MV3 source (version from package.json)
├── dist/chrome/        ← Chrome unpacked package
├── dist/firefox/       ← Firefox unpacked package
├── docs/
│   ├── firefox/        ← Firefox / AMO notes
│   ├── force-debug-blocked-sites.md
│   └── chrome-web-store/
├── analysis/           ← sample bundles / notes (not in store zip)
├── alternatives/       ← console / Tampermonkey fallbacks
├── demo-site-vite/     ← local disable-devtool victim page
├── scripts/            ← pack.sh, github-release, IIFE build, AMO source zip
├── releases/           ← versioned zip + release notes
├── SOURCE.md           ← AMO reviewer rebuild steps
├── STORE.md            ← publishing checklist
└── PRIVACY.md          ← privacy policy

Local load

Chrome

pnpm install then pnpm build (dev: pnpm dev)
Open chrome://extensions/ → enable Developer mode
Load unpacked → select the dist/chrome folder (not the repo root)
Open a target site, enable unlock in the popup (page reloads)
Console should show: [devtools-unlock] injected — DevTools should work normally

Firefox

pnpm build:firefox (dev: pnpm dev:firefox)
Open about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox
Load Temporary Add-on… → select dist/firefox/manifest.json
Temporary add-ons disappear when Firefox closes. Persistent install: AMO zip from pnpm build:firefox:zip (Gecko id devtools-unlock@webliang, Firefox 128+).

Details: docs/firefox/README.md.

Per-site behavior

Default: all sites off
Toggle applies to the current hostname only
Enabling also unlocks iframe hosts found on that tab (e.g. cross-origin video players)
Enabling or disabling reloads the current http(s) page

Pack for the Web Store

pnpm build:all            # Chrome → dist/chrome, Firefox → dist/firefox
pnpm build:zip            # Chrome → releases/devtools-unlock_v{version}.zip
pnpm build:firefox:zip    # Firefox → releases/devtools-unlock_v{version}.firefox.zip
pnpm pack:firefox:sources # AMO source zip (no node_modules) → *.firefox-sources.zip

Store zips contain the contents of dist/chrome or dist/firefox (manifest at zip root). AMO also needs the source archive: SOURCE.md / docs/firefox/SOURCE.md. See STORE.md. Optional CRX (local dist.pem, not committed): pnpm build:crx.

Published listing:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/devtools-unlock/cehphgjpnlhlonahcldfbomncionnhdo

GitHub Release

Bump package.json version (copied into dist/chrome/manifest.json / dist/firefox/manifest.json at build), then:

pnpm release:github:dry    # pack Chrome + Firefox zips + preview notes
pnpm release:github:full   # zip → commit → tag → gh release → push

Cursor command: /github-release (see .cursor/commands/github-release.md).

Non-extension folders

Path	Contents	In zip
`dist/chrome` / `dist/firefox`	MV3 extension (per browser)	store zip
`src/` + build configs	Add-on source	AMO `*.firefox-sources.zip` (no `node_modules`)
`docs/`	Technical docs	no (except firefox notes in source zip)
`analysis/`	Raw / deobfuscated JS	no
`alternatives/`	Console / userscript	no
`demo-site-vite/`	Local demo site	no

Docs

More Chrome extensions

Other open-source tools from the same author:

Extension	Description
Pornhub Video Downloader	Multi-resolution video download for Pornhub, Xvideos, and other supported sites.
Header Modify	Rewrite request headers for the current site, including iframes.