ReadyTab Companion Setup Guide
Last Updated: June 2, 2026
The ReadyTab companion app enables Folder, File, and Command / Script launchers through Chrome native messaging.
Companion launcher support is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Short version: pick your platform, install the matching companion files, run the platform installer with your ReadyTab extension ID, then restart Chrome / Chromium.
Each download contains the platform-specific companion files (host, install, and uninstall scripts). The same files are also available in the ReadyTab repository under launchers/windows/, launchers/linux/, and launchers/macos/.
What the companion app does
- Open folders in the native file manager
- Open files with their default application
- Run commands or scripts from launcher items
- Show native folder and file picker dialogs
Supported platforms
Windows
- Uses PowerShell-based companion scripts
- Opens folders in Windows Explorer
- Runs command launchers through PowerShell
- Packaged zip download is available on this page
Linux
- Uses a python3 native host plus shell scripts
- Opens folders/files through xdg-open
- Runs command launchers through your shell
- Native pickers use zenity or kdialog
macOS
- Uses a python3 native host plus shell scripts
- Opens folders/files through open
- Runs command launchers through your shell
- Native pickers use built-in osascript dialogs
Requirements
Windows
- Windows 10 or later
- PowerShell 5.1 or later
- Google Chrome or another Chromium browser
- ReadyTab installed
Linux
- Linux desktop session
- python3
- A POSIX shell such as bash or sh
- Google Chrome or Chromium
- zenity or kdialog for native picker dialogs
macOS
- macOS
- python3
- A POSIX shell such as zsh or sh
- Google Chrome or Chromium
Find your extension ID
- Open chrome://extensions in Chrome / Chromium.
- Find ReadyTab and copy the extension ID shown on the card.
- Use that ID as your production or development ID when running the installer.
- Restart the browser after install so it reloads the native messaging manifest.
Install commands by platform
Windows
If you installed ReadyTab from the Chrome Web Store, use the extension ID from chrome://extensions as the -ProductionId.
A Windows security warning is expected. Because the companion files are downloaded from the web, Windows may show an “Open File – Security Warning” or a SmartScreen notice. This is normal for the script-based companion. If SmartScreen appears, select More info, then Run anyway to continue. Only run the ReadyTab companion files you downloaded from this page.
Linux
Open a terminal in launchers/linux/ and run:
macOS
Open Terminal in launchers/macos/ and run:
A macOS security prompt is expected. The companion is an unsigned script, so macOS may warn that it is from an unidentified developer, or quarantine the downloaded files. Running ./install.sh from Terminal as shown above is the supported path. If macOS still blocks a file, you can clear the quarantine flag with xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ./install.sh and re-run it. Only run the ReadyTab companion files you downloaded from this page.
Extension ID behavior
Published Chrome Web Store ID: fixed and stable for that store listing.
Development / unpacked ID: may differ from the published ID and may vary between development setups.
If you want one companion install to work with both, pass both IDs to the installer.
How to use it in ReadyTab
- Create or edit a launcher item
- Choose Folder, File, or Command / Script
- Save the launcher
- Click it from your dashboard
You can also check the companion status from Settings → Data inside ReadyTab.
Troubleshooting
Companion shows as not installed
Re-run the installer for your platform, verify the extension ID matches the actual ReadyTab ID, then restart Chrome / Chromium fully.
Windows: “Running scripts is disabled on this system”
Run the installer explicitly with execution policy bypass:
Linux: picker dialog does not appear
Install zenity or kdialog, then retry.
Linux / macOS: command launcher does not run
Make sure the command works in your shell first. If you are launching a script file directly, make sure it has execute permission or invoke it explicitly with bash, sh, or your preferred shell.
Companion still does not connect
- Verify the extension ID in the install command matches the actual ReadyTab ID
- Restart Chrome / Chromium fully
- Re-run the installer from the same companion folder
- Check ReadyTab’s Companion App status in Settings → Data
Uninstall
Windows
Linux
macOS
Restart Chrome / Chromium after uninstalling.
Support
Use the support path that matches the kind of issue:
- Private / sensitive help: support@readytab.cloud
- Public bug reports or feature requests: github.com/yannkost/readytab-support