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runtime.getBackgroundPage()

Retrieves the Window object for the background page running inside the current extension.

This provides a convenient way for other privileged extension scripts to get direct access to the background script's scope. This enables them to access variables or call functions defined in that scope. "Privileged script" here includes scripts running in options pages, or scripts running in browser action or page action popups, but does not include content scripts.

Note that variables that were declared using const or let do not appear in the Window object returned by this function.

Also note that this method cannot be used in a private window in Firefox—it always returns null. For more info see related bug at bugzilla.

If the background page is an event page, the system will ensure it is loaded before resolving the promise.

This is an asynchronous function that returns a Promise.

Note: In Firefox, this method cannot be used in Private Browsing mode — it always returns null. For more info see bug 1329304.

In Chrome, this method is available only with persistent background pages, which are not available in Manifest V3, so consider using Manifest V2. See the this for details.

Consider using runtime.sendMessage() or runtime.connect(), which work correctly in both scenarios above.

Syntax

var gettingPage = browser.runtime.getBackgroundPage()

Parameters

None.

Return value

A Promise that will be fulfilled with the Window object for the background page, if there is one. If the extension does not include a background page, the promise is rejected with an error message.

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
getBackgroundPage
22
14
45
If this is called from a page that is part of a private browsing window, such as a sidebar in a private window or a popup opened from a private window, then it will always return null.
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15
14
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48
If this is called from a page that is part of a private browsing window, such as a sidebar in a private window or a popup opened from a private window, then it will always return null.
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Examples

Suppose a background script defines a function foo():

// background.js

function foo() {
  console.log("I'm defined in background.js");
}

A script running in a popup can call this function directly like this:

// popup.js

function onGot(page) {
  page.foo();
}

function onError(error) {
  console.log(`Error: ${error}`);
}

var getting = browser.runtime.getBackgroundPage();
getting.then(onGot, onError);

Note: This API is based on Chromium's chrome.runtime API. This documentation is derived from runtime.json in the Chromium code.

Microsoft Edge compatibility data is supplied by Microsoft Corporation and is included here under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

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https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/getBackgroundPage