> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.postiz.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Browser extension

> Configure the Postiz browser extension on a self-hosted instance

<Snippet file="audience/self-host-only.mdx" />

Platforms with no public posting API, Skool being the current one, connect
through the Postiz browser extension: it reads your existing session cookies
for that platform and passes them to your backend, where they are stored
encrypted and refreshed every 24 hours.

<Note>
  Connecting a channel this way is covered in
  [Connect a channel](/general/channels/connect). This page is the instance-side
  configuration: the extension ID, and building the extension yourself.
</Note>

<Warning>
  Using cookies to interact with platforms may violate their terms of service.
  Use this feature at your own risk.
</Warning>

## Installation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the Extension">
    Install the Postiz browser extension from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/postiz/cidhffagahknaeodkplfbcpfeielnkjl?hl=en).

    Alternatively, for self-hosted setups, you can build the extension from source:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cd apps/extension
    pnpm build
    ```

    Then load the `apps/extension/dist` folder as an unpacked extension in Chrome:

    1. Navigate to `chrome://extensions/`
    2. Enable **Developer mode** (top right toggle)
    3. Click **Load unpacked** and select the `dist` folder
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get the Extension ID">
    After installing the extension, you need its **Extension ID**:

    1. Go to `chrome://extensions/` in Chrome
    2. Find the **Postiz** extension
    3. Copy the **ID** shown under the extension name (e.g., `cidhffagahknaeodkplfbcpfeielnkjl`)

    If you installed from the Chrome Web Store, the ID is: `cidhffagahknaeodkplfbcpfeielnkjl`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the Environment Variable">
    Add the extension ID to your Postiz environment variables:

    ```env theme={null}
    EXTENSION_ID="cidhffagahknaeodkplfbcpfeielnkjl"
    ```

    Restart Postiz after setting this variable.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Supported Platforms

The following platforms use the Chrome Extension for authentication:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Skool" icon="graduation-cap" href="/self-host/providers/skool">
    Post to Skool communities
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Self-Hosted Considerations

If you are self-hosting Postiz on a domain other than `localhost` or `*.postiz.com`, you need to build a custom extension with your domain in the `externally_connectable` manifest field.

Edit `apps/extension/manifest.json` and add your domain:

```json theme={null}
{
  "externally_connectable": {
    "matches": [
      "http://localhost/*",
      "https://localhost/*",
      "https://*.postiz.com/*",
      "https://your-domain.com/*"
    ]
  }
}
```

Then rebuild the extension and load it as an unpacked extension in Chrome.

## Troubleshooting

* **"Extension not found"**: Make sure the `EXTENSION_ID` environment variable is set and Postiz has been restarted.
* **"Extension not reachable"**: The extension may be disabled. Check `chrome://extensions/` and make sure Postiz is enabled.
* **"Could not get cookies"**: You must be logged in to the platform in the same Chrome browser where the extension is installed.
* **Cookies expire**: The extension automatically refreshes cookies every 24 hours. If a connection drops, try reconnecting the channel.