How to Detect a New Chrome Session in Extension

Question

I have an extension that needs to detect when a new Chrome session has started. I found a post here that suggested the following:

chrome.runtime.onStartup.addListener(async function() {
   console.log("new startup detected");
   await chrome.storage.local.set({"status":false});
});

However, it seems that the listener does not work. It is also not clear what startup it refers to. Start up of Chrome or startup of the extension. Can someone clarify how to detect when a new chrome has started? TIA.

Updated Code

chrome.windows.onCreated.addListener(async function() {
   console.log("new startup detected");
   await chrome.storage.local.set({"status":false});
});

Updated withj Manifest

{
   "manifest_version": 3,

   "name": "Auto_Select",
   "description": "This extension auto selects Mturk HITs",
   "version": "1.0.12",

   "action": {
     "default_icon": "auto_select.png",
     "type": "module",
     "default_popup": "auto_select.html"
   },
   "permissions": [
     "tabs",
     "activeTab",
     "storage",
     "contextMenus",
     "tts"
   ],
   "host_permissions": [
      "<all_urls>"
   ],
   "background": {
   "service_worker": "auto_select.js"
  },
  "content_security_policy": {
     "extension_pages": "script-src 'self'; object-src 'self'; script-src-elem 'self'"
  }
}

Answer 1

I'm assuming that you want to detect the start of a new session, and you want to detect it in the service worker.

That's why you should use the aptly named chrome.storage.session

The following extension gets and sets a dummy key in chrome.storage.session to detect the start of a new session.

How to verify that the extension works correctly:

1. Load the extension
2. Inspect the service worker.
3. The console should show the text "session has started".
4. Close the DevTools window, so the service worker won't stay active.
5. Wait for the service worker to become inactive.
6. Inspect the service worker again.
7. The console should now show the text "session is already running".
8. If you close Chrome and open it again, the service worker console should again show the text "session has started".

manifest.json

{
    "manifest_version": 3,
    "name": "Detect Session Start",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "permissions": [
        "storage"
    ],
    "background": {
        "service_worker": "background.js"
    }
}

background.js

(async () => {
    let { started } = await chrome.storage.session.get("started");
    if (started === undefined) {
        console.log("session has started");
        await chrome.storage.session.set({ started: true });
    }
    else {
        console.log("session is already running");
    }
})();