Chrome Extension Setup & Usage Guide

The NovelHub browser extension is required for importing novels. It handles content scraping from Chinese web novel sites and sends the data back to the web app.

TL;DR — Install the Chrome extension, log in, and it works automatically in the background when you import novels from your dashboard. No popup interface needed.

What the extension does

The extension runs in the background and:

• Extracts novel metadata (title, author, cover, description) from source sites
• Scrapes chapter content and table of contents
• Sends scraped data to the NovelHub web app

The extension only activates during import requests. It does not collect data from sites you visit outside of the import workflow.

Install from Chrome Web Store

1. Go to the NovelHub extension page on the Chrome Web Store (link available in your dashboard)
2. Click Add to Chrome
3. Review the permissions and click Add extension

You can also find the installation link in your dashboard under the SmartImporter section.

Supported browsers

If you use a Chromium-based browser not listed here, it likely works. The extension uses standard Chrome extension APIs.

How it works

When you paste a URL into the SmartImporter:

1. The web app sends the import request to the extension
2. The extension scrapes the content from the source site in the background
3. The scraped data is sent back to the web app
4. The novel or chapter appears in your library

You don't need to keep the source site open. Everything happens in the background.

Permissions

The extension requests access to the supported source site domains (jjwxc.net, qidian.com, qdmm.com, fanqienovel.com). It does not request access to all websites — only the specific domains it needs for scraping.

Troubleshooting

Extension not detected

If the web app shows "Extension not detected":

1. Open chrome://extensions in a new tab
2. Find "NovelHub Translate Extension"
3. Make sure the toggle is On
4. Refresh the NovelHub web app page
5. Try importing again

If it still doesn't work, try removing and reinstalling the extension.

Import stuck at "Connecting to extension"

This usually means the extension isn't responding. Try these steps:

1. Check that the extension is enabled
2. Make sure you're not in incognito mode (extensions are often disabled there)
3. Restart Chrome completely
4. Reinstall the extension

Extension icon not visible

The NovelHub import workflow does not require you to pin or click the extension during normal dashboard imports. Once the extension is enabled in chrome://extensions, it can respond automatically when you import novels through the SmartImporter on your dashboard.

Content not loading from source site

If the extension works but content doesn't import:

• Check if the source site is accessible in your region
• Some sites may block VPNs or certain IP addresses
• Try importing a different novel from the same site to test

For more help, see Import Issues.