Overview
You'll install and use the 'Open in Ferndesk' Chrome extension to quickly jump from your published help center articles directly into the Ferndesk app for editing. This streamlines your content workflow by eliminating manual navigation between your help center and the Ferndesk dashboard.
Prerequisites
An active Ferndesk account with a published help center
Google Chrome browser (desktop version)
Active Ferndesk login session in the same browser
A configured help center domain (custom or default)
Compatibility
Browser: Google Chrome (desktop only)
Plans: Available on all Ferndesk plans
Roles: All authenticated users (Admin, Editor, Member, Viewer)
Help center: Works with custom domains and default Ferndesk help center URLs
The extension requires a published help center to function. The floating icon only appears when you're viewing your organization's help center domain.
Before you begin
Ensure you're logged into your Ferndesk account at app.ferndesk.com
If using a custom domain, verify it's properly configured in your help center settings
The extension relies on your active Ferndesk session—if logged out, the floating icon won't appear
Ad blockers or firewall settings that block requests to engine.ferndesk.com may prevent the extension from working properly.
Installing the extension
Open Google Chrome on your desktop computer.
Navigate to the Ferndesk extension page in the Chrome Web Store.
Click the Add to Chrome button in the top right corner.
In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Add extension. Expected result: The extension installs and a small fern leaf icon appears in your Chrome toolbar.
Optional: Pin the extension to your toolbar by clicking the puzzle icon (Extensions menu) and selecting the pin icon next to 'Open in Ferndesk'.
Once installed, the extension works automatically—no additional configuration is required.
Understanding the extension interface
The extension has two main elements you'll interact with:
Toolbar popup
Click the extension icon in your Chrome toolbar to open a simple popup that displays:
The Ferndesk logo
A message explaining how the extension works: "The Ferndesk icon will appear in your browser when you visit your help center domain."
An Open Ferndesk button that takes you directly to app.ferndesk.com
Floating fern icon
When you visit your help center domain, a small green fern leaf icon automatically appears on the right side of the screen, positioned about midway down the page. This floating icon is your quick access button to open the current page in Ferndesk.
The floating icon only appears on your organization's help center domain. If you don't see it, verify you're on the correct URL and that you're logged into Ferndesk.
Using the extension to edit articles
In Chrome, navigate to any article on your published help center (for example,
https://help.yourcompany.com/articles/getting-started).Look for the floating green fern leaf icon on the right side of your screen. Expected result: The icon appears automatically if you're logged into Ferndesk and viewing your help center domain.
Click the floating fern icon. Expected result: A new browser tab opens, taking you directly to that article in the Ferndesk article editor at
https://app.ferndesk.com/help-center?type=article&id=[article-id].Make your edits in the Ferndesk dashboard as needed.
Opening collections and the help center home page
The extension also works on collection pages and your help center home page:
Collection pages: Clicking the icon opens the Ferndesk help center with that collection in view
Home page: Clicking the icon opens the general help center overview at
https://app.ferndesk.com/help-center
The extension automatically detects the page type and opens the most relevant view in Ferndesk, saving you from manually navigating through the dashboard.
Verifying the extension is working
To confirm the extension is installed and functioning correctly:
Ensure you're logged into Ferndesk at app.ferndesk.com.
Visit any page on your published help center domain.
Check for the floating fern icon on the right side of the screen.
If the icon appears, click it to verify it opens Ferndesk in a new tab.
If you need to check technical details, open Chrome DevTools (press F12), go to the Console tab, and look for messages starting with "Ferndesk extension:" that show the extension is running.
Troubleshooting
Symptom | Likely Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
Floating icon doesn't appear | Not logged into Ferndesk, wrong domain, or ad blocker interfering | Sign in to app.ferndesk.com, verify you're on your help center domain, and temporarily disable ad blockers. Reload the page after logging in. |
Icon appears but clicking does nothing | Session expired or network connectivity issue | Log out and back into Ferndesk, then refresh your help center page. Check your internet connection. |
Opens wrong article or general help center | URL parsing issue or unsupported page type | The extension works best on article and collection pages. For other page types, it defaults to the general help center view. |
Icon not visible on custom domain | Custom domain not configured in Ferndesk settings | Go to your help center customization settings and verify your custom domain is properly set up. |
Extension installed but toolbar icon missing | Extension not pinned or hidden | Click the puzzle icon in Chrome's toolbar, find 'Open in Ferndesk', and click the pin icon to make it visible. |
If you're logged into multiple Ferndesk organizations, the extension uses the currently active organization. Switch organizations in the Ferndesk dashboard if needed.
Limitations
Desktop only: Chrome extensions don't work on mobile devices—this extension is available only on desktop Chrome
Domain matching: The floating icon only appears on your exact help center domain (custom or default)—it won't show on unrelated websites
Active session required: You must be logged into Ferndesk in the same browser for the extension to function
Network dependent: The extension requires connectivity to engine.ferndesk.com to fetch your organization's domain information
Fixed position: The floating icon position is preset and may overlap with other page elements on very narrow viewports or high browser zoom levels
Page type support: Works best on article, collection, and home pages—other page types (like search results) default to the general help center view
Managing the extension
Disabling temporarily
Go to
chrome://extensions/in your browser.Find 'Open in Ferndesk' in the list.
Toggle the switch to disable (turns gray).
Uninstalling completely
Right-click the extension icon in your Chrome toolbar.
Select Remove from Chrome.
Click Remove in the confirmation dialog.
Alternatively, go to chrome://extensions/, find 'Open in Ferndesk', and click Remove.
What's next
Getting help
If you continue to experience issues with the extension:
Check Chrome DevTools Console (F12 > Console tab) for error messages starting with "Ferndesk extension:"
Note which help center URL you're visiting and whether the icon appears
Verify your Ferndesk account login status
Try the extension in an incognito window (you'll need to enable it for incognito mode in
chrome://extensions/)Contact Ferndesk support with the above details for assistance