BUG: Flow Launcher does not open Web Searches in Arc Browser

[pratyakshm]

Checks

• [X] I have checked that this issue has not already been reported.

• [X] I am using the latest version of Flow Launcher.

Problem Description

When I type a web search query in Flow Launcher and press to open it in the default browser, the browser opens but a new tab concerning the query never opens.

Arc is a new web browser for Windows, currently in closed beta. Should it be necessary for you to use the browser, join the waitlist at https://www.isarconwindowsyet.com/.

To Reproduce

1. Invoke Flow Launcher and type in a web search query.
2. Press Enter. Now, you expect the query to open in a new tab in the default web browser.
3. Actually, focus is shifted to the default web browser. However, a new tab for the search result of the typed query is never created. Instead, the web browser sits blank and clueless as its last state.

I have run the following command just to determine if the issue lies with in Arc browser itself, and it worked fine.

Start-Process https://google.com

Also, all external links to web sites open inside Arc browser as expected. Thus, it's safe to say that the issue lies within Flow Launcher.

Screenshots

https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher/assets/54220235/08a3f541-86f2-4571-bf4b-04fa13351e8c

Flow Launcher Version

1.17.2

Windows Build Number

22635.3276

Error Log

23:49:20.7847+05:30 - INFO  - App.OnStartup - Begin Flow Launcher startup ----------------------------------------------------
23:49:20.7895+05:30 - INFO  - App.OnStartup - Runtime info:
Flow Launcher version: 1.17.2
OS Version: 22635.3276
IntPtr Length: 8
x64: True
23:49:21.1729+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Plugin Indicator> is <4ms>
23:49:21.1729+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Process Killer> is <4ms>
23:49:21.1729+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <System Commands> is <2ms>
23:49:21.1804+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <URL> is <17ms>
23:49:21.1804+05:30 - INFO  - CommunityPluginSource.FetchAsync - Loading plugins from https://fastly.jsdelivr.net/gh/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher.PluginsManifest@plugin_api_v2/plugins.json
23:49:21.1979+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Shell> is <27ms>
23:49:21.1979+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Web Searches> is <24ms>
23:49:21.2134+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Calculator> is <46ms>
23:49:21.2134+05:30 - INFO  - Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.Main - Preload programs cost <17ms>
23:49:21.2134+05:30 - INFO  - Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.Main - Number of preload win32 programs <160>
23:49:21.2134+05:30 - INFO  - Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.Main - Number of preload uwps <70>
23:49:21.2393+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Browser Bookmarks> is <73ms>
23:49:21.2513+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Windows Settings> is <54ms>
23:49:21.2659+05:30 - INFO  - CommunityPluginSource.FetchAsync - Loading plugins from https://gcore.jsdelivr.net/gh/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher.PluginsManifest@plugin_api_v2/plugins.json
23:49:21.2659+05:30 - INFO  - CommunityPluginSource.FetchAsync - Loading plugins from https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher.PluginsManifest@plugin_api_v2/plugins.json
23:49:21.2659+05:30 - INFO  - CommunityPluginSource.FetchAsync - Loading plugins from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher.PluginsManifest/plugin_api_v2/plugins.json
23:49:21.2659+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Explorer> is <105ms>
23:49:21.2659+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Program> is <108ms>
23:49:21.4767+05:30 - INFO  - CommunityPluginSource.FetchAsync - Loaded 153 plugins from https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher.PluginsManifest@plugin_api_v2/plugins.json
23:49:21.4767+05:30 - INFO  - PluginManager.InitializePlugins - Total init cost for <Plugins Manager> is <317ms>
23:49:21.7901+05:30 - INFO  - App.OnStartup - Dependencies Info:
Python Path: C:\Users\Praty\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\pythonw.exe
Node Path: 
23:49:22.0948+05:30 - INFO  - App.OnStartup - End Flow Launcher startup ----------------------------------------------------  
23:49:22.1038+05:30 - INFO  - App.OnStartup - Startup cost <1477ms>
23:49:22.2514+05:30 - INFO  - ImageLoader.Initialize - Preload images cost <1030ms>
23:49:22.2514+05:30 - INFO  - ImageLoader.Initialize - Number of preload images is <50>, Images Number: 50, Unique Items 17

[deefrawley]

Does it work when you specify Arc in the Default Web Browser setting for Flow?

[pratyakshm]

@djordjepekic Hi, no, it does not work even after adding a new entry for Arc in the Default Web Browser setting.

Screen shot of the setting:

Upon inspecting the default web browser path for Chrome in Flow's settings, I tested if using "arc" in Win + R brings up Arc too, and it does.

So, I updated Arc's entry in Default Web Browser setting to use "arc" as path, instead of the absolute path.

And I still face the same issue. No new tab is created.

[djordjepekic]

Wrong @ 😁

[pratyakshm]

Oops, sorry about that, @djordjepekic.

Looping in @deefrawley to the ticket.

[taooceros]

maybe they shares a slightly different command line arg compared to other browser...

[taooceros]

Probably nothing much we can do without a document or at least access to arc....if you understand how their command line interface work we are happy to accept pr.

[Yusyuriv]

Keep in mind that Arc for Windows is still very much experimental (latest version is 0.14.1) and lacks a lot of features present in all other browsers. For example, they added closing tabs by pressing Ctrl+F4 only 8 days ago.

[Yusyuriv]

That being said, I do have access to it, so if anyone has any ideas, I'm happy to try them.

[taooceros]

I downloaded it (with school email). Seems to be interesting. As it is a appx package, it probably requires some additional handling compared to other browser. Also there's no document about the command line usage....

[taooceros]

I guess the problem is on their side. There's no command line argument for its app....

[deefrawley]

Changing this from a bug to an enhancement as it seems the issue is with the browser, not Flow.

[pratyakshm]

Yep, I've contacted them regarding this issue. Hoping that they attend to this.

[DianP]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

[ricktrade]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

Thanks for posting! This also worked for me!

Running Arc Build : 0.17.2.21183 (0000) OS Version: 10.0.19045 and Flow launcher 1.18.0

[pratyakshm]

@DianP that's hilarious and interesting! 😆 quite curious how it works under the hood just like that.

but thanks haha!

[dot-Justin]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

Thanks for sharing, though this doesn't work for me. Does anyone have any ideas other than this?

(EDIT: after doing this and relaunching a few times, it works! thank you!)

[notashleel]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

Thank you for sharing this! It works like a charm!

[jdkcoder]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

Magic LOL. It worked!!!

[HaveSomeRubicon]

wow i did not expect that to work lol

[IgorWeisss]

@pratyakshm

I've been tinkering for awhile for this, and i accidently found this.

This is my setup: Basically in the General > Default Browser > Add > and insert the path to some random wording like "Non Existence Path" And it works 😲.

Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipcha.webm

Works like a charm! Thanks so much!

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue is stale because it has been open 60 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 60 days.\n\nAlternatively this issue can be kept open by adding one of the following labels:\nkeep-fresh

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue was closed because it has been stale for 7 days with no activity. If you feel this issue still needs attention please feel free to reopen.