WebModule issues with Virtual Machine

This usually happens when TestComplete intermittently fails to attach to the page DOM and instead attaches to the SmartBear browser extension context. Since Edge is Chromium-based, the extension runs under a chrome-extension://…/BackgroundPage.html URL. When this context becomes active (more common on VMs), Object Spy/Object Mapper highlights the entire browser window instead of individual web elements. Recording may still work intermittently because it uses a more tolerant capture mechanism.

Match VM and host display settings:
Even with DPI set to 100%, ensure the host and VM use the same screen resolution and avoid dynamically resizing the VM window, as resolution changes can cause TestComplete to misidentify web elements.

Isolation steps:

1. Try identifying elements on a simple public site like w3schools.com.
   • If it fails there too, the issue is environment-related (VM/Edge/extension).
   • If it works there, check whether your web app uses supported technologies Supported Web Browsers and Technologies.
2. Close all Edge instances, reopen Edge first, fully load the page, then start TestComplete.
3. Use a clean Edge profile with only the SmartBear extension enabled.
4. Verify VM settings (disable enhanced graphics/3D acceleration, avoid dynamic DPI or resolution changes).

Suggestions / next steps:

• Prefer recording + Name Mapping over Object Spy as a workaround.
• If possible, test in Chrome with the SmartBear extension.
• If the issue reproduces on public sites, raise a SmartBear support incident and include:
  • VM type (Hyper-V/VMware/Citrix)
  • TestComplete and Edge versions
  • Confirmation that the URL switches to chrome-extension://…
  • Screenshots or a short repro video

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Hi Raghvani, thank you very much for your reply. I have SmartBear Test Execution Extension installed and enabled. The DPI is set to 100% too. When I use the record feature in TestComplete, I am able to see it highlighting the specific web element. However, when I try to map the object or use Object Spy, it highlights the whole screen. Also, about the record and highlighting the web element, it happens intermittently as it sometimes highlights the web elements, sometimes it highlights the full page, even with the record feature.
Also, when the whole page is highlighted, the URL is not the actual URL. It is something like chrome-extension://sdfkjndjfkdskjfndkjfndsjkfsdk/BackgroundPage.html. It may not be able to recognize DOM?
I am told to work on VM as the apps are hosted in the VM, so I don't have any other alternatives. I am not sure what's going on. Any help is much appreciated. 

Ensure you have SmartBear Test Extension installed and enabled. Ensure you are using 100% DPI settings. Also refer to TestComplete on Virtual Machines

Ideally, you should be doing your development work on your local machine, then run the automation on the VM.