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[Bug]: Browser tool silently discards downloads and throws "Download is starting" error when using CDP connection #48045

Description

@roinou532

Bug type

Behavior bug (incorrect output/state without crash)

Summary

When Playwright connects via CDP (connectOverCDP), file downloads are silently discarded, and navigating to URLs with Content-Disposition: attachment throws an unhandled "Download is starting" error instead of returning a success response.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Configure OpenClaw with browser enabled and CDP port (e.g., browser.cdpPort: 9222)
  2. Connect to a running Chrome instance via CDP
  3. Use the browser tool to navigate to a URL that triggers a file download, e.g.:
    • A PDF export URL
    • A CSV download endpoint with Content-Disposition: attachment
    • Example: https://httpbin.org/response-headers?Content-Disposition=attachment;filename=test.txt

Expected behavior

  • The navigate action returns success with download.triggered: true
  • The file is saved to the browser's configured download directory

Actual behavior

  • page.goto() throws "Download is starting" error
  • The error propagates to the agent as a failure
  • Even if the error is suppressed, the download data is received by CDP but silently discarded (no file written to disk)

OpenClaw version

2026.3.13

Operating system

Windows 11 (inside WSL2)

Install method

No response

Model

kimi-k2.5:cloud

Provider / routing chain

openclaw -> ollama -> kimi k2.5:cloud

Config file / key location

No response

Additional provider/model setup details

No response

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Impact and severity

No response

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    P2Normal backlog priority with limited blast radius.bugSomething isn't workingbug:behaviorIncorrect behavior without a crashclawsweeper:linked-pr-openClawSweeper found an open linked pull request for this issue.clawsweeper:no-new-fix-prClawSweeper does not recommend queueing a new automated fix PR for this issue.clawsweeper:source-reproClawSweeper found a high-confidence source-level issue reproduction.impact:data-lossCan lose, corrupt, or silently drop user/session/config data.issue-rating: 🦞 diamond lobsterVery strong issue quality with high-confidence source-level or clear reproduction.

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