selenium.common.exceptions.WebDriverException: Message: chrome not reachable error while using find_element_by_id Selenium with ChromeDriver

The error says it all :

    raise exception_class(message, screen, stacktrace)
selenium.common.exceptions.WebDriverException: Message: chrome not reachable

This error is observed in case of version compatibility between the binaries which an user uses but definitely this is not your case as you are :

  • Using chromedriver=2.36
  • Using chrome=65.0
  • Selenium version unknown

    Release Notes of chromedriver=2.36 clearly mentions :

    Supports Chrome v65-66

But, since the release of the latest Chromedriver 2.36 Selenium users had been facing issues with it. Here is one of the threads :

  • We released the latest Chromedriver 2.36

The root cause is related to the commit regarding :

  • Remove --disable-infobars

    So, a couple of possible solution will be to :

  • To use ChromeOptions Class to maximize the browser.

  • Remove the option disable-infobars
  • An example :

    from selenium import webdriver
    from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
    
    options = Options()
    options.add_argument("start-maximized")
    driver = webdriver.Chrome(chrome_options=options, executable_path=r'C:\path\to\chromedriver.exe')
    driver.get('https://www.google.co.in')
    print("Page Title is : %s" %driver.title)
    

If your issue still persists consider the following :

  • Upgrade Selenium Python Client to current levels Version 3.10.0.
  • Upgrade ChromeDriver to stable ChromeDriver v2.35 level.
  • Keep Chrome version at Chrome v64.x levels. (as per ChromeDriver v2.35 release notes)
  • Clean your Project Workspace through your IDE and Rebuild your project with required dependencies only.
  • Use CCleaner tool to wipe off all the OS chores before and after the execution of your test Suite.
  • If your base Chrome version is too old, then uninstall it through Revo Uninstaller and install a recent GA and released version of Chrome.
  • Execute your Test.

Your exception is not about finding an element. Selenium is not able to contact Chrome. You can do couple of things.

  1. Downgrade/upgrade your chromedriver based on your selenium version.

  2. Pass --no-sandbox to chrome options.

    chrome_options.add_argument('--no-sandbox')
    chrome = webdriver.Chrome('/usr/local/bin/chromedriver', chrome_options=chrome_options)