title: cannot find chrome extension manifest file
body: <h1>background</h1>
  
  <p>I'm learning how to build a chrome extension app, and I'm following the instructions in <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/app_identity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> tutorial (you can see my code <a href="https://github.com/abbood/chrome-extension-sandbox/tree/3-use-identify-api" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>). </p>
  
  <p>The instructions in the <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/app_identity#copy_key" rel="nofollow noreferrer">copy key to your manifest</a> section states that it's important to keep their application id constant and in order to do that, they must copy the key in the <em>installed</em> manifest.json to the source manifest. </p>
  
  <p>The instructions state that this manifest.json file must exist in the user data directory, in my case (mac):</p>
  
  <pre><code>~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>a folder corresponding to my chrome extension app id should show up there</p>
  
  <h1>problem</h1>
  
  <p>I couldn't find my folder in that directory. By failing to include they key in the manifest file as they did <a href="https://github.com/GoogleChrome/chrome-app-samples/tree/master/samples/identity#readme" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in the chrome identity example</a> then evey time I click on the sign in button, it simply opens a new tab and prompts the user to enter their email/password, but then the extension never gets the token. </p>
  
  <h1>what I have tried</h1>
  
  <p>I realized that there are many app id folders that exist on the said directory, but they are only for the apps I installed from google chrome webstore (ie google docs etc).. but not any of the apps I loaded by checking the <em>developer mode</em> checkbox then clicking on the <kbd>Load unpacked extension..</kbd> button. </p>
  
  <p>consider this (my app is documentivly, and the tutorial app is identity api sample):</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pggsm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pggsm.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>If I go to </p>
  
  <pre><code>~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and search for the folder containing my app's id:</p>
  
  <pre><code>find . | grep cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get</p>
  
  <pre><code>3521:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb
  3522:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/000003.log
  3523:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/CURRENT
  3524:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOCK
  3525:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG
  3526:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG.old
  3527:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/MANIFEST-000001
  7747:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
  7748:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def
  7749:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache
  7750:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_0
  7751:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_1
  7752:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_2
  7753:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_3
  7754:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/index
  7793:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
  7794:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app
  7795:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents
  7796:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Info.plist
  7797:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/MacOS
  7798:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/MacOS/app_mode_loader
  7799:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/PkgInfo
  7800:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources
  7801:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/app.icns
  7802:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/en-US.lproj
  7803:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/en-US.lproj/InfoPlist.strings
  9484:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb
  9485:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/000003.log
  9486:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/CURRENT
  9487:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOCK
  9488:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG
  9489:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/MANIFEST-000001
  10348:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
  10349:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def
  10350:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache
  10351:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_0
  10352:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_1
  10353:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_2
  10354:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_3
  10355:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/index
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>so none of the folders appear in the <code>Default/Extensions</code> directory as instructed by the tutorial.</p>
  
  <p>If I search for the app id of google drive (lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh), I find the folder in the <code>Default/Extensions</code></p>
  
  <pre><code>2572:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh
  2573:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0
  2574:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata
  2575:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json
  2576:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json
  2577:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js
  2578:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images
  2579:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png
  2580:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png
  2581:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png
  2582:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json
  5092:./External Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh.json
  6552:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh
  6553:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0
  6554:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata
  6555:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json
  6556:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json
  6557:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js
  6558:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images
  6559:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png
  6560:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png
  6561:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png
  6562:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json
  9027:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh
  9028:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0
  9029:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata
  9030:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json
  9031:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json
  9032:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js
  9033:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images
  9034:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png
  9035:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png
  9036:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png
  9037:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json
  11067:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh
  11068:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0
  11069:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata
  11070:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json
  11071:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json
  11072:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js
  11073:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images
  11074:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png
  11075:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png
  11076:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png
  11077:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What's interesting is that there is no <code>manifest.json</code> to be found anywhere in any of the directories of my installed app.. consider this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome$ find . grep manifest.json | grep cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>returns nothing! </p>
  
  <p>ideas?</p>