# Troubleshooting extension install methods -- openlens-node-pod-menu

**URL:** https://forums.k8slens.dev/t/troubleshooting-extension-install-methods-openlens-node-pod-menu/843
**Category:** Lens Extensions Development
**Created:** [August 4, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.k8slens.dev/t/troubleshooting-extension-install-methods-openlens-node-pod-menu/843 "2023-08-04T14:46:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![raltman](https://forums.k8slens.dev/user_avatar/forums.k8slens.dev/raltman/32/549_2.png) [@raltman](https://forums.k8slens.dev/u/raltman)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.k8slens.dev/t/troubleshooting-extension-install-methods-openlens-node-pod-menu/843/1 "2023-08-04T14:46:16Z")

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I have been experimenting with extension install methods, and I am finding that the only one option is working. I’m not sure how to describe this, so I will just give details.

First, my test case is OpenLens 6.4.15.  
The extension I am using is @alebcay/openlens-node-pod-menu

Here is what I am finding:

- Option 1. Use UI, past “@alebcay/openlens-node-pod-menu” into URL/path dialog. This works reliably.
- Option 2. Build tgz archive and use UI to navigate to that file. This is failing; it appears to succeed, but the pod menu extensions do not show up, even after quitting and restarting OpenLens.
- Option 3. Copy the package (alebcay–openlens-node-pod-menu) to the .k8slens/extensions folder.

I tested Option 2 and 3 earlier this year, and they both worked. Now, option 1 is the only one that works. I really need to get option 3 working (Mac OS and Windows) so I can build an automated install package.

Has something changed in OpenLens? Are there any ways I can dig into what is going wrong? Thanks.

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### Author: ![emeste](https://forums.k8slens.dev/user_avatar/forums.k8slens.dev/emeste/32/302_2.png) [@emeste](https://forums.k8slens.dev/u/emeste)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.k8slens.dev/t/troubleshooting-extension-install-methods-openlens-node-pod-menu/843/2 "2023-08-14T07:37:10Z")

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Hi!  
Thanks for your message, this is already being investigated! 🙂

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### Author: ![s\_lessard](https://forums.k8slens.dev/user_avatar/forums.k8slens.dev/s_lessard/32/1853_2.png) [@s\_lessard](https://forums.k8slens.dev/u/s_lessard)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://forums.k8slens.dev/t/troubleshooting-extension-install-methods-openlens-node-pod-menu/843/3 "2025-08-13T10:16:54Z")

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I have this exact same problem with exact same workaround

OpenLens: 6.5.2-366  
Extension API: 6.5.2  
Electron: 22.3.3  
Chrome: 108.0.5359.215  
Node: 16.17.1  
© 2023 OpenLens Authors

Binary application builds @ MuhammedKalkan/OpenLens  
by Muhammed Kalkan, Jan-Otto Kröpke, Ebby Peter, Xaver Lohmüller