Google’s purge of Manifest v2-based extensions from its Chrome browser is underway, as many users over the past few days may have noticed.
Popular content-blocking add-on (v2-based) uBlock Origin is now automatically disabled for many in the ubiquitous browser as it continues the V3 rollout.
For context, Google has given users plenty of warning that the end is nigh. In June 2024, the Chrome Web Store began alerting users of uBlock Origin that support was on the way out. The extension depends on the Manifest v2 architecture to work, and Google has gradually phased out support in favor of Manifest v3.
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According to the company, Google’s decision to shift to V3 is all in the name of improving its browser’s security, privacy, and performance. However, the transition to the new specification also means that some extensions will struggle due to limitations in the new API.
In September 2024, the team behind uBlock Origin noted that one of the most significant changes was around the webRequest API, used to intercept and modify network requests. Extensions such as uBlock Origin extensively use the API to block unwanted content before it loads. However, the new rules have made things trickier, and alternatives that are unlikely to have the same functionality are required.
In October 2024, Google began disabling installed extensions using Manifest v2 on the stable channel of Chrome. At the time, Google said, “This change will be slowly rolled out over the following weeks.”
A few months later, and here we are, watching Manifest v2 finally gasp its last (although enterprises can keep using the platform until June 2025 thanks to the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy.)
Ad-blockers and privacy tools are the worst hit by the changes, and affected users – because let’s face it, most Chrome users won’t be using an ad-blocker – can switch to an alternative browser for something like the original experience, or they can switch to a different extension which is unlikely to have the same capabilities.
In its post, uBlock recommends a move to Firefox and use of the extension uBlock Origin, a switch to a browser that will support Manifest v2, or downloading a different extension – uBlock Origin Lite, for example.
The move has been a while coming, but it might still come as a surprise – as it did even to this writer. It also highlights that the clock is ticking for enterprise administrators using the policy to eke out a little more life for their extensions. ®
