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Google Has Removed Manifest V2 Extensions From the Chrome Web Store, Including uBlock Origin

Google Has Removed Manifest V2 Extensions From the Chrome Web Store, Including uBlock Origin

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Google has officially purged all Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store, permanently disabling updates for tools like uBlock Origin.
What: Chrome has completed its transition to Manifest V3, removing all remaining Manifest V2 extensions from the Web Store. While existing installations on older Chrome versions may continue to run temporarily, they will no longer receive updates or be installable via the official store.
Why it matters: This marks the end of a major transition in browser plugin architecture, fundamentally restricting how ad-blockers and privacy tools can intercept and modify network requests.
Deep dive
  • All Manifest V2 extensions are removed from the Chrome Web Store.
  • Users on Chrome 138 or older may keep current installations but lose access to updates.
  • The change effectively forces a move toward the restrictive Manifest V3 architecture.
  • Manifest V3 limits the capability of content-blocking extensions to perform real-time, synchronous blocking of network requests.
  • Users needing continued support for legacy extension capabilities may need to migrate to Chromium-based browsers that maintain independent support for V2 or switch to Firefox.
Decoder
  • Manifest V2/V3: The underlying configuration files and API standards for browser extensions that dictate how plugins interact with the browser's core functionality.
  • Chromium: The open-source browser project that serves as the foundation for Chrome, Edge, Brave, and others.
Original article

All remaining Manifest V2 extensions have been removed from the Chrome Web Store. Manifest V2 extensions installed on Chrome 138 or earlier will remain installed. However, they will be unable to receive any updates and cannot be reinstalled from the Chrome Web Store once removed from Chrome. Users will no longer be able to find or install Manifest V2 extensions through the Chrome Web Store even if the Chromium-based browser they use continues to support Manifest V2.

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