chrome is the world’s most used web browser. At Urban Tecno, we have dedicated entire pages to talking about it. For example, we explain all the news of its version 101. In the same way, we talk about its privacy options and the steps you must follow to update this software to the latest version. However, one of the strengths of the Google browser is the extensions small plugins that increase its capabilities and add very useful functionalities.
On this occasion, we focus precisely on chrome extensions. We show you how to install and manage them step by step. Likewise, at the end of the article, we include a brief selection with the best plugins you can install right now in your browser. If you want to know everything about extensions, stay with us, because we will tell you.
How to install an extension step by step in Chrome
The installation of extensions in Chrome can be done in two different ways. The most common method is to go to the Chrome Web Store, an official add-on repository. How to do it?
- Access the Chrome Web Store.
- Using the search engine, locate the extension you want to install.
- Press on the button Add to Chrome.
- Wait for the extension to download and install.
Upon completion, you may need to follow some additional steps to finish setting up an extension. For example, if you lower the LanguageTool checker after installation you will need to choose your preferred languages and accept the terms of service.
On the contrary, thanks to developer mode you will be able to install extensions without going through the Chrome Web Store. This is how you do it:
Watch out for developer mode! Avoid installing any extension downloaded from the Internet
- Click on the puzzle button located in the navigation bar, on your far right.
- press on Manage extensions.
- At the top, click on developer mode.
- use the button Load uncompressed to install an extension in Chrome from internal storage.
In reference to this process, you should take into account the following:
- It is mandatory to unzip the CRX package. Chrome extensions are compressed inside a CRX file. It is crucial that you extract it and then choose the extension directory in the browser by following the steps above.
- Some extensions may put your security at risk. Developer mode is intended for those plugin creators to test. If you download an extension from the net, make sure that it is completely safe and reliable.
How to manage extensions installed in Chrome
There are two ways to get to the page. chrome-extension management. They are the following:
- Clicking on the puzzle button and pressing on Manage extensions.
- Opening the main menu, placing the cursor on More tools and clicking on extensions.
In both cases, you will arrive at the following page:
You have the following options:
- Details. It is used to display data about the extension, such as its developer or the current version.
- Put off. Completely remove the plugin from Chrome.
- Deactivate. It is done with the slider located in the box of each extension. Disabling “turns off” the extension, but does not uninstall it.
The best extensions for Google Chrome
We close this post by taking a look at some of the best extensions to install on chrome. Next to each link you will find a brief description that will allow you to understand what the purpose of the plugin in question is. We have included in this selection of extensions designed to improve your productivity, to modify the behavior of the browser or to customize the appearance of Chrome.
These are our favorite Google browser plugins:
- HTTPS Everywhere. Its objective is to encrypt any website thanks to the HTTPS protocol. When you request access to a portal via HTTP, this extension is responsible for replacing it with its encrypted version, that is, HTTPS. In this way, you will obtain a safer navigation at all times. Likewise, you will be aware of those websites that do not offer this protection to their users.
- Save image as Type. Have you ever tried to save an image to your PC and it was in an unwanted format? This is no longer a problem thanks to this simple plugin. Once you have installed it in Chrome, the option will be added to the context menu of each image Save Image As allowing you to select the graphic format before saving the image to your computer.
- CrxMouse Chrome Gestures. Gesture navigation in Chrome is a reality, as long as you have a trackpad. If, on the other hand, you only use the mouse, by installing this extension you will be able to create custom gestures and associate them with a specific action. In this way, opening a new tab, closing a window or scrolling down to the footer of a website will be faster thanks to this plugin.
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. Privacy-conscious users have this extension at their fingertips to enhance tracker blocking. Remember that when you install it, DuckDuckGo will be set to the default browser.
- Google Arts & Culture. Do you want to see famous paintings when you open a new tab? The Google artwork online collection offers its own extension to make this possible. By implementing it in your browser, you will lose the default new tab page.
- Super Dark Mode. Chrome has a dark mode that adapts to the operating system. However, most websites do not respect this parameter and show a view with a white background. Thanks to this plugin, that will no longer be a problem and you will be able to see all the portals with a dark color scheme.
- Spelling and Grammar Checker — LanguageTool. It does not matter if you are going to write an email in Gmail, a document in Google Docs or a contact form on a website. LanguageTool is a powerful concealer which is integrated into the vast majority of the text fields you use when surfing the net. It supports more than 25 languages, among which are Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque.
- uBlock Origin. We end with a content and ad blocker which tries to be efficient and minimize performance impact. One of its strengths is that it is open source.
Looking to build your own Chrome Extension? Find Chrome Extension Ideas for your next project.