Browser extensions have become essential when browsing the web. Thanks to them we can make the browser have functions and features that are not available by default. With them we can have advanced security and privacy functions, more customization in the browser, an email notifier, price comparison, and much more. However, if you are a user of Google Chromevery soon many of the extensions you use daily will stop working, why? Let’s see.
For an extension to be installed in the browser, for security reasons, it must have a manifest file detailing its operation and permissions. Over time, the rules of the manifest have been adjusted to preserve the security and privacy of users and prevent some from taking advantage by distributing malicious extensions in the store.
In 2019, Google launched the Manifest V3the latest version of this set of rules and permissions that defines how Chrome extensions should behave in order to be installed in the browser. Since Google Chrome 80, this version of the manifest has been included in all updates, although it was never mandatory. But this is going to change very soon, as Google is going to make Manifest V3 mandatory, and all extensions that do not comply with it will be blocked in the browser.
These extensions may no longer be supported soon
All Google Chrome users have started to see a message in the browser, within the extensions section, which warns that there are many extensions that will stop working very soon, and also provides a list of all the extensions that we have installed and that will stop working.
All the extensions listed here use features and techniques that are not supported by the new Manifest V3. Therefore, as soon as it comes into effect, they will stop working. In order to continue using them, there are only two options: either wait for the developer to update them and make them comply with the rules of the new manifest, or directly look for other alternatives that do work.
Firefox: The Only Way Out
Google Chrome is going to Apply the new Manifest V3 very soon (although, for now, the exact date or version that will make it mandatory is unknown). And, when Google’s browser does, all the other browsers based on it will be Chromium (Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, etc.) will follow suit. The truth is that it doesn’t look good for extensions that have not yet been updated to the new manifest, since either by their nature they cannot do so (since they would lose their meaning), or simply because their developer has abandoned them.
The only browser in which classic extensions will continue to work is Firefox. Mozilla’s browser is the only one (among the major ones) that has not adopted the Chromium engine. Therefore, it does not have to adapt to Google’s standards in any way. Extensions that are available for this browser will continue to work without problems on it.