Google continues its rollout of regularly disabling uBlock Origin and different Manifest V2-based extensions within the Chrome internet browser as a part of its efforts to push customers to Manifest V3-based extensions.
For these unaware, Manifest V3 is Chrome’s newest extension specification and is designed to restrict extension entry to consumer community requests, block builders from using distant content material, and enhance general efficiency.
Whereas Manifest V3 is meant to learn finish customers, it comes at the price of performance, as it imposes stricter limitations on browser extensions, notably advert blockers and privacy-focused instruments.
Attributable to this, some immensely widespread Google Chrome extensions, like uBlock Origin, at the moment are regularly being robotically turned off in customers’ browsers worldwide.
Simply at present, a few of BleepingComputer’s gadgets discovered that uBlock Origin was robotically disabled, stating it was not supported. Our solely choices have been to take away the extension or handle it.
Whereas the primary choice removes the extension from Chrome, the second merely redirects you to the extensions web page.
Supply: BleepingComputer
In a Reddit thread from yesterday, different Google Chrome customers additionally identified that uBlock Origin and different unsupported extensions at the moment are robotically being turned off.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t look like the case for everybody, as some gadgets utilized by BleepingComputer proceed to make use of uBlock with none points.
Google is regularly killing off Manifest V2 extensions
Google has beforehand informed BleepingComputer that the disabling of Manifest V2 extensions is a gradual rollout course of, which is why the extensions should still work for some customers.
For many who want extra time, Google will let the enterprise and sure customers proceed utilizing Manifest V2 extensions till June 2025 via a particular group coverage. For everybody else, the rollout of Manifest V3 is already in progress, and Chrome will maintain encouraging customers to maneuver away from older extensions.
In case you’re affected by Google’s Manifest V2 deprecation, you may swap to Manifest V3-supported extensions, such because the uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL), which the uBlock Origin developer has created.
Nevertheless, should you want uBlock Origin’s superior filtering, it’s possible you’ll discover the Lite model too restricted.
BleepingComputer emailed Google with questions on this gradual rollout, why it was carried out this manner, and when the rollout will probably be accomplished. We are going to replace the story if we obtain a response.
