Google Removes Remaining Manifest V2 Extensions from Chrome Web Store

Google has completed the removal of all remaining Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store, a process that has taken several years. This includes uBlock Origin, a widely used content blocker. According to Google, Manifest V2 extensions that were installed on Chrome version 138 or earlier will remain installed but will not receive updates and cannot be reinstalled from the Chrome Web Store once removed. The Chrome Web Store team has notified affected extension developers about this removal. The Chrome Web Store serves as the primary extension marketplace for Chromium-based browsers, and the removal affects users of non-Chrome browsers, such as Brave, who also rely on it for extensions. In response, the Brave browser team has chosen to host four popular MV2 extensions—AdGuard, uBlock Origin, uMatrix, and NoScript—on its own backend, allowing users to enable them in their installations. Google has stated that the transition to Manifest V3 is intended to enhance security, privacy, performance, and control over extensions' capabilities, addressing concerns regarding the access these extensions have to user browsing activities.