Google has initiated the discontinuation of Chrome extensions that utilize the Manifest V2 architecture. Users are now beginning to receive notifications in their Chrome browsers, informing them that these Manifest V2 extensions will no longer function.

The most notable casualty of the switch to Manifest V3 is likely the adblocker uBlock Origin. Other extensions, such as Neat URL—which automatically removes tracking parameters from URLs—are also affected by the lack of Manifest V2 support.

Changes with Manifest V3

With the introduction of Manifest V3, Google is replacing the standard APIs used for adblockers. The switch from webRequest to declarativeNetRequest means that extensions will no longer block network requests themselves. Instead, these extensions will provide the browser with conditions and actions to guide the handling of network requests. Through these rules, the browser will independently evaluate and modify network requests, mimicking the extensions' instructions—such as blocking specific content. This change prevents uBlock Origin from implementing features like Dynamic Filtering and Dynamic URL Filtering.

Impact on Installation

Google appears to be phasing out Manifest V2 support in stages. On our test systems, the Chrome Web Store continues to display the previous message: "This extension may soon be unsupported as it does not adhere to Chrome extensions' 'best practices.'"

However, some users are now seeing a new notification: "This extension is no longer available because it doesn't follow best practices for Chrome extensions."

Alternative Solutions

In place of uBlock Origin, a reduced version known as uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL) is available. Raymond Hill, the developer behind these adblockers, recommends using Firefox for the full range of uBlock Origin's features.

This development was reported by heise.de.