Google continues its rollout of gradually disabling uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2-based extensions in the Chrome web browser as part of its efforts to push users to Manifest V3-based extensions.
For those unaware, Manifest V3 is Chrome’s latest extension specification and is designed to limit extension access to user network requests, block developers from utilizing remote content, and improve overall performance.
While Manifest V3 is supposed to benefit end users, it comes at the cost of functionality, as it imposes stricter limitations on browser extensions, particularly ad blockers and privacy-focused tools.
Due to this, some immensely popular Google Chrome extensions, like uBlock Origin, are now gradually being automatically turned off in users’ browsers worldwide.
Just today, some of BleepingComputer’s devices found that uBlock Origin was automatically disabled, stating it was no longer supported. Our only options were to remove the extension or manage it.
While the first option removes the extension from Chrome, the second simply redirects you to the extensions page.
Source: BleepingComputer
In a Reddit thread from yesterday, other Google Chrome users also pointed out that uBlock Origin and other unsupported extensions are now automatically being turned off.
However, this does not appear to be the case for everyone, as some devices used by BleepingComputer continue to use uBlock without any issues.
Google is gradually killing off Manifest V2 extensions
Google has previously told BleepingComputer that the disabling of Manifest V2 extensions is a gradual rollout process, which is why the extensions may still work for some users.
For those who need more time, Google will let the enterprise and certain users continue using Manifest V2 extensions until June 2025 through a special group policy. For everyone else, the rollout of Manifest V3 is already in progress, and Chrome will keep encouraging users to move away from older extensions.
If you’re affected by Google’s Manifest V2 deprecation, you can switch to Manifest V3-supported extensions, such as the uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL), which the uBlock Origin developer has created.
However, if you prefer uBlock Origin’s advanced filtering, you may find the Lite version too limited.
BleepingComputer emailed Google with questions about this gradual rollout, why it was done this way, and when the rollout will be completed. We will update the story if we receive a response.
