Google to Remove Older Chrome Extensions by August 31
Google will remove all older Manifest V2 Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store by August 31, 2026, affecting users who update to Chrome v139 or newer. This move is part of a transition to faster, more efficient Manifest V3 extensions. Users on older Chrome versions (v138 or earlier) will be spared until they update, but their extensions will be unable to receive updates and cannot be reinstalled.
Key points
- Google will remove all Manifest V2 Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store by August 31, 2026.
- Users who update to Chrome v139 or newer will no longer be able to use older extensions.
- Users on older Chrome versions (v138 or earlier) will be spared until they update, but their extensions will be unable to receive updates and cannot be reinstalled.
- The transition is part of a move to faster, more efficient Manifest V3 extensions.
- Google has already limited the functionality of older extensions through automatic disabling and restricted enablement.
Google's decision to remove older Chrome extensions has sparked concerns among users who rely on these extensions for their daily browsing needs. The move is part of a larger effort to transition to faster, more efficient Manifest V3 extensions, which are only supported in Chrome v139 and newer.
The deadline for removal is set for August 31, 2026, after which all Manifest V2 extensions will cease to exist in the Chrome Web Store. Users who update to Chrome v139 or newer will no longer be able to use older extensions, while those on older Chrome versions (v138 or earlier) will be spared until they update.
However, even users on older Chrome versions will face limitations. Their extensions will be unable to receive updates and cannot be reinstalled from the Chrome Web Store once removed from Chrome. Furthermore, Chrome is likely to block users from installing older extensions again, even if they have the package downloaded to their desktop.
This move has been in the works for some time, with previous steps from the Chromium team already crippling older extensions. Automatic disabling and restricted enablement have made it more difficult for users to access and use these extensions.
As the deadline approaches, users are advised to consider updating their extensions to compatible Manifest V3 versions or exploring alternative extensions that support the newer standard. The impact of this decision remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the Chrome Web Store will be a very different place come August 31.
Sources
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