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Best Chrome extensions in 2023
Here are some of the best Chrome Extensions to help you improve your productivity or just enable more nifty features on websites!
It's hard to deny that Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers, regardless of the platform. It comes pre-installed on all Android smartphones and Chromebooks, and has become the browser of choice for many people on Windows computers because it syncs your data across all Chrome devices. Even if you use alternatives like Brave or Microsoft Edge, those browsers still use the Chromium engine. So many elements, like the sync functionality and Chrome extensions, still work.
Google will start disabling Manifest V2 Chrome extensions in June 2024
Google is seeing more developers accept Manifest V3, so it is moving forward with disabling legacy Manifest V2 extensions in Chrome.
Google has a bit of an update on a change coming to the Chrome web browser that you probably heard a lot about in the past. After a pause in December of last year, the company now says it is moving forward with plans to disable Manifest V2 extensions in Chrome, especially since more developers are now onboard with Manifest V3. If you're not too familiar, that's the new development platform for Chrome extensions. It means some older extensions you use might end up being removed from your browser come 2024 once the move is complete.
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Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sales event is now taking place, with deals on pretty much everything you can imagine. While big tickets items might be the focus, it's a good idea to also check out some accessories as well. Right now, by being a Prime member, you can score this 12-plug wall extender at a fantastic price. While the normal sale discounts it by 40%, you can take additional off by using coupon code "KQIBJAJO" that will bring it down to just $11.
Trigger Chrome's PiP mode with a keyboard shortcut using the new Picture-in-Picture Shortcut extension
Picture-in-Picture Shortcut is a new extension for Google Chrome that lets you trigger the PiP mode with a keyboard shortcut.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode in Google Chrome is a handy tool that lets you easily pop out the video player on any website into a small floating window. The feature rolled out with Chrome v70 back in 2018, and in the current Google Chrome release, you can use it by opening the media controls shortcut and clicking the PiP mode icon. However, this process isn't intuitive for those who use the feature often, and Chrome currently doesn't support a universal keyboard shortcut for PiP mode. That's where the new Picture-in-Picture Shortcut Chrome extension comes in.
Google shares its top Chrome extensions and Chrome OS apps for 2021
Google has shared a list of its favorite Chrome extensions and Chrome OS apps of 2021. Follow the links in this post to try them out.
After sharing Google Play's Best of 2021 apps and games late last month, Google has now shared its top picks for the best Chrome extensions and Chrome OS apps for this year. If you're an avid Chrome or Chrome OS user, you should definitely check out the following recommendations from Google.
Google just booted The Great Suspender off the Chrome Web Store for being malware
Google is forcibly removing The Great Suspender extension from people's PCs, saying the popular Chrome plugin is malware.
People love to joke about Google Chrome eating a lot of RAM, but there's definitely some truth to it, especially if you're a tab hoarder. Currently, I have about 40 tabs open and 20 extensions installed, and Windows Task Manager reports that Chrome is using almost 3GB of RAM. I have plenty of RAM in my PC so that's not a problem for me, but for those of you running Chrome with 8GB or less of RAM installed, you may run out of memory for other programs. Fortunately, there are a few solutions to this problem. You could close some tabs, but that means you won't be able to easily pick up where you left off. Alternatively, you can use an extension like The Great Suspender to suspend tabs, freeing up some memory. If you're one of many who loved The Great Suspender extension, then we have bad news: it's probably malware.
iCloud Passwords by Apple is a Chrome extension that lets you use passwords from your iCloud Keychain
Apple's new official Chrome extension, iCloud Passwords, lets you use your iCloud Keychain passwords on non-Apple devices.
Apple is making it easy for users to access their iCloud Keychain passwords on non-Apple devices with a new Chrome extension. The extension, called iCloud Passwords, is now available on the Chrome Web Store, and it will let you easily access all your saved passwords on Windows devices.
Google will make it easier to choose what websites a Chrome extension can access
Google will soon make it easier for users to choose exactly which websites a Chrome extension can access before it's installed.
In an attempt to bolster extension security, Google recently made some changes to the data collection policies for Chrome extensions. Thanks to the new policies, the Chrome Web Store will soon limit what extension developers can do with the data they collect. Google will also require developers to certify their data use practices and display that information on the Chrome Web Store. Building upon these new policies, Google has now announced that it will make it easier for users to choose what websites an extension can access.
Google makes changes to data collection policies for Chrome extensions
Google is making changes to data collection policies that will require Chrome extension developers to certify their data use practices.
Last year, as part of Google’s Project Strobe, the company introduced new policies that required Chrome extensions to request only the permissions needed to implement their features. Google is now beefing up extension security even more, with new rules that require Chrome extension developers to disclose data collection policies.
Kiwi Browser adds experimental support for Opera desktop extensions
The latest update for the Chromium-based Kiwi Browser brings experimental support for Opera desktop extensions, and more.
While there are a variety of Chromium-based browsers on the Google Play Store, XDA Senior Member arnaud42's Kiwi Browser is in a league of its own. It was one of the first Chromium-based browsers for Android that offered support for Chrome extensions, and it packs in a ton of additional features that you won't find on other Chrome alternatives. But the best part about the browser is that it's completely open-source, which allows other Chromium-based browsers to bring some of its features to their users.
[Update: Native Integration] Google releases new Chrome extension for linking directly to specific text on a page
Link to Text Fragment is a Chrome extension and upcoming native feature for linking to a specific part of a page instead of the whole thing.
It's not often that Google releases its own new Chrome extensions, but today it did just that (via The Verge). The company's latest extension is called "Link to Text Fragment" and it allows you to link to a specific section of text on a webpage. Rather than linking to an entire article, you can share a link directly to a part on a page you want someone to read.
[Update: Permanent] Google is temporarily suspending paid Chrome extensions
Google shut down the Chrome Web Store payments used by paid Chrome extensions, along with extensions with in-app purchases and subscriptions.
Following a series of fraudulent transactions, Google is temporarily suspending paid Chrome extensions from the Google Chrome extension store (via 9to5Google). Developers that have already published paid extensions, subscriptions, or in-app purchases and had their listing removed for "Spam and placement in the store" can apply to be reinstated.
Google removes 70 malicious Chrome extensions that tracked user data and browsing history
Recently, Google removed 70 such Chrome extensions, but not before they were downloaded 32 million times. This is the largest malicious campaign to date.
One of the best things about the Google Chrome browser is the wide variety of extensions at your disposal. These extensions can go a long way in making your web browsing experience better. However, as we've seen in the past, extensions can be malicious, especially if they're given broad access to monitor your activity on all websites, and Google isn't always quick to catch them. Recently, Google removed 70 such extensions, but not before they were downloaded 32 million times from the Chrome Web Store as of May 2020.
[Update 2: Join extension approved] The PushBullet and Join Chrome extensions are in danger of being removed due to vague privacy violations
The Pushbullet and Join Chrome extensions are in danger of being removed from the Chrome Web Store due to vague privacy violations.
In a bid to ensure that the Chrome Web Store doesn't host any malicious Chrome extensions, Google routinely updates the platform's privacy policies. Back in October 2018, the company announced one such update which was aimed at making extensions more secure. As part of the update, Google introduced new user controls for host permissions, made changes to the extensions review process, added new code readability requirements, and made 2-Step Verification necessary for Chrome Web Store developer accounts. While such changes are great for keeping malicious extensions off the platform, they now seem to be affecting legit Chrome extensions like Pushbullet and Join.
Google's new privacy policies are aimed at keeping spam off the Chrome Web Store
Google has introduced new privacy policies to keep spam off the Chrome Web Store and offer users a better experience while discovering new extensions.
In order to ensure that the Chrome Web Store is free from abuse, Google has an abuse system and a review team set in place that constantly monitors new extensions submitted to the platform. However, despite the company's efforts, a few developers still manage to publish malicious extensions to exploit Google Chrome users. To address this issue, Google has made some policy changes in the past to make extensions more secure. But even then, a few developers have managed to publish malicious and misleading extensions on the platform. For instance, earlier this year Google had to temporarily suspend paid Chrome extensions on the Chrome Web Store due to a significant increase in the number of fraudulent transactions. In a bid to further improve its review process and keep spam off the platform, Google has now announced new privacy policies for the Chrome Web Store.
Firefox Preview adds support for addons/extensions in the latest Nightly
The latest update for the Firefox Preview Nightly build brings support for extensions with uBlock Origin as the first supported extension.
Mozilla released an early version of its new browser for Android back in June last year. The new browser, called Firefox Preview, is built on top of Firefox's mobile browser engine GeckoView and it's meant to replace the older Firefox browser on the platform. Back in October last year, Mozilla announced that it was working on bringing extension support to GeckoView through the WebExtensions API. However, the Firefox Preview v3.0 update that followed next month didn't include the feature. Now, according to recent posts on Reddit, the feature is finally rolling out with the latest Firefox Preview Nightly.
Google's Manifest V3 will change how ad blocking Chrome extensions work: Is it to cripple them, or is it for security?
The upcoming Manifest V3 for Google Chrome Extensions will change how ad blockers work on Chrome. Is this the right way forward for ad blockers and Google?
Google Chrome is the most popular cross-platform web browser available on the market right now, claiming 62.7% of the global browser usage share up until May 2019, with Apple's Safari coming in second at 15.89% and Mozilla's Firefox claiming 5.07%. Because of its lion's share, the smallest of changes that Google Chrome undertakes for its platform end up affecting millions of users around the world. So when Google announced the next extensions manifest version in the form of Manifest V3 for Google Chrome Extensions, we knew we were in for some big changes, especially when it came to light that Google was building in a content blocker API within Chrome itself.
Microsoft releases "Web Activities" Chrome extension to sync browsing history with native Timeline
Microsoft has released the Web Activities extension on the Chrome Web Store, allowing users to sync Chrome browsing history with Windows Timeline. Read on!
In its April 2018 update for Windows 10, Microsoft changed the behavior of the Task View button on the taskbar. It now allows you to see what apps are currently running on your system (which Task View also did) and the apps and activities used on the device for the last 30 days. Additionally, these apps and activities sync across devices, allowing you to have a more cohesive experience working across multiple devices. This "Timeline" also syncs browser history for Microsoft Edge across iOS and Android, letting you access that on your PC too. Now, Microsoft has released its own official Chrome extension for Windows Timeline.
Google announces Chrome Web Store changes to protect you from malicious extensions
Google is announcing several changes to make extensions more secure in the Chrome Web Store. These changes will be rolling out soon.
Google is making some changes to better protect Chrome users from malicious extensions. Recently, Google has been working to make Chrome extensions safer. They no longer allow users to install extensions from outside the Chrome Web Store and they removed extensions that were using cryptocurrency mining scripts. Today, they are announcing even more changes.
Google will no longer allow installing Chrome extensions from websites
Google is pulling the plug on deceptive inline installations of extensions from websites. Users will have to install from the Google Chrome Web Store.
Google Chrome has the privilege of shipping on millions of Android devices around the world, giving it a massive head start in claiming market share. On desktops, Chrome enjoys undisputed popularity, being the browser of choice on every 2 out 3 desktop machines. Part of what makes Chrome so popular is the availability of extensions through the Chrome Web Store -- allowing users to customize their Chrome experience to suit their own needs.