Google warns uBlock Origin will soon be disabled on Chrome

As a uBlock Origin representative explained on August 2, this is the result of Google stopping support for the Manifest v2 (MV2) extension platform to switch to Manifest v3 (MV3).

"uBO is a Manifest v2 extension, this is why the warning appears in your Google Chrome browser. Currently uBO does not have a Manifest v3 version, so the browser will suggest extensions instead replacement for uBO ", explained Raymond Hill, head of the uBlock Origin Hill development team. " uBO Lite (uBOL) is a stripped down version of uBO with a maximum effort in converting the filter lists used by uBO into a Manifest v3 compliant method, focusing on reliability and efficiency as uBO has applicable since first launch in June 2014 ".

Google Chrome users are also warned to remove or replace the uBlock Origin ad blocker with a similar extension.

The 'Find alternative' link will also take users to the Chrome Web Store page and recommend switching to uBO Lite, Adblock Plus, AdBlocker Stands or Ghostery.

uBlock Origin users are not the only individuals seeing this warning banner. The same warning is now displayed on the chrome://extensions page for all MV2 extensions after updating to Chrome version 127. Meanwhile, used in Chrome Beta test channels, Dev and Canary have been seeing these warnings since June 3, 2024.

In the coming months, Google will disable extensions that remain on the MV2 platform and ask users to choose an alternative to MV3.

While users can still temporarily re-enable the MV2 extension, this option will eventually be removed.

Google said the above change will be rolled out to all Chrome Stable users in the coming months, with the goal of completing the transition to the MV3 standard in early 2025.

Note that businesses using the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy, which allows them to control the availability of Manifest v2 extensions on Linux, Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS, will be exempt from any browser changes until June 2019. 2025, when the enterprise roll-out of Chrome MV2 officially begins.

Google announced the rollout of the Manifest V3 extension platform with the December 2020 release of Chrome 88.

This new framework also poses major technical challenges for extension developers, especially for those who require more control over web browser functions such as ad blockers, forcing them to create new extensions with limited capabilities.

Lesley Montoya

Update 05 August 2024