Google Purges Manifest V2 Extensions from Chrome Web Store, uBlock Origin Among Casualties
Google has started stripping Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions from the Chrome Web Store, following through on a migration plan it first announced years ago. Among the removed listings is the original uBlock Origin, a favorite among users for its efficient, highly customizable ad and tracker blocking.
MV2 is being replaced by Manifest V3 (MV3), a new extension architecture Google says improves security and performance but which critics argue meaningfully weakens content-blocking capabilities, particularly around network request filtering. The uBlock Origin developer has released a separate MV3-compatible version, uBO Lite, but it offers a reduced feature set compared to the original.
Users who already have MV2 extensions installed may still be able to run them for a while longer, but new installs from the Web Store are being blocked, and existing installations are expected to stop working as Chrome enforces the cutover across more channels.