Google Chrome

Google Chrome’s extension upgrades break uBlock Origin

Andrew Romero | Oct 15 2024 - 2:36 pm PT

The ad-blocker, uBlock Origin, is being automatically disabled in Google Chrome for users. This lapse in support is due to Chrome’s move to a new manifest version.

Ad-blockers are more targeted lately as Google’s products like Chrome and YouTube have continued to crack down.

According to a report from The Verge, uBlock Origin is being disabled by Chrome on an automatic basis. An error reads that the device is “no longer supported” when attempting to run the blocker.

With Google moving to a new Manifest V3 platform, uBlock Origin is experiencing issues and is unable to run as effectively as before. As an alternative, the developer of the ad-blocker notes that users can use uBlock Origin Lite, which was created as a substitute for the original.

According to the developer, uBlock Origin Lite will inherently be less effective at dealing with ads and other content on websites that cause of the new Manifest V3 model.

In general, uBOL will be less effective at dealing with websites using anti-content blocker or minimizing website breakage because many filters can’t be converted into DNR [Declarative Net Request] rules,

Google has stated to the source that more than 93% of maintained extensions in the Chrome Web Store use the new Manifest V3 model. That number includes other content filtering extension versions.

Google notes that it would begin sunsetting Manifest V2 extensions this year, as the V3 rollout should be complete in 2025.