Google removed many popular Chrome extensions from its browser with the decision it made in March 2025. The company abandoned Manifest v2, which formed the old extension infrastructure, and switched to Manifest v3, which is said to be more secure and modern.
Users want these Google Chrome extensions to come back
However, this change caused some extensions to not be updated and therefore to be completely removed from the Chrome Web Store. Many important tools that users have been using for many years became inaccessible with this decision.
Among the extensions affected by this change, ad blockers, privacy-focused search engines, tab managers and content analysis tools stand out. One of these, uBlock Origin, was one of the most popular open-source tools that blocks web ads and trackers.
However, since Google restricted the webRequest API with Manifest v3, this extension no longer works in Chrome. Users had to turn to alternative browsers such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Opera to continue using uBlock Origin.
Another missing extension is Ghostery Private Search. This tool allowed users to see search results independently of past data. It was an important tool, especially for those who wanted to avoid personalized results determined by Google’s algorithms. However, Ghostery’s Chrome extension has been removed. Users can now only use this service through Ghostery’s official website.
The Duplicate Tabs Closer extension, used to organize browser tabs, was also among those removed. This extension prevented the same tab from being opened multiple times, reducing unnecessary tab clutter. However, with Google removing other extensions with similar functions, Chrome users are now having a hard time finding such a management tool.
Social Blade, one of the social media analysis tools, was a very important extension for content creators and their followers. Showing the performance and estimated income of content creators on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Twitch, this tool provided an important resource for those who wanted to create a content strategy.
Finally, Papaly, an advanced bookmark manager, is also among the extensions removed from Chrome. This tool, which allows users to categorize and organize links saved in the browser, attracted attention with its cloud-based structure.
