Overview
- Google confirmed that on August 31, 2026 it will remove all Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store, ending the backend that delivered updates for those extensions.
- Extensions already installed on Chrome 138 or earlier will remain on users' devices but will not receive updates and cannot be reinstalled from the store after that date.
- Users who set up a new device or reinstall Chrome will no longer be able to install Manifest V2 extensions from the Web Store, effectively cutting off fresh access to older add‑ons.
- Manifest V3 is presented by Google as more secure and faster, but it changes extension APIs in ways that limit some functions, notably how many ad blockers and filtering tools operate.
- The removal completes a multi-year phaseout that began with blocking new V2 submissions and disabling support in July 2025, so developers must port extensions to V3 or risk losing updates and new users.