Yes
Why Bother With uBlock Origin Being Blocked In Chrome? Now Is The Best Time To Switch To Firefox
- Thread starter bnew
- Start date
Yes
Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled
Google Chrome is now encouraging uBlock Origin users who have updated to the latest version to switch to other ad blockers before Manifest v2 extensions are disabled
Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled
By Sergiu Gatlan
August 2, 2024
04:05 PM
19
Google Chrome is now encouraging uBlock Origin users who have updated to the latest version to switch to other ad blockers before Manifest v2 extensions are disabled.
As uBlock Origin lead developer and maintainer Raymond Hill explained on Friday, this is the result of Google deprecating support for the Manifest v2 (MV2) extensions platform in favor of Manifest v3 (MV3).
"uBO is a Manifest v2 extension, hence the warning in your Google Chrome browser. There is no Manifest v3 version of uBO, hence the browser will suggest alternative extensions as a replacement for uBO," Hill explained.
"uBO Lite (uBOL) is a pared-down version of uBO with a best effort at converting filter lists used by uBO into a Manifest v3-compliant approach, with a focus on reliability and efficiency as has been the case with uBO since first published in June 2014."
Google Chrome users are also warned to remove or replace the uBlock Origin ad blocker with similar extensions.
A "Find alternative" link also sends them to this Chrome Web Store page, which advises them to switch to uBO Lite, Adblock Plus, Stands AdBlocker, or Ghostery.
Warning showing up next to all MV3 extensions
However, uBlock Origin users aren't the only ones seeing this warning banner, as it's now displayed on the chrome://extensions page for all MV2 extensions after updating to Chrome version 127. Users in the Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary channels have been seeing these warnings since June 3, 2024.
Over the coming months, Google will disable extensions that have remained on the MV2 platform and ask users to choose an MV3 alternative.
While users will still be able to re-enable their MV2 extensions temporarily, this option will eventually be removed.
"This will be followed gradually in the coming months by the disabling of those extensions. Users will be directed to the Chrome Web Store, where they will be recommended Manifest V3 alternatives for their disabled extension," Google explains in the MV2 deprecation timeline.
"For a short time after the extensions are disabled, users will still be able to turn their Manifest V2 extensions back on, but over time, this toggle will go away as well."
The company adds that these changes will be rolled out to all users in the Chrome Stable channel over the coming months, with the goal of completing the transition to the MV3 standard by the start of 2025.
Enterprise MV2 deprecation starting in June 2025
Enterprises using the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy, which enables them to control Manifest v2 extension availability on Linux, Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS, will be exempt from any browser changes until June 2025, when the Chrome MV2 deprecation enterprise rollout begins.
Google announced the rollout of the Manifest V3 extensions platform with the release of Chrome 88 in December 2020.
This new framework also introduced major technical challenges for extension developers, especially for those requiring greater control over web browser functions such as ad blockers, forcing them to create new extensions with limited capabilities (like Hill's uBlock Origin Lite).
uBlock Origin's developer has also created a FAQ explaining the differences between the Manifest V2 extension and the new Lite Manifest V3 version.
been a firefox fan for a minute now
Ublock origin lite works just fine.
Will this affect Brave browser? YouTube plays on there with no extension and no ads.Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled
Google Chrome is now encouraging uBlock Origin users who have updated to the latest version to switch to other ad blockers before Manifest v2 extensions are disabledwww.bleepingcomputer.com
Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled
By Sergiu Gatlan
August 2, 2024
04:05 PM
19
Google Chrome is now encouraging uBlock Origin users who have updated to the latest version to switch to other ad blockers before Manifest v2 extensions are disabled.
As uBlock Origin lead developer and maintainer Raymond Hill explained on Friday, this is the result of Google deprecating support for the Manifest v2 (MV2) extensions platform in favor of Manifest v3 (MV3).
"uBO is a Manifest v2 extension, hence the warning in your Google Chrome browser. There is no Manifest v3 version of uBO, hence the browser will suggest alternative extensions as a replacement for uBO," Hill explained.
"uBO Lite (uBOL) is a pared-down version of uBO with a best effort at converting filter lists used by uBO into a Manifest v3-compliant approach, with a focus on reliability and efficiency as has been the case with uBO since first published in June 2014."
Google Chrome users are also warned to remove or replace the uBlock Origin ad blocker with similar extensions.
A "Find alternative" link also sends them to this Chrome Web Store page, which advises them to switch to uBO Lite, Adblock Plus, Stands AdBlocker, or Ghostery.
Google Chrome uBlock Origin MV3 warning (BleepingComputer)
Warning showing up next to all MV3 extensions
However, uBlock Origin users aren't the only ones seeing this warning banner, as it's now displayed on the chrome://extensions page for all MV2 extensions after updating to Chrome version 127. Users in the Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary channels have been seeing these warnings since June 3, 2024.
Over the coming months, Google will disable extensions that have remained on the MV2 platform and ask users to choose an MV3 alternative.
While users will still be able to re-enable their MV2 extensions temporarily, this option will eventually be removed.
"This will be followed gradually in the coming months by the disabling of those extensions. Users will be directed to the Chrome Web Store, where they will be recommended Manifest V3 alternatives for their disabled extension," Google explains in the MV2 deprecation timeline.
"For a short time after the extensions are disabled, users will still be able to turn their Manifest V2 extensions back on, but over time, this toggle will go away as well."
The company adds that these changes will be rolled out to all users in the Chrome Stable channel over the coming months, with the goal of completing the transition to the MV3 standard by the start of 2025.
Enterprise MV2 deprecation starting in June 2025
Enterprises using the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy, which enables them to control Manifest v2 extension availability on Linux, Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS, will be exempt from any browser changes until June 2025, when the Chrome MV2 deprecation enterprise rollout begins.
Google announced the rollout of the Manifest V3 extensions platform with the release of Chrome 88 in December 2020.
This new framework also introduced major technical challenges for extension developers, especially for those requiring greater control over web browser functions such as ad blockers, forcing them to create new extensions with limited capabilities (like Hill's uBlock Origin Lite).
uBlock Origin's developer has also created a FAQ explaining the differences between the Manifest V2 extension and the new Lite Manifest V3 version.
Does it play YouTube with no ads?
There are ads, but I pay for YouTube premium anyway.
What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser | Brave
Brave is committed to maintaining Manifest V2 support, allowing users to keep their favorite extensions functioning beyond the industry-wide deprecation.
brave.com
What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser
Blog > New products & features
Published Jun 27, 2024 (Last updated Jun 27, 2024)
Table of Contents
Will MV2 extensions still work in Brave?
Which MV2 extensions will work in Brave?
What’s the issue with Manifest V3?
The increased importance of user-first browsers such as Brave
In late 2021, Google first announced plans to deprecate Manifest V2 (MV2), the longstanding Chrome extension manifest file format, and force extensions to be built using Manifest V3 (MV3) going forward. What does this mean for Brave users? In short:
Manifest V3 will not weaken Brave Shields in any way
For as long as we’re able (and assuming the cooperation of the extension authors), Brave will continue to support some privacy-relevant MV2 extensions—specifically AdGuard, NoScript, uBlock Origin, and uMatrix
Brave Shields block ads and trackers by default, and they’re built natively in the Brave browser—no extensions required. Since Shields are patched directly onto the open-source Chromium codebase, they don’t rely on MV2 or MV3.
Thanks to this independence, Google’s forced removal of MV2 will not weaken Brave Shields. The filter lists (such as EasyList and EasyPrivacy) we rely on to protect users from invasive ads and trackers are open for community contribution, and we expect the privacy community at large to continue maintaining these lists. Brave’s privacy research and engineering teams will do so as well.
No matter what happens with the deprecation of MV2 and the shift to MV3, Shields will continue to offer better, more stable protection than extensions.
Will MV2 extensions still work in Brave?
Yes, for now. We recognize the importance of supporting existing Manifest V2 extensions. We have force-enabled Manifest V2 support in the Brave browser, ensuring that you can continue to use your favorite extensions without interruption. In June 2025, Google plans to remove all remaining Manifest V2 items from the Chrome Web Store. While Brave has no extension store, we have a robust process for customizing (or “patching”) atop the open-source Chromium engine. This will allow us to offer limited MV2 support even after it’s fully removed from the upstream Chromium codebase.
Which MV2 extensions will work in Brave?
As of now, the MV2 extensions we plan to explicitly support are AdGuard AdBlocker, NoScript, uBlock Origin, and uMatrix. This feature will be best-effort: we might have to modify support based on either Google’s plans or what extension authors ultimately decide to do. If extensions become stale or obsolete, we may remove support for them rather than offer our users an out-of-date (potentially even unsafe) experience.
We’re gradually rolling out a new page in Settings that lists these extensions. Once you have the update, you will see it in brave://settings/extensions.
What’s the issue with Manifest V3?
As a recap, Manifest V3 restricts the blocking capabilities of Web extensions, making it harder for privacy-enhancing extensions such as uBlock Origin to protect users. The privacy community has already begun releasing experimental versions of ad block extensions that are rebuilt from the ground up to meet the new constraints of MV3: AdGuard AdBlocker MV3 Experimental and uBlock Origin Lite are just two examples. And we’ve seen that these experimental versions do block ads and other unwanted Web content. However, MV3 imposes new limitations, such as a cap on blocking rules, the removal of background scripts, and changes around cosmetic filtering. Overall, these new MV3 extensions lean on workarounds to solve problems MV3 itself introduces.
The increased importance of user-first browsers such as Brave
Brave provides best-in-class privacy, no extensions required. We’re also actively working on new features such as procedural filtering, which will give us more flexibility in blocking invasive ads and trackers, ensuring a cleaner and safer browsing experience for our users. If you’re not able to use Brave, browser extensions can be helpful to achieve some (though not all) of Brave’s protections in other, less private browsers. Most ad block developers put a lot of thought and care into the performance and safety of their extensions, and they can provide some additional privacy.
Brave also builds a host of other privacy protections adjacent to ad blocking, such as fingerprint randomization, ephemeral storage partitions, and more; such protections would be impossible in an extension-based solution. By building natively in the Brave browser, we’re saying these features are table stakes, not something that should be offered as an optional add-on.
While Brave will continue to offer limited support for MV2 extensions, the real solution is to use Brave’s industry-leading, native features. All are available by simply downloading the Brave browser.
For more info, you can read Google’s updated timeline for deprecation of MV2.
Last edited:
Chrome Canary just killed uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2 extensions
The Chrome Canary in the coal mine just went silent, as uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2 extensions can no longer be re-enabled via flags
www.androidpolice.com
Chrome Canary just killed uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2 extensions
By Chris Thomas
Published 2 days ago
Thread11
Google Chrome
Pour one out for the ad-free Chrome browsing experience tonight. Chrome Canary, the pre-beta release version with the most far-out feature set, just reminded us that top extensions like the beloved uBlock Origin are not long for this Earth. The removal of a custom settings flag previously used to enable deprecated Manifest V2 extensions (like most popular ad blockers) has begun turning out the lights on the user-friendly Chrome party (via @leopova on Twitter/X).
Disabling features in the name of progress
Alas, poor uBlock, we hardly knew thee
The Manifest rulesets outline the way Google's world-eating browser interacts with extensions — essentially the only things that give users significant control over their web-surfing experience. The V3 standards hit the popular software years ago, but V2-complaint extensions did and do remain functional in Chrome's public release.
In an entirely expected and roundly denounced move, Google has begun testing the complete deprecation of Manifest V2 extensions in its super-ultra-early Chrome test build. Called Chrome Canary, it's partly used to ensure subtle changes don't outright kill the program — hence the name.
Firefox for Android still doesn't officially support all extensions, but there is a neat workaround
Ad blockers have been among the most-used extensions since broadband became widespread-enough to spare some bandwidth for flashing, animated, annoying ads sprinkled throughout every page. Fundamental changes within the Manifest V3 rules mean the most powerful of those, including long-time crowd favorite uBlock Origin, simply won't work once Manifest V2 breathes its last.
Let the funeral march begin
If only Chrome hadn't been getting worse for a while
Ad blockers still work in the public version of Chrome, but like all of ours, their deaths will come surely if not swiftly. Manifest V2 extensions have been "unsupported" in Chrome Canary since June, but a custom flag let you disable the disabling and turn your aging, lifesaving extensions back on. But that flag has disappeared from the latest Canary release, and the funeral dirge has begun to play. It's only a matter of time before you can't block most ads on the Chrome browser.
While there may not be hope, there is cope: Power users and novices alike have decried Chrome's various UI changes over the last couple of years, a remembrance that takes away some of the sting. Despite lightning-quick rendering and nearly universal compatibility across regions, interface changes like the barely distinguishable active vs. background tab colors make it less painful to abandon Google's internet portal. In other words, it's a better time than ever to switch to Firefox, the free, open-source browser that at least gives you the freedom to surf the web the way you want.
