Tech & Science

5 Chrome Extensions That Won’t Work Anymore ― Here Are The Best Alternatives

December 24, 202443

Google Chrome’s transition to Manifest V3 (MV3) is causing issues for many popular extensions, which rely on the older Manifest V2 (MV2).

MV3 aims to improve Chrome’s security, privacy, and performance, but it limits certain functionalities, especially for ad-blockers, script managers, and downloaders.

Here are five popular extensions that will soon be non-functional on Chrome and their alternatives:

1. uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin, a well-loved ad blocker, will no longer work properly under MV3 due to restrictions on the Web Request API. The new Declarative Net Request API doesn’t support the same level of customization.

Alternative: uBlock Origin Lite or AdGuard AdBlocker MV3 are good options, with uBlock Origin Lite being the closest to the original.

2. Stylus
Stylus, which allows users to apply custom CSS to websites, faces limitations under MV3. The new security model and restricted scripting capabilities hinder Stylus’ ability to modify webpage content.

Alternative: Tampermonkey, a powerful tool for managing user scripts, can also be used for customizing CSS.

3. Cookie AutoDelete
This privacy-focused extension automatically deletes cookies when you close a tab. However, MV3’s changes to background processes prevent Cookie AutoDelete from functioning as intended.

Alternative: Cookie Remover offers manual cookie management with a simple click to clear cookies and cache.

4. Notepad
Notepad, a lightweight note-taking extension, will struggle under MV3 due to changes in persistent background scripts, making it difficult to save notes reliably.

Alternative: Memo Notepad is a great alternative, offering similar functionality with sync options.

5. Screenshot YouTube
This extension allows users to capture precise screenshots of YouTube videos. MV3’s updated permission model restricts access to the DOM, which affects Screenshot YouTube’s functionality.

Alternative: Screenshot YouTube Video offers the same functionality and is MV3-compliant.

As Chrome shifts to Manifest V3, some of your favorite extensions may stop working. Thankfully, there are alternatives that can help you maintain the same functionality.

Be sure to update your extensions or consider switching to a browser that still supports MV2 if you prefer older extensions.