The transition to Chrome's Manifest V3 framework has been unsettling for users who rely on extensions like uBlock Origin. Beginning with the initial phase of this transition in June 2024, Google has now started actively disabling Manifest V2 extensions, which has left many users receiving notifications indicating their beloved ad-blocking tools are "no longer supported." This change prompts questions about user privacy and the effectiveness of prevalent ad-blockers.
Reports indicate this crackdown has intensified as of March 4, 2025, with extensions like uBlock Origin—long applauded for its performance against ads and trackers—being deactivated automatically on affected browsers. Users have described their frustration and confusion on platforms such as Reddit, expressing surprise at suddenly being blocked out of utilizing functionality they had relied on.
One user recounted their experience: "This extension is no longer supported. Chrome recommends you remove it." Many users have turned to workarounds to restore functionality, discovering they can re-enable extensions like uBlock Origin through the management settings on Chrome. This provides them with temporary reprieve, but as Google has stated, this can only last for so long. Eventually, the toggle to reinstate these extensions will be phased out as well, according to their plans to shut down all Manifest V2 support altogether.
Although this transition is painted by Google as beneficial for user privacy and security, critics argue it compromises the effectiveness of widely used ad-blockers. The functionality for blocking web requests has been significantly changed under Manifest V3, replacing the previous method with declarativeNetRequest, which constricts how extensions can interact with web content. This modification undermines the features of comprehensive tools like uBlock Origin, and users must now adapt to these limitations.
Despite the difficulties faced, Firefox has emerged as a reliable alternative for users concerned about privacy. Mozilla recently reinforced its support for both Manifest V2 and V3, which means users can still utilize popular extensions like uBlock Origin without hindrance. “More tools for developers means more choice and innovation for users,” stated Scott DeVaney and Ed Sullivan from Mozilla, highlighting the organization's commitment to empowering users with options.
Even as Google has positioned Manifest V3 as the improvement dusting off the cobwebs of the internet, Mozilla has seized the opportunity to bolster its user community. While Firefox only commanded 3.7% of the browser market share as of September 2024, its dedicated user base values control and privacy, bolstering its reputation as the go-to challenger against Google's sweeping changes.
Interestingly, the shift to Manifest V3 wasn’t sudden. Google first hinted at its plans for discord among the extension community with announcements by late 2023, and later updates reiterated its intention to entirely remove support for Manifest V2 extensions. The full disabling of uBlock Origin marks the sharp endpoint of several months of gradual phase-out.
For those relying heavily on uBlock Origin, the situation creates uncertainty about future options. Alternatives briefly touted—like uBlock Origin Lite—remain functional under Manifest V3, but come with caveats, as developers warn it lacks the capabilities found in the standard edition. Raymond Hill, the uBlock Origin developer, confirmed the intent not to transition the full version to Manifest V3 actively, saying, "I do not plan to transition uBlock Origin to uBlock Origin Lite for the Chrome Web Store. Users will have to find viable replacements based on their ad-blocking needs."0, as users pivot and adapt, the debate on privacy and web freedoms looms larger with every development.
Google’s move away from Manifest V2 suggests not only changes to web browser extensions but foreshadows wider challenges for user privacy online. By ending support for these extensions, users feel they are losing power over their browsing environments, creating tension between corporate intentions and individual choices.
Yet through this transformation, the promise of web freedom and enhanced privacy remains accessible through alternatives like Firefox and other non-Chromium-based browsers, as unmistakably stated by users who advocate for more transparency and respect for user choice.