Abstract:
Google has previously announced that it will remove all extensions developed based on the Manifest v2 protocol in the Google browser extension store on August 31, 2026. Now Google has completed the cleanup and removal work, and many well-known extensions can no longer be downloaded and installed from the Google browser extension store.
These are the final steps for Google to migrate MV3:
This cleanup and delisting operation is the final step in the migration of Google browser to the MV3 ecosystem. As early as July 2025, Google had deactivated all old extensions. Deactivated old extensions cannot be re-enabled unless the use time is temporarily extended through enterprise management policies, and then the extension policy is also deleted by Google.
Therefore, starting from Google Chrome v138, all extensions based on the old version of the protocol are no longer able to run. If the user is still using the old version, they can continue to use it, but as long as they upgrade to the new version, the old version of the extension will be stopped directly.
Now Google's removal of old extensions from the store is the final step, that is, users can no longer search, download and install any old extensions through the store. Previously, some extensions have stopped updating, and users can only find other alternative extensions without developer adaptation.
Developers can no longer push updates to users:
Some users choose to stay at version v138 without upgrading due to extension issues. In this case, the old extensions that have been installed can still be used, but developers cannot continue to release new versions through the store and push them to users.
If the old version of the extension used by the user is still maintained by the developer, the user needs to pay attention to the relevant extension website, regularly download new versions and install them manually (through the extension developer mode). Long-term use of the old version may pose potential security risks.
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