Chrome is blocking access to older extensions Photothek via Getty ImagesThe shutter is coming down on widely used Google Chrome extensions that havent been updated to a new version of the software.Google warned last year that it was barring access to extensions that hadnt updated to latest Manifest V3 framework. The new framework improves security, according to Google, but it also disables features used in popular ad blockers and other types of extension.Affected extensions include uBlock Origin, a widely used ad blocker that last year warned the changes would disrupt how its extension works. Manifest V3 is the latest version of the Chrome Extensions platform manifest, the company wrote on its website.It introduces several changes intended to enhance security, privacy, and performance. One of the most significant changes is the modification of the webRequest API, which many content blockers use to intercept and modify network requests.The company has released a more limited version of its extension, called uBlock Origin Lite, which is compatible with the new manifest. However, users are now reporting that the old uBlock Origin is being disabled in their Chrome browser. Extensions that have been abandoned by their developers are also likely to fall foul of the new requirement.Google Chrome Extension AngerIts fair to say not everyones amused by Googles move to effectively shut down uBlock Origin, with Reddit users saying they will turn to rival browsers such as Firefox, which do still allow the extension to work as it did originally.The Brave browser, which is based on the same Chromium engine as Google Chrome, also pledged that it would continue to support V2 extensions for now in a blog post published last summer.As of now, the MV2 extensions we plan to explicitly support are AdGuard AdBlocker, NoScript, uBlock Origin, and uMatrix, the company wrote on its blog.This feature will be best-effort: we might have to modify support based on either Googles 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.Users must toggle a setting in the Brave browser to continue using the Manifest V2 extensions.Google has thrown a bone to businesses still relying on V2 extensions by extending the deadline for enterprises until June 2025. These companies need to tweak a policy setting to ensure that their users can continue to run the older extensions.How To Tell If Your Chrome Extensions Are DisabledIf you want to check whether any of your Chrome extensions have been affected by the new policy, click the little puzzle piece icon at the top of the browser and click Manage Extensions, or visit chrome://extensions (link only works in Chrome).You should see a warning under Updates if any of your installed extensions are no longer supported or are about to be removed.Several browsers now include blocking tools as part of the browser, rather than reyling on extensions to add the function. Brave and Vivaldi are among the browsers with built-in ad blockers, although some sites block visitors running ad blockers because it deprives them of revenue.