You may have known until now that the uBlock Origin extension is no longer available for Google Chrome, and it is simply because it does not follow the best practices for Chrome extensions.
So, what practices is this extension not following? The uBlock Origin is using the old manifest V2 framework instead of the MV3 framework. Chrome has officially stated that it will no longer support extensions using the old manifest V2 framework.
The extension is still supported on non-Chromium-based browsers, such as Firefox, and remains fully functional with its features. On the other hand, Chromium-based browsers such as Brave still support a limited number of MV2 extensions, including uBlock Origin, AdGuard AdBlocker, NoScript, and uMatrix.
Microsoft Edge and Opera also still support a number of MV2 extensions, including the uBlock ad-blocking extension.
What is Manifest V3?
Manifest V3 is the latest form or version of the browser extensions. It aims to improve the security, privacy, performance, and user control. Here’s what MV3 brings:
- Disallows remotely hosted code, which allows extensions to load or execute the code in their package to increase security.
- Moves the background page to service workers, which only run when needed, increasing performance and speed.
- Limits the use of the blocking version of the webRequest API and encourages the use of the declarativeNetRequest API.
- Added improvements include promise-based APIs and stricter permission management.
So, overall, MV3 is a new platform for extensions that provides improved security and performance, and most of the Chromium browsers are shifting to it, so why is uBlock not shifting to MV3?
Here’s the Reason
The most significant change that happened is the depreciation or limitation of the blocking version of the webRequest API, as mentioned above, and the uBlock Origin extension relies heavily on the webRequest API to block unwanted ads or content on the web page. As of now, MV3 encourages the use of the declarativeNetRequest API, which limits the capabilities of the extension to perform properly, as it lacks the active capabilities UBlock uses to block ads.
This reason is also stated on their official website, explaining what can be done to resolve this.
Possible solutions to keep using the extension:
- Switch to Firefox, Brave, or Opera.
- Install the MV3 Lite version of the extension.
- Use other ad-blocking alternatives.
How Good is the Lite Version?
Well, the lite version of the uBO extension is quite similar when it comes to blocking ads. The uBO Lite is the best alternative to the original one based on MV3, which works perfectly on Chrome.
Basic Features:
- No manual setup required; it starts blocking ads and trackers just after installation.
- Blocks almost all types of ads, same as the original one.
- Minimal CPU and memory usage for a faster browsing experience.
- Works perfectly for all browsers.
Limitations
The Lite extension is on par with the original one, but there are some major drawbacks:
- Has no custom filters, element picker, or dynamic filtering.
- Do not support importing external lists.
- Does not block pages strictly.
- No ability to inspect logs, block scripts selectively, or fine-tune behavior—these are reserved for the full version.
The lite version is a good choice if you just want to block ads, but if you want to use the full potential of this extension, then you simply have to shift to a browser like Firefox or Brave that supports MV2 extensions, as MV3 limits its full capabilities.
If you want to stick with a Chromium-based browser, you can opt for Opera, as it has clearly stated that it will continue to support MV2, and users can use ad-blocking extensions like uBlock peacefully.
If you are still confused about whether the extension will work on certain browsers, then here’s a list of browsers that will support the uBO extension:
| Browsers | Availability |
| Chrome: | The original version is not supported; you have to go for the Lite version. |
| Firefox: | Fully supported |
| Brave: | Fully supported |
| Microsoft Edge: | The Original version is supported till now but can become unsupported due to the shift from MV2 to MV3 in Chromium-based browsers. |
| Opera: | Will support all the MV2 Extensions, including uBO. |
Final recommendations
Now it’s up to you what you like best. Sticking with Chrome will require you to use the Lite version, or if you want to use the original uBO extension, Firefox is the best option, but if you want to use a Chromium-based browser, then Opera, Brave, and Edge are the options available for you, or you can try other ad-blocking alternatives from the web extension store.