Is Your Chrome Ad Blocker About to Stop Working? What You Need to Know
Worried about Chrome ending support for your favorite ad blocker? Google's phasing out Manifest V2, impacting many extensions. Find out what's happening and how to stay protected.
What's This Warning About Chrome Extensions?
If you've seen a warning like, "This extension may soon no longer be supported," next to your ad blocker in the Chrome Web Store, you're not alone. Google Chrome is displaying warnings for extensions based on Manifest V2, its older platform for building extensions.
Don't panic! It doesn't automatically mean your extension is unsafe. It simply means it's built on an older framework that Google is phasing out in favor of Manifest V3.
Manifest V2 vs. V3: What's the Difference?
Manifest V3 introduces new standards for security and performance in Chrome extensions. The transition will happen gradually, hitting Beta, Dev, and Canary channels before the Stable version. The full transition is expected in early next year, with enterprises exempt until June 2025.
While V3 aims to improve security, it also brings changes that affect how ad blockers work.
How Manifest V3 Impacts Ad Blockers
Manifest V3 brings both improvements and limitations:
- Rule limits: V3 imposes stricter limits on the number of rules, potentially impacting ad blocking effectiveness.
- Declarative rules: The new API requires a different method for applying rules, changing how extensions manage and block requests.
- Service worker interruptions: Switching to service workers might cause delays in applying certain rules.
Despite these challenges, many ad blockers, like AdGuard are adapting to offer robust protection under Manifest V3.
AdGuard's Solution: A Manifest V3 Ad Blocker
AdGuard has already released a Manifest V3 ad blocker, currently in beta.
While adapting to the new API presented challenges, AdGuard has created a V3 version that maintains near-equal performance to the older version. For most users, the difference will be unnoticeable.
What Does This Mean for You?
The move to Manifest V3 has some trade-offs. Here's a quick look:
- Core ad-blocking: Remains robust and effective.
- Cosmetic rules: You might see minor delays in how quickly cosmetic rules are applied.
- AdGuard Apps: AdGuard applications are not affected by Chrome's extension changes and will continue to function normally.
If you want to delve into the nitty-gritty details, you can check out AdGuard's in-depth post on Manifest V3.
Key Takeaways:
- Chrome is phasing out Manifest V2, affecting some ad-blocking extensions.
- Manifest V3 brings security and performance improvements, but also limitations.
- AdGuard has a Manifest V3 ad blocker, ensuring continued protection.
- AdGuard apps remain unaffected by these changes.
Stay informed and choose an ad blocker that's ready for the future of Chrome!
Stay Updated
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news on online privacy, ad blocking, product releases, sales, and giveaways.
Ekaterina Kachalova
