Popular Ad Blocker Faces End in Chrome

June 15, 2026, 6:57 am | Read time: 3 minutes

Google Chrome is gradually moving away from a technical foundation that many browser extensions have relied on. The popular ad blocker uBlock Origin is particularly affected. Due to changes in Chromium, the basis of Google Chrome, the extension is increasingly losing the prerequisites for its previous operation.

Chromium Switches to New Platform

The trigger for this development is the switch from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3, which are platforms for browser extensions. Add-ons like uBlock Origin are developed on this basis and integrated into the browser.

With Manifest V3, Google introduces a significant technical change. The previously used webRequest interface is replaced by the declarativeNetRequest API, altering the capabilities that extensions can utilize within the browser.

This has concrete consequences for users. The new platform restricts certain functions of extensions more than the previous solution. uBlock Origin is also affected by this.

Impact on uBlock Origin

Google justifies the switch with improvements in security, stability, and performance of the browser. At the same time, numerous extensions lose part of their previous functionality.

For uBlock Origin, this is evident in the filtering of unwanted content. The changes reduce the capabilities with which the extension can filter content, decreasing the effectiveness of the ad blocker compared to the previous version.

The adjustments affect not only individual functions but also the technical foundation on which the extension operates. Therefore, the future of uBlock Origin within Chrome is increasingly in question.

Manifest V3 Chrome Disables Extensions — What Users Can Do

It Doesn't Always Have to Be Chrome How to Find the Right Browser

Support Continues to Decline

As reported by the online magazine “Heise,” the gradual removal of support begins with Chromium version 150. This also eliminates ways for users to delay the shutdown of Manifest V2.

This includes known workarounds through group policies or registry changes. These methods previously allowed the continued use of the old extension platform. However, with the upcoming changes, these approaches will also lose their basis.

The switch to Manifest V3 has already been decided by Google. Therefore, the remaining alternatives will be gradually phased out.

These Alternatives Remain

Users of uBlock Origin are not left without options. Within the Chromium world, uBlock Origin Lite is still available. This variant meets the requirements of Manifest V3 but offers a significantly smaller range of functions.

Also interesting: What’s Behind Google’s New Opt-out Feature?

Those who want to retain the full range of previous functions must switch to other browsers. Mozilla Firefox continues to support Manifest V2 alongside Manifest V3. Brave also allows the use of the classic version of uBlock Origin.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.