Chrome Manifest V2 extensions will stop working in 2023

With Manifest V3 reaching full feature parity with Manifest V2, today, Google has shared a timeline for the deprecation of MV2 extensions. The developers who haven’t updated their extensions from Manifest V2 to V3 should check the timeline and act before they stop working in Chrome for users.

What is Manifest V3

Manifest V3 is the new version of the Chrome Extensions platform. Google has made it available for Chrome extensions with Chrome 88 earlier this year. With the new Manifest, Chrome moved towards Declarative Net Request API from blocking version of Web Request API.

Removing the blocking ability of WebRequest API makes ad blockers ineffective. Chrome maker said they’re making ad blockers safer, but not killing them.

While the company claimed the move brings more privacy, security, and performance when users use the MV3 extensions, the UBlock Origin developer said the third iteration of the extension platform means, the death of UBO.

Google said MV3 allows them to remove remotely hosted code.

Chrome Manifest v2 extensions deprecation timeline

On January 17, 2022: Chrome Web Store no longer accepts new Manifest V2 extensions, however, developers will be allowed to push updates to them.
In January 2023: Manifest V2 extensions will stop working and won’t run in Chrome, developers may not be able to push updates to them even with enterprise policy.

The firm Tech giant promises to share more information on how this affects the users and developers as the dates get nearer.

You can check the MV2 support timeline here.

Will you switch to Firefox now or in 2023, due to Chrome supporting Manifest V3 and phasing out Mainfest V2 extensions? Let us know in the comments below.

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