uBlock Origin: The shutdown of Manifest V2 has begun

Google has initiated the discontinuation of Chrome extensions that use the Manifest V2 add-on architecture. The first users will receive notifications in the Chrome browser that Manifest V2 extensions will no longer work with immediate effect.

The most prominent victim of the switch to Manifest V3 is probably the adblocker uBlock Origin. But add-ons such as Neat URL, which automatically removes URL parameters for tracking, also no longer work without Manifest V2.

With the third manifest version, Google is changing the standard APIs for ad blockers from webRequest to declarativeNetRequest. This means that extensions no longer block network requests themselves. Instead, they specify conditions and actions for the browser to handle network requests. With these rules, the browser evaluates and changes network requests on behalf of the extensions themselves, so to speak – for example, it blocks content. This prevents some uBlock Origin functions, such as Dynamic Filtering and Dynamic URL Filtering.

Installation no longer possible in some cases

Google is apparently switching off Manifest V2 support in waves. On our test systems, the Chrome Web Store still spits out the previous message: "This extension may soon no longer be supported, as it does not comply with 'best practices' for Chrome extensions."

However, the first users will also see a new message there: "This extension is no longer available because it does not follow best practices for Chrome extensions."

uBlock Origin will be replaced by the slimmed-down version uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL). The developer behind the adblockers, Raymond Hill, recommends the Firefox browser for the complete uBlock Origin scope.

(mma)