Microsoft begins turning off uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2-based extensions in Edge
Microsoft begins turning off uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2-based extensions in Edge
Microsoft is now in the process of turning off Manifest V2-based extensions in Edge, such as uBlock Origin. However, not everything is lost at this point.
The latest Edge Canary version started disabling Manifest V2-based extensions with the following message: "This extension is no longer supported. Microsoft Edge recommends that you remove it." Although the browser turns off old extensions without asking, you can still make them work by clicking "Manage extension" and toggling it back (you will have to acknowledge another prompt).
At this point, it is not entirely clear what is going on. Google started phasing out Manifest V2 extensions in June 2024, and it has a clear roadmap for the process. Microsoft's documentation, however, still says "TBD," so the exact dates are not known yet. This leads to some speculating about the situation being one of "unexpected changes" coming from Chromium. Either way, sooner or later, Microsoft will ditch MV2-based extensions, so get ready as we wait for Microsoft to shine some light on its plans.
Another thing worth noting is that the change does not appear to be affecting Edge's stable release or Beta/Dev Channels. For now, only Canary versions disable uBlock Origin and other MV2 extensions, leaving users a way to toggle them back on. Also, the uBlock Origin is still available in the Edge Add-ons store
Just in case you needed another reason not to use Edge.
Ok maybe off topic, why does a web browser have to be one of the most complicated software artifacts on earth? So expensive to write and maintain that only a few orgs with huge developer resources can do it?
What would it look like to start from scratch with a massively simplified standard for specifying UIs, based on all we've learned since html/css was invented? A standard that a few developers could implement in a few weeks using off the shelf libraries. Rather than reimplement every bizarre historical detail in html/css, have a new UI layout system that's simple and consistent, and perhaps more powerful.
Fancy firefox-based browser along the lines of Arc?
Worth a look if you're a web power-user / developer sort of person
Microsoft Edge is literally Google Chrome button replaced with Microsoft Features/Spyware
Perfect time to check out AdGuard Home. Trivial to install locally. Probably took less than 3 minutes to install and get it operating. Hardest part was updating my router config. (Goddamn Google WiFi!)
Then you can focus on getting a better browser. Support libre software and check out LibreWolf.
Lol Microsoft really using their browser market share effectively
oh look at that. It's 'chromium based browsers are garbage o'clock.'
I had a feeling this would happen. I have to use Google services for a lot of things at work and Edge works fine with them. Firefox usually does okay, but not always. And now Firefox is requiring you to hand over your data to them.
Can any Chromium-based browser refuse to turn on V3 or is it too baked-in without forking the entire project?
I was on Netscape in the 90s, I got on Firefox when it was still Phoenix/Firebird, and I haven't left once. You've been a good friend.
(Though I do like Palemoon a lot since I love the pre Quantum and pre WebExtensions days).
I'd direct people to Firefox, but Mozilla is doing some weird shit right now and I just can't. And the forks are always with some weird limitations or issues. Why does it all have to be shit these days?
It's nice to use a browser which doesn't depend of extensions to block ads.
