Google is speeding up the removal process of uBlock Origin, a popular ad blocker, from the Chrome Web Store. Some users report that uBlock Origin has been removed from their browsers and the store.
Google is accelerating the removal of the ad-blocking extension uBlock Origin, used by around 30 million people, from the Chrome Web Store. The long-anticipated switch to Manifest V3 will force users to either accept Chrome's insufficient ad-blocking technology or switch to another browser.
According to user reports, uBlock Origin is quickly disappearing from the Chrome Web Store. The official page mentions that the ad blocker is unavailable due to non-compliance with the latest guidelines. However, this is only visible to some users.
In 2018, Google introduced Manifest V3, signaling that it would replace Manifest V2. However, this transition brings restrictive limitations, especially for ad blockers and other security-focused extensions. Manifest V3 extensions will have limited access to browser and web data, pushing developers of popular extensions away from Chrome.
Despite acknowledging that the switch from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3 is a significant change for the Chrome extension ecosystem, Google has decided to move forward with the transition. Chrome users will be able to use uBlock Origin effectively until June 2025, thanks to a corporate policy by Google. However, after this date, uBlock Origin is expected to stop working, and users will need to switch to uBlock Origin Lite, AdGuard, or other Manifest V3-based ad blockers.
Some third-party Chromium-based browsers, such as Opera and Vivaldi, have stated that they do not intend to drop Manifest V2 support. However, maintaining older technology may become difficult or impossible over time.
