In 15 months, several of the extensions that you have been using in Google Chrome (or compatible browser) could stop working, as just announced by Google. And the fault of everything is a file format.
It turns out that, in the image and likeness of Android apps, all Google Chrome extensions include a ‘manifest.json’ file inside them in which the programmer enters —for example— the name of the extension, its description, what other files it includes, and what permissions it requires from the browser.
History of the Manifest
But the syntax of that ‘Manifest’ has been changing over time: in 2012, with Chrome 18, ‘Manifest v1’ gave way to ‘Manifest v2’, which has been the foundation of all Chrome browser extensions for nine years, until January of this 2021, when the company implemented the ‘Manifest v3’ in Google Chrome 88.
The new format included security improvements (as they were no longer compatible with remotely hosted code, one of the most exploited attack vectors) and in privacy (by offering more optional permissions and making confidential permissions unalterable).
Nevertheless, It also generated great controversy by blocking access to the webRequest API, used by content blocking extensions… although Google has introduced changes in the format since then, it is still not clear that the abandonment of Manifest v2 will not also lead, for example, to uBlock Origin.
Schedule of changes
Since then, the extensions have been able to choose one or the other format, indistinctly … until now, that Google has announced the planned timetable for phasing out support for the old extensions based on Manifest v2.
According to the timeline released by Google, Chrome Web Store will block acceptance of new Manifest v2 extensions from January 17, 2022 (except in the case of private extensions); however, existing extensions can continue to be updated to the previous format.
Later in June 2022, private extensions will also need to get on the Manifest v3 ship, but – again – updates to pre-existing Manifest v2 extensions will still be allowed.
However, throughout January 2023, Chrome will stop accepting even Manifest v2 format updates, and the browser will stop executing all those extensions that have not adopted the v3 format.
But there will be an exception: corporate clients will be able to make use of a 6-month extension… But after June 2023, after 11 years of use, Google Chrome will erase all traces of the Manifest v2 extensions.
What does this mean for the user?
This means that whatever extension we are using (that we have even been using for years) whose developer has abandoned it or is simply not interested in putting in the effort to remake it According to the new Google guidelines, we will have to find an alternative for you within 15 months. And after July 2023, it will simply disappear from the Chrome Web Store.
Of course, the question remains how Chromium-based browser developers, such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Vivaldi will respond to this decision: they can conform to the Google calendar or look for alternative ways to keep the ecosystem of extensions v2 active, not only allowing them to continue in use, but also facilitating their update and download.