Where to find Chrome extensions
Chrome extensions live in the Chrome Web Store, which you reach directly from your browser. Click the puzzle-piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome — it looks like four colored squares. If you don't see it, click the three vertical dots (menu icon) instead, then look for "Extensions" in the dropdown.
From there, click "Manage extensions" or "Open Chrome Web Store" depending on which menu you used. Either way, you'll land on the Web Store homepage, where you can search for extensions by name or browse by category like productivity, security, or shopping.
You can also go directly to the Web Store by typing chrome.google.com/webstore into your address bar.
Key Takeaways
- The Chrome Web Store is the only official place to get Chrome extensions, and you reach it through the puzzle-piece icon in your browser toolbar or through the menu.
- Every extension in the Web Store shows reviews, permissions it needs, and how many users have installed it — read these before adding anything.
- Once you install an extension, it usually appears as a new icon in your toolbar, and you can pin it there or hide it to keep your toolbar clean.
- You can turn extensions on and off, remove them, or change what they're allowed to do from the Extensions menu without uninstalling them.
Installing an extension step by step
Search for the extension you want by typing its name into the Web Store search box. When you find it, click on the extension's card to open its detail page. This page shows you what the extension does, how many people use it, user reviews, and — most importantly — what permissions it needs (like access to your tabs, your history, or websites you visit).
Read the permissions section carefully. If an extension asks for access to everything you do online but only claims to block ads, that's a red flag. Once you're comfortable with what it does and what it can see, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button. A popup will appear asking you to confirm — click "Add extension" to finish.
The extension will install immediately. Most extensions add an icon to your toolbar right away, though some only work in the background and won't show an icon.
Managing extensions you've installed
To see all your extensions at once, click the puzzle-piece icon in your toolbar. You'll see a list of every extension you have, with a toggle switch next to each one. Click the toggle to turn an extension off temporarily without removing it, or click the three dots next to an extension's name to see more options.
From that menu, you can remove the extension entirely, change its permissions, or choose whether it runs on all websites or only specific ones. You can also pin an extension to your toolbar (so its icon always shows) or hide it (so the icon disappears but the extension still works).
If you want to see all your extensions in one organized place, click the puzzle-piece icon and then click "Manage extensions." This opens a full page where you can see every extension, turn them on or off, remove them, and adjust their permissions all in one view.
Understanding permissions before you install
Every extension asks Chrome for permission to do certain things — read your browsing history, see what you type in forms, access your location, or watch what you do on specific websites. The Web Store shows these permissions on the extension's detail page under a section called "About this extension" or "Permissions."
An extension that blocks ads might only need to see what's on the page you're viewing. An extension that manages your passwords needs access to forms you fill out. An extension that tracks your spending might need to see your shopping sites. The key is matching the permissions to what the extension claims to do. If they don't line up, skip it.
You can also change permissions after installing. Go to the Extensions menu, click the three dots next to an extension, and select "Details." Scroll down to "Permissions" and click "Change" to limit what sites the extension can access or what data it can see.
What to do if an extension stops working
If an extension suddenly stops doing what it's supposed to do, the first step is to turn it off and back on. Click the puzzle-piece icon, find the extension, and toggle it off. Wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on. This often fixes temporary glitches.
If that doesn't work, check whether Chrome has updated recently — sometimes updates break extensions until the extension's developer releases a fix. You can see when an extension was last updated by going to the Extensions page and clicking "Details" on the extension you're having trouble with.
If the extension is old and hasn't been updated in months or years, it may no longer work with your version of Chrome. In that case, look for a newer alternative in the Web Store, or contact the extension's developer to ask if they plan to update it.
Removing extensions you no longer need
To remove an extension, click the puzzle-piece icon in your toolbar, find the extension you want to delete, click the three dots next to its name, and select "Remove from Chrome." Confirm when Chrome asks you to verify. The extension will disappear immediately, and Chrome will stop running it.
Removing an extension doesn't delete any data it stored — if you reinstall it later, it may remember your settings. If you want to completely wipe an extension's data, go to the Extensions page, click "Details" on the extension, and look for an option to "Clear data" or "Remove data." Not all extensions offer this option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same extension on multiple devices?
Yes, if you sign into Chrome with the same Google account on different devices, your extensions will sync across them automatically. You can also turn off syncing for extensions if you want different extensions on different devices — go to Chrome Settings, click "Sync and Google services," and toggle "Extensions" off.
Why does an extension ask for permission to see all my websites?
Some extensions need broad access because they work on many different sites — a password manager, for example, needs to see login forms everywhere. Others ask for broad access but only use it on specific sites. Always check the extension's description to see which sites it actually works on, and use the permissions settings to restrict it if you're uncomfortable.
What's the difference between the Chrome Web Store and other websites that offer extensions?
The Chrome Web Store is the official source, and Google reviews extensions before they're published there. Other websites may host extensions that Chrome has removed for security reasons or that haven't been reviewed at all. Always download extensions from the official Web Store to avoid malware or privacy risks.
Can I use extensions in Chrome on my phone?
Chrome on Android and iPhone has very limited extension support. Most extensions only work in Chrome on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Some mobile browsers like Firefox on Android do support extensions, but the selection is much smaller than on desktop.
How do I know if an extension is safe?
Check the number of users (more users usually means more testing), read recent reviews to see if people report problems, and look at the permissions it's asking for. If thousands of people use it and reviews are positive, it's likely safe. If it has few users, no reviews, or asks for suspicious permissions, skip it.