Deactivate an extension by toggling it off in Chrome's extension menu

The fastest way to stop an extension from running is to turn it off without removing it. Open Chrome, click the puzzle-piece icon in the top right corner, find the extension you want to pause, and click the toggle switch next to its name. The switch will turn gray, and the extension stops working immediately — but it stays installed, so you can turn it back on later if you change your mind.

This approach works when you want to test whether an extension is slowing down your browser, or when you use something only occasionally and don't want it active all the time. The extension takes up almost no resources while deactivated, and you keep all your saved settings for it.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivating an extension (turning it off) is different from removing it — the extension stays installed but stops running immediately.
  • Click the puzzle-piece icon in Chrome's toolbar, then toggle off the extension you want to pause.
  • You can also manage extensions by typing chrome://extensions into the address bar and toggling them there.
  • If you no longer need an extension, removing it completely frees up more space than deactivating it.
  • Deactivated extensions keep all their settings and data, so turning them back on restores them to exactly how you left them.

Find the extension menu in Chrome's toolbar

The puzzle-piece icon appears in the top right of your Chrome window, next to the address bar. If you don't see it, the icon may be hidden in Chrome's main menu. Click the three vertical dots (the menu button) in the top right corner, then look for "Extensions" in the dropdown.

Once you click the puzzle-piece icon, a small menu drops down showing all your installed extensions. Extensions with a colored icon are currently active. Extensions that appear grayed out or dimmed are already deactivated. This menu is the quickest way to see at a glance which extensions are running right now.

Toggle extensions on and off from the menu

Each extension in the dropdown menu has a toggle switch to its right. Click the switch to turn the extension off — it will turn gray and the extension stops running. Click it again to turn the extension back on.

This menu is the quickest way to pause an extension for a few minutes or hours. You don't have to restart Chrome or reload your tabs. The change takes effect right away, and the extension will no longer run on any of your open pages.

Manage all extensions from the settings page

For a fuller view of what each extension does and more control options, go to Chrome's extension management page. Type chrome://extensions into the address bar and press Enter. This page shows every installed extension with a description, the date you added it, and a toggle switch.

On this page, you can also see which sites each extension can access, remove extensions permanently, and check whether an extension is running in incognito mode. Scroll down on any extension's entry to see these options. This view is useful if you want to understand exactly what permissions each extension has been granted.

The difference between deactivating and removing an extension

Deactivating (turning off) an extension pauses it but keeps it installed. Your settings and data for that extension stay saved. If you turn it back on later, it picks up where it left off. Deactivated extensions use almost no system resources and take up minimal space on your computer.

Removing an extension deletes it completely from Chrome. You lose any settings you customized for it, and it no longer appears in your extension list. If you want to use it again, you have to reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Remove an extension when you know you won't need it again, or when you want to free up space and reduce the number of programs Chrome loads at startup.

Check if an extension is slowing down your browser

If Chrome feels slow, one or more extensions might be the cause. Turn off extensions one at a time and see if Chrome speeds up. Start with extensions you use least often. Leave each one off for a few minutes and notice whether pages load faster or your computer runs cooler.

You can also check Chrome's task manager to see which extensions are using the most memory. Press Shift + Esc on Windows or Command + Option + Esc on Mac to open it. Look for extensions in the list and see how much CPU and memory each one uses. If an extension consistently uses a lot of resources, deactivate it or remove it entirely. This tool shows you real-time usage, so you can identify the actual culprits rather than guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deactivating an extension delete my settings for it?

No. When you turn an extension off, all your saved settings stay in place. If you turn it back on, it will work exactly as you left it. Only removing an extension permanently deletes your settings and data.

Can I deactivate an extension just for one website?

Not by deactivating — that turns the extension off everywhere. Instead, go to chrome://extensions, find the extension, click "Details," and change the "Allow on all sites" setting to "Allow on specific sites." Then choose which websites the extension can run on.

What happens to my data if I deactivate an extension?

Your data stays safe. Deactivated extensions keep all their stored information. If you turn the extension back on, it can still access that data. Data is only lost if you remove the extension completely.

How do I know if an extension is still running after I deactivate it?

The toggle switch will be gray instead of blue or colored. You can also check the chrome://extensions page — deactivated extensions show a toggle that is switched to the off position.

Do deactivated extensions slow down Chrome at all?

No. Once an extension is deactivated, it uses virtually no memory or CPU. If you want to free up more space, you would need to remove it completely, but deactivating is enough to stop any performance impact.