Where to find Chrome extensions
Chrome extensions live in the Chrome Web Store, which is Google's official marketplace. You reach it by opening Chrome, clicking the three vertical dots in the top right corner, selecting "More tools," then "Extensions." From there, click the blue "Open Chrome Web Store" button, or go directly to chromewebstore.google.com in your address bar.
The Web Store shows you extensions organized by category — productivity, shopping, security, developer tools, and others. You can also search for a specific extension by name if you already know what you want. Every extension listed there has been reviewed by Google before being published, though that review checks for obvious malware, not whether an extension is trustworthy in every situation.
Do not install extensions from anywhere else. Fake extension stores exist online, and extensions installed outside the Web Store bypass Google's review process entirely. Stick to the official store.
Key Takeaways
- The Chrome Web Store is the only official place to find and install Chrome extensions, reached through the three-dot menu under "More tools" and "Extensions."
- Every extension in the Web Store has been reviewed by Google, but you should still read the permissions each one requests and check recent user reviews before installing.
- Once installed, extensions appear as small icons in your toolbar, and you can manage them by returning to the Extensions page.
- Uninstalling an extension takes one click on the trash icon next to its name, and removes all its access to your browsing immediately.
Reading permissions before you install
Before clicking "Add to Chrome," scroll down on the extension's store page and look at the "Permissions" section. This tells you what the extension can actually do — whether it can read your browsing history, access your passwords, see what you type, or modify pages you visit. An extension that changes how websites look might need permission to modify pages. An extension that manages passwords will need access to your saved passwords. But an extension that blocks ads should not need permission to read your entire browsing history.
If the permissions seem too broad for what the extension claims to do, that is a sign to skip it. Read the recent user reviews as well — look for comments about whether the extension still works, whether it slows down your browser, or whether it started doing something unexpected after an update.
Installing an extension
Once you have decided on an extension, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button on its Web Store page. Chrome will show you a popup listing all the permissions again. Click "Add extension" to confirm. The extension will download and install immediately.
After installation, the extension's icon usually appears in your toolbar — the row of small icons to the right of your address bar. Some extensions add a button you click to use them. Others run in the background and do not show an icon. If you do not see an icon, click the puzzle-piece icon in your toolbar (if it exists) to see a list of all your installed extensions.
Managing extensions you have installed
To see all your extensions at once, click the three-dot menu, go to "More tools," and select "Extensions." This page shows every extension you have installed, whether it is turned on or off, and how many permissions it has. You can toggle an extension on and off with the switch next to its name without uninstalling it.
If you want to change what an extension can do, click "Details" on its card. Some extensions let you adjust their permissions — for example, you might tell an extension to work only on certain websites instead of everywhere. Not all extensions offer this level of control.
To remove an extension entirely, click the trash icon next to its name. Chrome will ask you to confirm, then delete it. The extension loses all access to your browser immediately.
Telling extensions apart from built-in Chrome features
Chrome comes with some features built in — like the ability to save passwords, translate pages, or check if your password has been breached. These are not extensions. They live in Chrome's settings, not in the Extensions page. If you go to the Extensions page and do not see something there, it is a built-in feature, not an add-on you installed.
Built-in features cannot be uninstalled the way extensions can, but you can usually turn them off in Chrome's settings. This matters because some people think they have installed an extension when they have actually just turned on a feature that was already there.
What to do if an extension stops working
Extensions sometimes break after a Chrome update, or after the website they work with changes. If an extension stops doing what it used to do, first check the Web Store page for that extension — look at recent reviews to see if other people are reporting the same problem. If many people are complaining, the extension may be abandoned.
If only you seem to be having the problem, try turning the extension off and back on. Go to the Extensions page, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on. If that does not work, uninstall it and reinstall it fresh. If it still does not work, the extension may no longer be compatible with your version of Chrome, and you may need to find a different one that does the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can extensions see my passwords and browsing history?
Only if you give them permission. Before installing, check the permissions list. If an extension asks for access to your passwords or history and does not need it to work, that is a reason to skip it. You can also limit what an extension can see by clicking "Details" and changing its permissions to work only on certain websites.
Why does Chrome ask me to confirm an extension's permissions?
Because extensions can access sensitive information about you and your browsing. The confirmation popup is your chance to see exactly what you are allowing before you proceed. If the permissions surprise you, click "Cancel" instead of "Add extension."
Is it safe to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store?
Google reviews every extension before it appears in the Web Store, so you are not getting obvious malware. But that does not mean every extension is trustworthy. Read the permissions, check recent reviews, and uninstall anything that behaves unexpectedly. Never install extensions from outside the Web Store.
What happens to my data when I uninstall an extension?
The extension loses access to your browser immediately. Some extensions store data on their own servers, and uninstalling does not delete that. If you want to erase your data from an extension's service, look for a settings or account page within the extension itself before you uninstall.
Can I use the same extension on multiple devices?
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account on multiple devices, extensions you install will sync across them automatically. You can also turn off syncing for extensions in Chrome's settings if you want different extensions on different devices.