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 squares fitting together. A menu drops down showing extensions you already have installed. At the bottom of that menu, click "Manage extensions" to open your extensions page.

From there, click the grid icon (also four squares) in the top left corner. This takes you to the Chrome Web Store homepage. You can also go directly to chromewebstore.google.com in your address bar if you prefer.

The Web Store works like any app store: you can browse by category, search for a specific extension by name, or look at what's trending. Each extension has a description, screenshots, user reviews, and the number of users who have installed it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Chrome Web Store is the official place to find extensions, reached through the puzzle-piece icon in your browser's top right corner.
  • Installing an extension takes one click on the "Add to Chrome" button, and you'll see a permission request before it actually installs.
  • After installation, the extension icon appears next to the puzzle-piece icon, and you can pin it there so it stays visible.
  • You can turn extensions on and off, remove them, or change their permissions from the "Manage extensions" page without uninstalling.

Installing an extension in one click

When you find an extension you want, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button on its Web Store page. A popup appears asking you to confirm — it lists what the extension can access (your tabs, your browsing history, websites you visit, and so on). Read this list: it tells you what data the extension can see.

Click "Add extension" in the popup to finish. The extension installs immediately. You'll see a small notification in the top right corner saying the extension has been added, and its icon appears next to the puzzle-piece icon.

Some extensions ask you to sign in or set them up the first time you use them. Others work right away. Check the extension's description on the Web Store page if you're not sure what to do next.

Finding your installed extensions

After you install an extension, its icon appears in the top right area of Chrome, next to the address bar. Click any extension icon to open it or see its options. If you have many extensions, they may be hidden behind the puzzle-piece icon — click that icon to see the full list.

To keep an extension icon visible at all times, click the puzzle-piece icon, find the extension you want, and click the pin icon next to its name. The extension icon will then stay in your toolbar instead of hiding behind the puzzle-piece menu.

You can also reach all your extensions by clicking the puzzle-piece icon and selecting "Manage extensions" at the bottom. This page shows every extension you have installed, whether it's turned on or off, and what permissions it has.

Turning extensions on and off

You don't have to uninstall an extension to stop using it. Open the "Manage extensions" page (puzzle-piece icon, then "Manage extensions"), find the extension, and toggle the switch next to its name. The switch turns blue when the extension is on and gray when it's off.

Turning an extension off stops it from running, but it stays installed. You can turn it back on anytime by toggling the switch again. This is useful if an extension slows down your browser or causes problems with a specific website — you can turn it off just for that moment without losing your settings.

Removing an extension you don't want

If you want to completely uninstall an extension, open "Manage extensions" and click the trash icon on the extension's card. Chrome asks you to confirm, then removes it. The extension's icon disappears from your toolbar, and it stops running.

Uninstalling also removes the extension's data from your computer, including any settings you saved. If you reinstall the same extension later, you'll have to set it up again from scratch.

Checking what permissions an extension has

Every extension can see certain information about your browser and the websites you visit. On the "Manage extensions" page, click an extension's name to see its details. Scroll down to the "Permissions" section to see exactly what it can access — for example, "Read and change your data on all websites" or "See your browsing history."

If an extension asks for permissions you're uncomfortable with, you can remove it. You can also change some permissions by clicking "Details" and scrolling to "Site access." This lets you choose whether the extension can see all websites, only the current website, or no websites at all.

Finding extensions that work with specific websites

Many extensions are designed to work with one website or a group of websites. When you visit a website that has a compatible extension, Chrome sometimes shows a notification suggesting you install it. You can also search the Web Store for the website's name — for example, searching "YouTube" shows extensions that add features to YouTube.

Read the reviews and description before installing. Look for extensions with many users and recent reviews that mention whether the extension still works. Some extensions stop being updated and break when the website changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use extensions from somewhere other than the Chrome Web Store?

Chrome is designed to work with extensions from the Web Store only. You can load an extension from your computer for testing if you're a developer, but this is not a normal way to use extensions. Stick to the Web Store for safety.

Why does an extension ask for permission to see all my websites?

Some extensions need to work on every website you visit. For example, a password manager needs to see login forms everywhere. Others ask for broad permissions but only use them on specific sites. Check the extension's description and reviews to understand why it needs what it's asking for.

What happens to my extension settings if I uninstall and reinstall it?

Your settings are deleted when you uninstall. If you reinstall the same extension, it starts fresh. Some extensions back up your settings to your Google account, so they restore automatically — check the extension's settings page to see if this option exists.

Can I use the same extension on multiple computers?

Yes. If you sign into Chrome with your Google account on another computer, your installed extensions and their settings sync automatically. You can also install the same extension on as many devices as you want.

How do I know if an extension is safe?

All extensions in the Chrome Web Store are reviewed by Google before they're published. Check the number of users and read recent reviews — extensions with thousands of users and recent positive reviews are generally safer. Avoid extensions with few users or reviews that say they're broken or slow.