Chrome disables extensions automatically when it detects a problem, and you can turn them back on in your settings

Chrome turns off extensions for a few reasons: the extension hasn't been updated in a while, it's slowing down your browser, or Chrome detected a security issue. When this happens, the extension stops working without asking you first. You can re-enable it yourself, but understand that Chrome disabled it for a reason — turning it back on may bring back whatever problem prompted the shutdown.

The steps to turn an extension back on are the same whether Chrome disabled it or you disabled it yourself. You access your extensions list, find the one you want, and toggle it on. The process takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome's extension settings by typing chrome://extensions into the address bar, or go to the menu, select More Tools, then Extensions.
  • Look for the extension you want to turn on — disabled extensions appear grayed out or show a toggle switch that is off.
  • Click the toggle switch to turn the extension back on; it will turn blue and the extension will start working immediately.
  • If Chrome keeps disabling the same extension, the extension itself may have a problem, and you may need to uninstall it and find an alternative.

Finding your disabled extensions in Chrome settings

Open Chrome and look at the top right corner of the window. Click the three vertical dots (the menu button), then scroll down and click More Tools. A submenu will appear. Click Extensions.

You are now on your extensions page. At the top left, you will see a toggle switch labeled Developer mode. Make sure it is off — you do not need it for this task. Below that, you will see a list of all your extensions, both active and disabled.

Disabled extensions appear grayed out or dimmed. Some will show a toggle switch that is clearly in the off position. Scroll through the list until you find the extension you want to turn back on.

Turning the extension back on

Once you find the disabled extension, look for the toggle switch on the right side of its entry. The switch will be gray or white and positioned to the left. Click it once. The switch will turn blue and move to the right, and the extension name will no longer appear grayed out.

That is all you need to do. The extension is now active and will start working immediately. You do not need to restart Chrome or reload any pages — the extension will begin functioning in the background right away.

Why Chrome disabled the extension in the first place

Chrome disables extensions for specific reasons, and turning one back on does not change those underlying issues. The most common reason is that the extension has not been updated by its developer in a long time. Chrome periodically removes support for very old extensions to protect your security.

Chrome may also disable an extension if it is consuming too much memory or slowing down your browser noticeably. If you turn it back on and immediately notice Chrome running slowly again, the extension is likely the cause. In that case, you may want to uninstall it instead and look for a lighter alternative that does the same job.

Less commonly, Chrome disables an extension because it detected malicious code or suspicious behavior. If you see a warning message on the extension's entry saying it was disabled due to a security concern, think carefully before turning it back on. You may want to uninstall it and find a different extension instead.

What to do if Chrome keeps disabling the same extension

If you turn an extension back on and Chrome disables it again within a few days or weeks, the extension itself has a problem that you cannot fix by toggling it. This usually means the extension is outdated, no longer maintained by its developer, or contains code that Chrome's security systems flag as risky.

Your best option is to uninstall the extension and find a replacement. To uninstall, go back to your extensions page, find the problematic extension, and click the trash icon on its entry. Then search the Chrome Web Store for a similar extension with good reviews and a recent update date.

Before you uninstall, write down what the extension does so you can search for a replacement with the same features. Many extensions have multiple alternatives available, and a newer one will likely work better anyway.

Turning on extensions you disabled yourself

The same toggle switch works whether Chrome disabled the extension or you did. If you turned off an extension yourself and want to turn it back on, the process is identical: go to chrome://extensions, find the extension, and click its toggle switch to the on position.

You might disable an extension yourself if it is annoying you, slowing things down, or you simply do not use it anymore. Turning it back on is just as easy as turning it off, so there is no penalty for experimenting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning an extension back on slow down Chrome?

It depends on the extension. If Chrome disabled it because it was consuming too much memory, turning it back on will likely slow Chrome down again. If you disabled it yourself or Chrome disabled it for being outdated, it may run fine. The only way to know is to turn it on and monitor your browser's speed for a few minutes.

Can I turn on an extension that I uninstalled?

No. Uninstalling removes the extension completely. To use it again, you would need to reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Disabling and uninstalling are different — disabling just turns it off, while uninstalling removes it entirely.

What does the Developer mode toggle do?

Developer mode shows extra information about each extension and allows you to load extensions from your computer instead of the Chrome Web Store. You do not need it to turn extensions on or off. Leave it off unless you are a developer testing your own extension.

Why does Chrome say an extension is "not from Chrome Web Store"?

This means the extension was installed from somewhere other than the official Chrome Web Store — perhaps from a website, an email link, or your company's network. Chrome treats these extensions with extra caution and may disable them more readily. Consider uninstalling it and finding the same extension in the Chrome Web Store instead.