Google Chrome is set to eliminate the last remaining workarounds that allowed older ad blockers to continue functioning, with the changes expected to roll out in Chrome versions 150 and 151, due in late June and July 2026, respectively.
The move closes the final loopholes for extensions built on Manifest V2 (MV2), the older framework that powered widely used ad blockers such as uBlock Origin. Google had already phased out official support for MV2 extensions in 2024, at which point most Chrome users either switched to newer alternatives or moved to different browsers. However, some workarounds had allowed MV2-based tools to keep running in the interim.
In a statement, Google said: “MV2 extensions are no longer allowed in any supported version of Chrome, and we are removing support for them and the associated functionality. We won’t be able to provide / maintain this functionality indefinitely due to the complexity and tech debt, as well as the security risks it entails.” Google also noted that it had recently identified a number of bugs specific to MV2.
Google acknowledged that other browsers may continue supporting MV2 extensions if they choose to do so, which could make alternatives more attractive to users who rely on MV2-based tools.
For Chrome users still depending on older ad-blocking extensions, the upcoming updates may require switching to MV3-compatible alternatives or considering a different browser altogether. The changes suggest that MV2 support in Chrome is now fully and permanently closed off.
Source: The Verge