Google Chrome browser comes with a Chrome Web Store that is a warehouse of millions of browser extensions with extraordinary features. Installing extensions to Chrome Browser may give your browser a whole new set of features. This tutorial will teach you how to use the Chrome Web Store to install extensions and how to manage them from the Chrome bar.
What are Google Chrome Extensions?
Google Chrome extensions are like add-on pieces of software that extend the functionality of your browser. Some extension uses the browser interface to provide functionality and some provide there stand-alone interface to use it features. In Chrome Web Store, you can find all sort of extensions ranging from simple to-do list to extensive SEO tools and code editors.
Although adding new extensions to your browser enables extra functionality, yet it comes with a performance cost. Adding too much Google Chrome extensions will slow down your browser and have a serious impact on your browser's performance. Some unverified extension may cause security breach to your browser data.
Follow this article till the end to make sure you install Google Chrome extensions safely and in the right way.
How to Install Google Chrome Extension from Chrome Web Store
- Search for the extension you wish to install in the Chrome Web Store.
- Add to Chrome is the option to choose. If you aren't logged in to your Google account, you may be prompted to do so.
- Select Add extension from the confirmation window.
- When the installation is complete, the button switches to checking and then Added to Chrome.
Chrome extensions are simple to install; simply click the "Add to Chrome" button on the extension page, and Chrome will download and install the extension for you. But what if you want to add the Chrome extensions manually? You could wish to download the extension but install it on another computer. Alternatively, you may be having difficulties installing Chrome extensions directly.
Security Risk installing Extensions Manually in Google Chrome
There's a reason Google encourages you to use the Web Store to obtain extensions: Extensions have access to your entire browsing history as well as the information you type into your browser. If they've been constructed deliberately, this poses a serious security concern.
Google has the power to examine and ban dangerous extensions when they are uploaded to the Web Store. When you manually install an extension, there is no such review, and the code may be harmful and untested.
How to Download Chrome Extension for Manually Installation
When you click the "Add to Chrome" button, Chrome unzips the CRX extension package (zipped file) and install it as a Chrome extension. With the aid of another Chrome extension, you may download the CRX file of each extension individually. Here's how.
- Go to the page for the plugin you want in the Chrome Web Store.
- Copy the extension's URL from the address bar.
- Visit https://chrome-extension-downloader.com/ in a browser to use the Chrome Extension Downloader.
- Select Download extension after pasting the URL into the text field.
- When Chrome tries to download the CRX file, choose Keep if requested.
- The CRX file may be found in your Downloads folder. When you're ready to start the installation, open it.
How to Install Google Chrome Extension Manually
- Download the extension file by following the above steps.
- Typically, extensions arrive in the form of a zip/rar file. The files should be extracted into their own folder.
- If the extension is a ".crx" file, it is a Chrome extension format that contains all of its data and does not require any extraction.
- Store the extension file permanently in a one location because Chrome will require constant access to these files in order for the extension to function.
- This means you shouldn't keep the files on your desktop or in your downloads' folder, where they might be unintentionally cleaned up or deleted later.
- Go to chrome://extensions/ and drag and drop the extension from your file explorer anywhere on the Chrome extensions screen.
- If the file extension is.crx, you'll be prompted to check the permissions and append the extension.
- You've installed the extension and are ready to start. You may now manage the extension like any other, and its icon will display to the right of the address bar in the Chrome Menu (if it has one).
It's worth noting that the first new window you open after restarting Chrome will display a warning about the security hazards of developer mode. Click "Cancel" to keep the extensions enabled. It's a little inconvenient, but it's just one click!
It should be pointed out that the same procedure may be used to install Chrome extensions in other Chromium-based browsers, such as Opera. Also, instead of opening the CRX file with Chrome as the default program, drag & drop it into Chrome. Chrome will not allow the installation if this is not done.
That's all guys for this article. Hope this helps you installing Google Chrome extension automatically or manually. Make sure you follow each step carefully and download extension file from a authentic source.
If you found any problem following the instruction please let me know in the comments below. For more interesting article like this subscribe to our newsletter so that you didn't miss any updates.
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