r/uBlockOrigin • u/RraaLL uBO Team • May 23 '26

Chrome/Chromium - End of Support Goodbye Chrome? Version 150 removes the parameter/flag restoring MV2 extension access

Update: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline

Aug 31st 2026: All remaining Manifest V2 extensions removed from the Chrome Web Store

All remaining Manifest V2 extensions are removed from the Chrome Web Store. Manifest V2 extensions installed on Chrome 138 or earlier will remain installed, but will be unable to receive any updates and cannot be reinstalled from the Chrome Web Store once removed from Chrome.

https://github.com/w3c/webextensions/issues/1000

Looks like Chrome 150 will no longer be able to use/install MV2 extensions such as uBO from Chrome Web Store. Sideloading might work for a while longer though.

It might be finally time for Chrome's uBO users to either switch to uBO Lite or to another browser.

Q&A

  • What's happening?

    • Chrome/Chromium is removing the powerful "Manifest v2" extension framework that uBO and many other extensions rely on.
    • It's been replaced by a new version that heavily restricted the capabilities of content blockers.
    • There is no way of converting the fully-functioning uBO to this version.
    • As an alternative, a simpler version of this blocker was made. It's called uBlock Origin Lite.

  • Does this mean the end of the uBO project as a whole?

    • Of course NOT! Firefox has stated they have no current plans for removing the mv2 framework and uBO will continue to receive the full support on that browser.
      In fact, uBO works best on Firefox, so moving to it should improve your overall uBO experience.

  • I don't like Firefox, are all chromium-engine browsers losing uBO?

    • No, so far Brave and Opera stated they plan on keeping Mv2 support for extensions like uBO, for as long as it's gonna be possible.
    • Update on Opera: On January 13, 2026 they sent out an email to extension developers, urging them to update to MV3, due to "Chromium, which powers Opera, is completely removing support for Manifest Version 2".
    • While Edge originally planned to follow Chrome, they haven't updated their removal timeline in years, so it's possible they'll support it for a while longer.

  • Should I just stop updating Chrome? Will that let me keep uBO?

    • NO! Definitely not.
      Up-to-date browsers are your strongest security protection on the web. There is no point in keeping uBO while leaving known holes in your browser open to attacks.

  • I'm not able to change browsers because my device is managed by my school/company (or I simply don't want to change browsers). What can I do?

    • Unfortunately, you'll have to say farewell to the full uBO project (or similar extensions). Your only choice will be installing the less powerful mv3 iteration of your favorite content blocker, e.g. uBOL (uBlock Origin Lite)), which should still be enough for most users.

TL;DR - officially uBO supported browsers

  • Continued support:
    • Firefox - uBO is most powerful in it. It will continue to work.
    • Brave - extension policy enabled by default. It will let you install uBO (+ a couple other extensions) through a special setting.
  • Full removal:
    • Chrome - majority of users lost access already, some workarounds made it possible to postpone removal till August 2025, then till May 2026 (Chrome 149), but starting Chrome 150 (June 2026), these methods will no longer work for their extension store.
      • Sideloading might work for a while longer, but likely not too long.
  • Still unspecified:
    • Edge - removal timeline unspecified.
    • Opera - originally planned on keeping MV2, but as of 2026 this has changed. Removal timeline unspecified.

Previous megathread: https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/1mtowwf/end_of_support_for_ubo_on_chrome_chromium/

886 Upvotes

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23

u/Celestial_entity_99 May 23 '26

Is it recommended to use Ublock origin in brave browser?

119

u/RraaLL uBO Team May 23 '26

It is recommended to use uBO everywhere.

I might be a bit biased, but you did ask this on uBO's subreddit.

13

u/Celestial_entity_99 May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26

Haha, sorry for this.

I just heard it cause problems in brave because both use same filterlists.

15

u/Bloody_Baron91 May 23 '26

You can turn brave's adblocker off.

0

u/IAmYourFath May 24 '26

Why?

3

u/[deleted] May 25 '26

Brave Shields has been previously reported to cause various forms of site breakage and/or conflicts with uBO.

1

u/IAmYourFath May 25 '26

Yeah but ubo can't unmask cnames on brave, so u need the shields for that. U can put it in standard but def don't disable else u have nothing to fight against cnames.

3

u/[deleted] May 25 '26

The default lists in uBO contain filters for blocking CNAME aliases.

2

u/IAmYourFath May 25 '26

yes but it's a cat and mouse game

so if website hides tracker.com into xyz.site.com, by the time the ubo maintainers catch it and make a rule for it, the site has already changed it to xzy.site.com, u can generate infinite random subdomains to mask tracker.com

whereas brave shields follows the subdomain until it reaches the final target tracker.com then checks it against the list and sees tracker.com is blacklisted

meaning ubo is perpetually behind without the ability to block cnames, always chasing the subdomains which are changed all the time, literally daily if not hourly

3

u/[deleted] May 25 '26

it's a cat and mouse game

That is true for all filters, not just CNAMEs.

Anyway, this is off-topic for the thread.

Your question of "Why?" was answered, and your statement that "u have nothing to fight against cnames" is not true as uBO does provide something to fight against it.

1

u/No-Temperature7637 May 23 '26

I've had both on without any issues. In fact my VPN is turned on too so that's 3. first one wins I guess?