News: 0183901944

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Google Chrome's Next Update Will Mark the End of Popular Ad Blockers (9to5google.com)

(Monday June 15, 2026 @05:00PM (BeauHD) from the what-to-expect dept.)


Google is removing Chrome's last remaining workarounds for Manifest V2 extensions, effectively [1]ending support for legacy ad blockers such as the original uBlock Origin. 9to5Google reports:

> CyberNews [2]points out a [3]Chromium commit that removes support for the "kExtensionManifestV2Disabled" flag, which is referred to as "dead code" seeing as Chrome no longer supports Manifest V2 extensions. This removal acts as the final stop for many Manifest V2-based ad blocker extensions that were still in use today -- the flag was effectively a loophole to continue using these extensions.

>

> A Googler on the commit [4]explains : "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 (we've actually found a number of bugs that are specific to MV2 lately). Of course, other browsers can continue supporting these if they so desire."

>

> This will also impact other Chromium-based browsers, though the comment notes that "other browsers can continue supporting these if they so desire." Neowin [5]points out that Microsoft Edge and Opera are likely to follow suit. Chrome 150, set to be released later this month, will remove this flag, while other leftover bits of Manifest V2 will be removed in the v151 release.



[1] https://9to5google.com/2026/06/15/google-chromes-next-update-will-mark-the-end-of-popular-ad-blockers/

[2] https://cybernews.com/security/chrome-update-disables-adblockers-manifest-v3/

[3] https://chromium-review.googlesource.com/c/chromium/src/+/7813942

[4] https://chromium-review.googlesource.com/c/chromium/src/+/7813942

[5] https://www.neowin.net/news/google-chrome-is-killing-all-ublock-origin-bypasses-microsoft-edge-opera-to-follow/



Bye Chrome... (Score:1)

by Anonymous Coward

> The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.

Another reason to avoid Chrome (Score:5, Informative)

by Ritz_Just_Ritz ( 883997 )

Check.

The adblockers work just dandy with Firefox.

Re: (Score:2)

by RitchCraft ( 6454710 )

Yep, same here, and if an ad does happen to sneak through (looking at you /. and MondoDB) it's a simple right click and block element.

That's going to get tougher everyday (Score:2)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

A lot of the reason Firefox still gets money is because companies are afraid of antitrust law enforcement if there aren't any other browser alternatives. The reason Google is doing this now is that they are quite comfortable that they aren't going to face any antitrust enforcement so they don't need to worry about shutting out ad blockers and other useful extensions.

Eventually they won't be in the slightest concerned about antitrust enforcement. In the old days the other companies would be worried abou

Hardly use it so (Score:3)

by oldgraybeard ( 2939809 )

Bye Bye Chrome! Gone!

Veni, vidi, Vivaldi? (Score:3)

by Shades72 ( 6355170 )

This has been my browser of choice for a while. Also a Chromium-based one. But let's see if they follow Google/Chrome with this. I don't expect the creators of Vivaldi to do this though.

So if ad-blocking remains part of your (personal) core, you should want to replace your Chrome browser for Vivaldi.

Why Chrome? (Score:4, Insightful)

by Mononymous ( 6156676 )

It's closed source spyware. Why is anyone still using it?

The only time I ever installed Chrome was that brief period when it was the only way to stream Netflix on Linux.

Re: (Score:2)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

Because it's the default in most cases and it's fast with extremely good memory usage.

And honestly I have so many other things that have eaten my privacy alive there's no point in worrying about Chrome doing it. I am way more concerned with the lack of antitrust law enforcement and with widespread voter suppression at the county level.

"Security Issues" (Score:2)

by nightflameauto ( 6607976 )

Are those security issues in the room with us right now? Can you point them out to us?

There are chromium-based derivatives (Score:2)

by aglider ( 2435074 )

A gazillion of them supporting ad blockers.

Re: (Score:2)

by markdavis ( 642305 )

> "A gazillion of them supporting ad blockers."

And most of them are just me-too leaches, too cheap to perform actual development and support themselves. It is not like there is a rich browser diversity anymore, we are barely hanging on to anything NOT Google-controlled:

"This will also impact other Chromium-based browsers, though the comment notes that other browsers can continue supporting these if they so desire. Microsoft Edge and Opera are likely to follow suit [with dropping support]."

If you block ads... (Score:2)

by Black Parrot ( 19622 )

you miss out on the true meaning of Christmas.

Firefox (Score:2)

by markdavis ( 642305 )

It's a good thing we all use and promote Firefox (coupled with UBO). Right?

Title Correction: (Score:2)

by Sebby ( 238625 )

> Google Chrome's Next Update Will Mark the End of Popular Ad Blockers

"Privacy Rapists' Privacy Raping Browser's Next Update Will Mark the End of it Being An Actual Useful Web Browser"

There FTFY - like I've always said, if it doesn't run uBlock Origin (the real full featured one), it's not a real browser.

bugs that are specific to MV2 (Score:2)

by awwshit ( 6214476 )

> we've actually found a number of bugs that are specific to MV2 lately

What, ad blockers use MV2? Serious bug, we know.

PiHole (Score:2)

by RitchCraft ( 6454710 )

It's pretty simple to set up a PiHole on your network. If you're feeling particular randy you could also add Unbound and Tailscale into the mix too.

Re: (Score:2)

by RitchCraft ( 6454710 )

Here's a video showing how to set these up for those interested: [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao-G1wVRcNo

Other browsers can ... (Score:2)

by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 )

> A Googler on the commit explains: "MV2 extensions are no longer allowed in any supported version of Chrome, ...

> Of course, other browsers can continue supporting these if they so desire."

How magnanimous of him. /s

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