In a move that’s set to impact users relying on ad blockers, Google has announced that it will resume its transition from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3 in Chrome, with changes expected to roll out as early as June 2024. This development follows last fall’s controversy when Google initially revealed plans to wind down support for Manifest V2 extensions in 2023, triggering widespread concerns, particularly among users of popular ad-blocking extensions.
Product manager David Li confirmed that Manifest V2 extensions would be disabled in pre-stable versions of Chrome starting from Chrome 127 for users on Dev, Canary, and Beta channels. The automatic disabling of previously installed Manifest V2 extensions and the prohibition of new installations from the Chrome Web Store are expected to be significant consequences for users on these channels.
Li emphasized that a gradual rollout would take place, with a period of observation and stabilization in pre-stable versions. The timeline for stable channel users to witness these changes is estimated to be July 2024 at the earliest, depending on collected data and progress updates.
Google asserts that it has addressed the primary concerns of extension developers before resuming the Manifest transition. AdGuard CTO Andrey Meshkov’s positive statement about Manifest V3 suggests that Google is working toward a unified platform, emphasizing collaboration with extension developers for a more robust ecosystem.
However, this shift in approach contrasts with Google’s recent stance on ad blockers for YouTube. The company has tightened restrictions on users employing ad blockers on the video platform, requiring them to disable extensions or navigate complex workarounds. Google has openly acknowledged that users with ad blockers may experience suboptimal viewing on YouTube, irrespective of the browser in use.
