Edge begins disabling uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2 extensions, following Google

Microsoft has reportedly started disabling uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2-based extensions in its Microsoft Edge browser, following Google's plan to phase out these extensions. In the latest Edge Canary version, users receive notifications that these extensions are "no longer supported" and are advised to remove them, though they can still be manually re-enabled. Unlike Google, Microsoft has not provided a clear timeline for this transition, leaving users uncertain about the phase-out schedule. Some speculate that Microsoft's actions may be due to "unexpected changes" in Chromium rather than a planned rollout.

Currently, this change only affects Edge Canary, with MV2-based extensions still working in Edge's stable, Beta, and Dev channels. Despite being disabled in Edge Canary, uBlock Origin remains available in the Edge Add-ons store. Google had flagged uBlock Origin as unsupported by August 2024, leading its developer to recommend uBlock Origin Lite, a Manifest V3-based alternative with certain limitations.

Users seeking alternatives to uBlock Origin can opt for uBlock Origin Lite or AdGuard, which offers extensive content-blocking features. For those preferring to continue using Manifest V2 extensions, switching to Mozilla Firefox remains a viable option, as the company has recently reaffirmed its commitment to supporting MV2-based extensions.