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How to install a blocked extension in Google Chrome

After the latest update to Google Chrome, it has started preventing users from installing extensions from any other place except the official Chrome Web Store. Also, if you have some extensions installed which are not from the Store, the browser will block them too. The primary reason why Google made these changes is security: they want to protect their users from malicious extensions. However, if you are sure that an extension you downloaded previously is safe to install, here is how you can bypass the restrictions.

    1. Open the Google Chrome browser and type the following in the address bar:
      chrome://extensions
    2. Enable the Developer mode option on the top right corner of the extensions page. The buttons "Load unpacked extension" and "Pack extension" will appear on the screen.
      developer mode enabled
    3. Unpack the crx file (which is a regular ZIP archive) to any folder you want. i.e. C:\chrome\my extension.
      Tip: You can use any archiver to extract the contents of the crx file, for example WinRAR (an old and very popular archiver). Personally I prefer the open source 7-Zip archiver.
      7zip
    4. Click the Load unpacked extension button and point the browser to the unpacked extension folder.
      unpacked extension folder

Voila, your extension is installed!

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

18 thoughts on “How to install a blocked extension in Google Chrome”

  1. this is my school computer and when i try to get a extintion it say the adminastrator has blocked this when i went to devloper mode the load unpacked extintion was grey

  2. My school blockes developer mode. any other ways to add extentions? I am using remote access to my chromebook (google canary) and most things are blocked besides websites.

  3. Well, I tried, but it is showing a blocked building icon next to the developer mode button. Can you help me fix it?

  4. It said i needed a private key, i could not find a private key anywhere on my chromebook.
    This did not work please add additional information……

    1. hey, i havent found out how to get the code either but if you ask the administrator of your chrome they will most likely unblock it or give you the code you need

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