Google starts removing the uBlock Origin ad blocker from the Chrome Web Store. The change is already active for some users. While they can reinstall it, the browser shows a warning. It says "This extension may soon be unsupported because it does not follow best practices for Chrome extensions."
Google also suggests that users who want to download uBlock Origin from the Chrome Web Store stop using it. If the extension is not removed, it can still be used, but with limitations.
Google Chrome began winding down uBlock Origin last October as part of its transition to Manifest V3, a new extension specification that affects ad blockers. Developer Raymond Hill shared a screenshot showing the extension being automatically disabled due to lack of support.
To adapt, Hill released a simplified version called uBlock Origin Lite, which complies with Manifest V3 but must be manually installed. However, users may notice reduced effectiveness. That's because Manifest V3 limits the capabilities of the Declarative Net Request API. It restricts advanced filtering features previously available in uBlock Origin.
Earlier this month, the Chrome Web Store began issuing a warning that the uBlock Origin ad blocker and other extensions may soon be blocked as part of the deprecation of the Manifest V2 extension specifications.
Last August, Google began warning users directly in the browser that uBlock Origin might soon be shut down. At the time, Hill urged users to switch to uBO Lite (uBOL), a stripped-down version of the extension that offers an MV3-compatible approach.
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