Browser extensions that survived the manifest v3 purge

Many beloved extensions broke when Chrome enforced manifest v3 in 2025. carmannews lists the ad blockers, password managers, and productivity tools that survived — and which alternatives now lead each category.

Browser extensions are the small add-ons that block ads, fill passwords, save articles, and generally smooth out the web. A recent technical change to how the most-used browser handles extensions reshaped what they’re allowed to do, and some popular tools — content blockers most of all — had to change how they work or risk becoming less effective. If a favourite extension started behaving differently or vanished, this is usually why. The practical question for users isn’t the technical detail; it’s how to keep the protection and convenience you relied on, and how to choose extensions safely now that the ground has shifted.

What changed, in plain terms

The new extension rules were pitched as improving security and performance, and in some respects they do — extensions now have less unfettered access to everything you do online, which is genuinely good for privacy and safety. The trade-off landed hardest on content blockers. The old system let an ad blocker inspect and filter web traffic with great flexibility; the new system limits that, which can make the most thorough blocking harder to achieve. Most blockers adapted and still work well for everyday browsing, but the change is real and it’s why the category got so much attention.

Two responses emerged, and both are valid depending on what you want. Some extensions adapted to the new rules and keep working within them — convenient, and good enough for most people. Meanwhile, browsers built on a different engine kept the more permissive extension model, so users who want the most powerful blocking sometimes prefer a browser that still allows it. You don’t have to pick a side blindly; you match the choice to how much you care about thorough ad and tracker blocking.

How the main categories fared

• Ad and content blockers — most affected. These felt the change most. The leading blockers updated to keep working, and for typical browsing they still do the job. If you want the most aggressive blocking, you have two routes: stick with an updated blocker that works within the new rules, or use a browser that retains the older, more flexible model. Both are reasonable.
• Password managers — largely fine. These continued working with minimal disruption, and a good password manager remains one of the most worthwhile extensions you can install. The change didn’t meaningfully undermine them.
• Productivity and read-later tools — mostly fine. Article savers, note tools, tab managers, and similar utilities generally carried on, with some needing updates. Keeping them current is the main thing.
• Privacy and tracker blockers — adapted. Tools that block trackers adjusted to the new rules and continue to protect you, though, like ad blockers, the most thorough versions may behave a little differently than before.

The DNS-level option

One approach worth knowing sidesteps the extension question entirely. Some ad and tracker blocking can be done at the network level — before content ever reaches the browser — rather than through an extension at all. This kind of blocking isn’t affected by browser extension rules, because it doesn’t rely on an extension, and it can cover every device on your network at once. It’s more involved to set up than clicking “install,” but for people who want robust, browser-independent blocking, it’s a durable alternative that the rule change can’t touch.

How to choose extensions safely now

The reshuffle is also a good moment to revisit extension hygiene, because extensions are powerful and a bad one can do real harm.

• Install only what you actively use. Every extension can see and do a lot in your browser, so each one is a small risk. Audit what’s installed and remove anything you’ve stopped using — it’s both faster and safer.
• Check the extension is maintained. An extension that’s still updated has adapted to the new rules and is patching security issues. An abandoned one may be broken, unsafe, or both. Prefer living tools.
• Be cautious about ownership changes. Extensions are sometimes sold to new owners who insert ads, tracking, or worse into a tool you trusted. If a familiar extension suddenly behaves strangely or asks for new permissions, treat that as a red flag and re-evaluate.
• Mind the permissions. A simple tool asking for sweeping access to everything you do is worth questioning. Match the permissions to what the extension actually needs to function.

If the change has you reconsidering your browser entirely, that’s a reasonable response — but choose on the whole picture, not extensions alone. How well a browser protects your privacy by default, how quickly it patches security holes, how it handles your saved passwords and bookmarks if you switch, and how it performs on your machine all matter as much as its extension model. The good news is that switching browsers is far easier than it used to be: your bookmarks and saved logins can usually move across with you, so trying an alternative for a week costs little. Let extension support be one factor in that decision, weighed against the rest, rather than the only one.

Which specific extensions lead each category, and how each has adapted, keeps shifting, so check current reviews and an extension’s recent update activity before installing. But the takeaways are stable: most everyday tools still work, the heaviest impact is on aggressive ad blocking, and you have real choices — an updated blocker, a browser that keeps the old model, or network-level blocking that the change can’t reach.

The rule change is a fine excuse to do the thing you’ve been putting off: open your extensions list and delete every one you forgot you installed.

Kenji Tanaka, Tech Editor, carmannews