Installing uBlock Origin from the Chrome Web Store

uBlock Origin is a free extension that blocks ads and trackers on websites you visit. To add it to Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Store, search for "uBlock Origin," and click the blue "Add to Chrome" button on the official extension page. Chrome will ask you to confirm — click "Add extension" and the installation finishes in seconds.

The official uBlock Origin is made by Raymond Hill and shows a red shield icon with a play button. There are fake versions with similar names in the Web Store, so check that the creator is listed as "Raymond Hill" before you install. Once added, you'll see the uBlock Origin icon appear in your Chrome toolbar at the top right of the browser window.

Key Takeaways

  • uBlock Origin installs directly from the Chrome Web Store and requires no account or payment.
  • The official version is made by Raymond Hill — check the creator name to avoid fake copies with similar names.
  • After installation, the extension works automatically on all websites without any setup needed.
  • You can click the uBlock Origin icon in your toolbar to see what ads and trackers were blocked on each page.
  • The extension uses filter lists that update automatically, so it catches new ads and trackers without you doing anything.

What uBlock Origin blocks and how it works

uBlock Origin blocks ads, pop-ups, and tracking scripts that follow you across websites. It does this by comparing what loads on each page against filter lists — databases of known ad servers and tracker domains. When a request matches a filter, uBlock Origin stops it from loading, which also makes pages load faster because fewer things are downloading.

The extension comes with several filter lists already turned on, including EasyList (which blocks most ads) and EasyPrivacy (which blocks trackers). You don't have to do anything for these to work. If you visit a website and still see ads, you can click the uBlock Origin icon and manually block elements on that page, or you can add custom filter lists in the settings if you want to block specific things.

Finding and using the uBlock Origin icon in Chrome

After you install uBlock Origin, a small red shield icon appears in your Chrome toolbar. The toolbar is the row of icons at the top right of your browser window, next to the address bar. If you have many extensions, the uBlock Origin icon might be hidden behind a puzzle-piece icon — click the puzzle piece and then click the pin next to uBlock Origin to keep it visible.

Click the uBlock Origin icon anytime to see what the extension blocked on the current page. A panel opens showing the number of ads and trackers stopped, organized by category. You can see exactly which domains tried to load ads or tracking code. Most of the time you won't need to click it — the extension works silently in the background.

Adjusting uBlock Origin settings for your needs

uBlock Origin works well with its default settings, but you can change how strict it is. Click the uBlock Origin icon, then click the gear icon at the bottom right of the panel to open settings. The "Filter lists" tab shows which lists are active — you can turn them on or off, or add custom lists if you know the URL of a list you want to use.

In the "My filters" tab, you can write your own rules to block or allow specific things on specific websites. For example, you could block all images on a particular site, or allow ads on a website you want to support. Most people never need to do this — the default filter lists handle nearly everything. If a website breaks or looks wrong after you install uBlock Origin, you can click the uBlock Origin icon and temporarily disable it for that site by clicking the large power button.

Keeping uBlock Origin updated

Chrome updates uBlock Origin automatically in the background, usually once a week. You don't have to do anything — the extension checks for updates and installs them without interrupting your browsing. The filter lists that uBlock Origin uses also update automatically, so it catches new ads and trackers without you managing anything.

If you want to check that you have the latest version, go to Chrome's extension page by typing chrome://extensions in the address bar. Find uBlock Origin in the list and look for "Version" — if an update is available, a blue "Update" button appears. You can also turn on "Developer mode" at the top right to see an "Update" button for all extensions at once, though this is not necessary for normal use.

Troubleshooting when websites don't work properly

Occasionally a website breaks after you install uBlock Origin — a page might not load fully, buttons might not work, or videos might not play. This usually means uBlock Origin blocked something the website needs to function, not just ads. The fastest fix is to click the uBlock Origin icon and click the large power button to turn off the extension for that site only. The page usually works when ready.

If turning off uBlock Origin fixes the problem but you still want to block ads on that site, you can click the icon again and use the element picker tool (the crosshair icon) to block specific things instead of everything. Alternatively, you can add the site to your whitelist in settings so uBlock Origin never runs there. Most websites work fine with uBlock Origin on — this issue is rare and usually only happens on sites with unusual ad setups.

uBlock Origin versus other ad blockers

uBlock Origin is one of several ad blockers available for Chrome. Others include Adblock Plus, AdGuard, and Brave's built-in blocker. uBlock Origin is popular because it uses less computer memory than most alternatives, updates its filter lists frequently, and is completely free with no paid version trying to upsell you. It also doesn't sell data about what you block to advertisers, unlike some competitors.

If you already use a different ad blocker, you usually don't need uBlock Origin — running multiple ad blockers at once can slow your browser down and cause conflicts. If you want to switch from another blocker to uBlock Origin, uninstall the old one first, then install uBlock Origin. Your browsing history and saved passwords stay in Chrome no matter which extensions you use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uBlock Origin work on all websites?

uBlock Origin works on almost all websites, but Chrome prevents extensions from running on the Chrome Web Store itself, on Google's other official pages, and on some banking sites for security reasons. On regular websites, uBlock Origin blocks ads and trackers automatically. If a site breaks, you can click the uBlock Origin icon and turn it off for just that site.

Will uBlock Origin slow down my browser?

uBlock Origin uses very little computer memory compared to other ad blockers, so most people don't notice any slowdown. In fact, because it stops ads from downloading, many websites load faster with uBlock Origin on. If your browser feels slow, the cause is usually something else — you can check Chrome's task manager by pressing Shift+Esc to see which extensions or tabs are using the most memory.

Can websites detect that I'm using uBlock Origin?

Yes, websites can detect that you're using an ad blocker, and some show messages asking you to turn it off. You can't hide that you're using uBlock Origin, but you can turn it off for specific sites if you want to support them. Some people add sites they trust to their whitelist so ads load there, while blocking ads everywhere else.

What's the difference between uBlock Origin and uBlock?

uBlock Origin is the original extension made by Raymond Hill. "uBlock" is a different extension made by someone else after the original creator stopped working on it. uBlock Origin is more widely used and updated more frequently. When you search the Chrome Web Store, make sure you install "uBlock Origin" by Raymond Hill, not the other one.

Do I need to pay for uBlock Origin?

No. uBlock Origin is completely free and has no paid version. Some other ad blockers offer free versions with limited features and paid versions with more features, but uBlock Origin gives you everything for nothing. There are no ads in the extension itself, and it doesn't sell your data.