Where to find Chrome extensions
Chrome extensions live in the Chrome Web Store, which is Google's official marketplace for add-ons. You reach it by opening Chrome, clicking the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then selecting "Extensions" and "Manage extensions." At the top left of that page, click the blue "Open Chrome Web Store" button. That takes you to the storefront where you can search for and install extensions.
You can also go directly to the Chrome Web Store by typing chrome.google.com/webstore into your address bar. Either route gets you to the same place. The store shows you featured extensions on the homepage, but most people search for what they need instead of browsing.
Do not read extensions from anywhere else. Extensions found outside the Chrome Web Store may contain malware or spyware, even if they look legitimate. Sticking to the official store protects your browsing data and your computer.
Key Takeaways
- The Chrome Web Store is the only safe place to find Chrome extensions, and you reach it through the three-dot menu or by typing chrome.google.com/webstore into your address bar.
- Search for extensions by name or by what you want them to do — typing "password manager" or "ad blocker" into the search box shows you options ranked by popularity and user rating.
- Read the reviews and look at the number of users before you install, because a high user count and positive reviews mean the extension has been tested by many people.
- After you install an extension, it usually appears as an icon in the top right corner of Chrome, and you can click that icon to use it or adjust its settings.
- You can turn extensions on and off, remove them entirely, or limit what websites they can see — all from the "Manage extensions" page.
Searching for extensions by what they do
The search box at the top of the Chrome Web Store works like any search engine. Type what you want the extension to do: "password manager," "grammar checker," "video downloader," "dark mode," or "tab organizer." The store shows you results ranked by how many people use them and how highly they rate them.
The most popular extensions appear first, which is usually a good sign — many users means many people have tested it and found it trustworthy. Look at the star rating and the number of reviews. An extension with 50,000 users and a 4.5-star rating is more reliable than one with 200 users and a 5-star rating, because the larger sample catches problems the smaller one might miss.
Read a few of the recent reviews before you install. Look for complaints about the extension slowing down Chrome, stealing data, or changing your homepage without permission. If multiple recent reviews mention the same problem, skip that extension and try the next one.
Understanding what an extension asks permission to do
When you click "Add to Chrome" on an extension's page, a popup appears asking what the extension is allowed to see and change. This is called a permissions request. Read it carefully. An extension that wants to see everything you type on every website is riskier than one that only needs to see the pages you visit.
Some permissions make sense for what the extension does. A password manager needs to see what you type in login fields. A grammar checker needs to see the text you write. An ad blocker needs to see the ads on every page. Other permissions are red flags — if a calculator extension asks to see all your browsing history, that is a sign it may be collecting data it does not need.
You can always click "Cancel" and choose a different extension. If you install something and later realize it asks for too much access, you can remove it from the "Manage extensions" page.
Installing an extension and finding it in Chrome
After you click "Add to Chrome" and confirm the permissions, the extension installs automatically. Most extensions show a small icon in the top right corner of your Chrome window, next to the address bar. Click that icon to open the extension or adjust its settings.
If you do not see an icon, the extension may be running in the background without a visible button. Go to the "Manage extensions" page (three-dot menu, then "Extensions," then "Manage extensions") and look for the extension's name in the list. If it has a toggle switch next to it, the extension is turned on.
Some extensions add a button to your toolbar automatically. Others let you choose whether to show a button. If you want to hide an extension's icon to keep your toolbar clean, right-click the icon and select "Hide in Chrome menu." You can still use the extension from the "Manage extensions" page.
Controlling what websites an extension can access
By default, many extensions can see and change things on every website you visit. You can restrict that access so the extension only works on certain sites. Go to "Manage extensions," find the extension you want to control, and click "Details."
Scroll down to the "Permissions" section. You will see a dropdown that says "Allow on all sites," "Allow on specific sites," or "Allow on current site only." Choose "Allow on specific sites" if you want the extension to work only on certain websites. Then type in the websites where you want it active.
This is useful for security. A password manager should work everywhere, but an extension you trust less can be limited to just the sites where you need it. Restricting access also makes Chrome run faster, because the extension does not have to monitor every page you visit.
Removing extensions you no longer use
Go to "Manage extensions" and find the extension you want to remove. Click the red "Remove" button. Chrome will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" again, and the extension is deleted. Its icon disappears from your toolbar, and it no longer runs in the background.
You can reinstall the same extension later if you change your mind — it will still be in the Chrome Web Store. Removing extensions you do not use keeps Chrome running faster and reduces the number of programs that can see your browsing activity.
Turning extensions on and off without removing them
If you want to pause an extension temporarily without deleting it, go to "Manage extensions" and click the toggle switch next to the extension's name. The toggle turns blue when the extension is on and gray when it is off. Turning an extension off stops it from running, but you keep all its settings and data.
This is useful if an extension is slowing down your browser and you want to test whether it is the culprit. Turn it off for a day and see if Chrome feels faster. If it does, you can either remove the extension or limit which websites it can access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store?
The Chrome Web Store is safer than downloading extensions from other websites, but not every extension is trustworthy. Google reviews extensions before they appear in the store, but new problems can emerge after an extension is published. Read recent reviews, check the user count, and look at what permissions the extension asks for before you install it.
Why does an extension I installed not show an icon in my toolbar?
Some extensions run in the background without a visible button. Go to "Manage extensions," find the extension's name, and check whether the toggle switch is turned on. If it is on but you still do not see an icon, the extension may not have a toolbar button — you can still use it from the "Manage extensions" page or through a keyboard shortcut the extension provides.
Can I limit what websites an extension can see?
Yes. Go to "Manage extensions," click "Details" on the extension you want to control, scroll to "Permissions," and change the dropdown from "Allow on all sites" to "Allow on specific sites." Then type in the websites where you want the extension to work. This reduces the data the extension can collect and can make Chrome run faster.
What should I do if an extension is slowing down Chrome?
Go to "Manage extensions" and turn off the extension by clicking its toggle switch. Use Chrome for a few hours and see if it feels faster. If it does, the extension was the problem — you can either remove it or limit it to specific websites. If Chrome is still slow, turn the extension back on and try disabling a different one.
Can I reinstall an extension I removed?
Yes. Go back to the Chrome Web Store, search for the extension by name, and click "Add to Chrome" again. The extension will reinstall, though you may lose any custom settings you had configured before you removed it.