Where to find Chrome extensions
Chrome extensions live in the Chrome Web Store, which you reach directly from your browser. Click the puzzle-piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome (next to your profile picture), then select "Manage extensions." From there, click the blue button labeled "Open Chrome Web Store" at the bottom left, or go directly to chromewebstore.google.com in your address bar.
The Web Store shows you extensions sorted by category — productivity, shopping, security, privacy, and others. You can search by name if you already know what you want, or browse by category to see what exists. Each extension has a description, user reviews, the number of downloads, and screenshots showing what it does.
Not every extension you find online is in the Chrome Web Store. Some developers distribute extensions through their own websites or GitHub. Those require a different installation method and carry more risk, since Google does not review them the way it reviews Web Store extensions. Stick to the Web Store unless you have a specific reason to trust a developer outside it.
Key Takeaways
- The Chrome Web Store is built into your browser — click the puzzle-piece icon and select "Manage extensions" to reach it.
- Before installing any extension, read the permissions it asks for and check the user reviews to understand what it actually does.
- Once installed, an extension appears as an icon in your toolbar; you can pin it there, hide it, or remove it at any time.
- Extensions can slow down your browser or collect data about your browsing, so install only the ones you actually use.
Understanding what permissions mean
When you install an extension, Chrome shows you a list of permissions — things the extension is asking permission to do. These might include "read and change all your data on websites you visit," "see your browsing history," or "manage your downloads." These are not optional warnings; they describe what the extension can actually access.
A password manager needs permission to see what you type in password fields. A shopping comparison tool needs to see the prices on the page you are looking at. A privacy extension needs to see your browsing history to block trackers. But an extension that claims to change your browser's appearance should not need to see your passwords or your history. If the permissions do not match what the extension claims to do, that is a red flag.
Read the user reviews before you install. If hundreds of people say an extension started showing ads, or started selling their data, or stopped working after an update, you will see that in the reviews. A low rating with complaints about data collection is a reason to look for a different extension that does the same thing.
How to install an extension
Once you have found an extension in the Chrome Web Store and decided you trust it, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button. Chrome will show you the permissions one more time. Click "Add extension" to confirm. The extension will read and install in seconds.
After installation, the extension's icon appears in your toolbar — the row of icons in the top right corner of your browser. Some extensions run in the background without an icon. You can see all your installed extensions by clicking the puzzle-piece icon and selecting "Manage extensions," which shows you a list with toggles to turn each one on or off.
If an extension's icon clutters your toolbar, you can hide it. Right-click the icon and select "Hide in Chrome menu" — it will move to the puzzle-piece dropdown instead of sitting in your toolbar. You can also drag icons around to reorder them, or uninstall an extension entirely by clicking the trash icon next to its name in the Manage Extensions page.
Checking what data extensions can see
Extensions can access different amounts of information depending on what you allow. Some extensions only work on certain websites — a shopping tool might only run on Amazon, for example. Others run on every website you visit. You can control this by going to Manage Extensions, clicking on the extension's name, and scrolling to "Site access."
You have three choices: "Don't allow," "Allow on specific sites," or "Allow on all sites." If you choose "Allow on specific sites," you can type in the websites where you want the extension to work. This is the safest approach for extensions you do not fully trust — let them work only where you need them.
Some extensions ask to see your browsing history or your downloads. You can check what data an extension has already collected by going to Manage Extensions, clicking the extension's name, and looking at the "Permissions" section. If you see something you did not expect, you can revoke that permission by clicking "Remove" next to it, though the extension may stop working if you remove a permission it needs.
Keeping extensions updated and removing ones you do not use
Chrome updates extensions automatically in the background, usually within hours of a new version being released. You do not have to do anything — the updates happen on their own. If an extension stops working after an update, check the user reviews to see if others are reporting the same problem, or uninstall it and look for an alternative.
Extensions that you do not use regularly should be uninstalled, not just left sitting in your browser. Each extension uses memory and can slow down your browser, even if it is not actively doing anything. Go to Manage Extensions, find the extension you no longer need, and click the trash icon. You can always reinstall it later if you change your mind.
If you notice your browser has become slow, or if you see unexpected ads or pop-ups, one of your extensions may be the cause. Go to Manage Extensions and turn off extensions one at a time to see if the problem goes away. Once you find the culprit, you can uninstall it or look for a different extension that does the same thing without the slowdown.
The difference between extensions and apps
Chrome also offers Chrome Apps, which are different from extensions. Apps are small programs that run inside Chrome but do not change how your browser works — they are more like standalone tools. You find them in the same Web Store, but they open in their own window rather than adding a button to your toolbar.
Most people do not need Chrome Apps. Extensions are what change your browser's behavior — blocking ads, managing passwords, taking screenshots, or organizing your tabs. Apps are useful if you want a dedicated tool that lives in Chrome but does not touch your browsing. If you are looking for something to improve your browser itself, you want an extension, not an app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same extension on multiple computers?
Yes. If you sign into Chrome with your Google account on a different computer, your extensions will sync automatically. You can also turn off syncing for extensions if you want different extensions on different machines — go to Settings, click "Sync and Google services," and toggle off "Extensions."
What happens if I uninstall an extension by mistake?
You can reinstall it anytime by going back to the Chrome Web Store and clicking "Add to Chrome" again. Your settings for that extension will not be saved — you may have to reconfigure it — but the extension itself is not gone.
Do extensions work in Chrome's incognito mode?
By default, extensions do not run in incognito windows. If you want an extension to work in incognito mode, go to Manage Extensions, click the extension's name, and toggle on "Allow in incognito." This is useful for password managers or privacy tools, but be aware that the extension can still see what you do in incognito windows.
Why does an extension ask for permission to see all my data?
Some extensions genuinely need broad access — a password manager has to see every password field on every website, for example. Others ask for broad access but only use a small part of it. Read the reviews and the extension's privacy policy to understand why it needs what it is asking for. If the reason does not make sense, find a different extension.
Can I trust extensions from the Chrome Web Store?
Google reviews extensions before they appear in the Web Store, but that does not mean every extension is safe. Reviews can be faked, and extensions can change behavior after they are published. Read user reviews, check the permissions, and uninstall anything that seems suspicious. Extensions from well-known companies or those with thousands of positive reviews are generally safer than brand-new extensions with few reviews.