Where to find extensions on a Chromebook
Extensions on a Chromebook live in the Chrome Web Store, which is built into your browser. You reach it by opening Chrome, clicking the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then selecting "Extensions" and "Manage extensions." At the top left of that page, you'll see a button that says "Chrome Web Store" — click it to browse.
You can also go directly to the Chrome Web Store by typing chrome.google.com/webstore into your address bar. Either way, you land on the same place: a searchable library where you can look for extensions by name or by category (productivity, shopping, security, and so on).
The store shows you what each extension does, how many people use it, and what permissions it needs to run. Read the permissions carefully — an extension that needs access to "all your data on all websites" is asking for more trust than one that only needs to see what you're typing in a single text box.
Key Takeaways
- The Chrome Web Store is built into Chrome; you reach it through the three-dot menu under Extensions, or by typing chrome.google.com/webstore directly.
- Before you install anything, read what permissions the extension is asking for and check the user reviews to see if people report problems.
- Once installed, an extension appears as an icon in your toolbar; click the icon to use it, or right-click it to pin it so it stays visible.
- You can turn extensions on and off, or remove them entirely, from the Manage Extensions page without losing your Chromebook settings.
Installing an extension step by step
Once you find an extension you want, click on it to open its detail page. You'll see a blue button that says "Add to Chrome." Click that button. Chrome will ask you to confirm that you want to install it and that you understand what permissions it needs. Read that permission request — it's your final note to back out if something looks wrong.
Click "Add extension" to finish. The extension installs when ready. You'll see a small notification in the top right corner of your screen saying the extension was added, and a new icon will appear in your toolbar (the row of small pictures in the top right of Chrome).
Some extensions start working right away. Others need you to set them up first — they might ask for a password, or to choose which websites they should work on. If the extension opens a setup page, follow those steps. You can always come back and change the settings later.
Managing your extensions and their permissions
To see all your installed extensions at once, click the three vertical dots in the top right of Chrome, then "Extensions," then "Manage extensions." This page shows you every extension you have, whether it's turned on or off, and how many permissions it has.
If an extension is slowing down your Chromebook or you don't use it anymore, you can turn it off by clicking the toggle switch next to its name. Turning it off doesn't delete it — the extension stays in your list, and you can turn it back on later. To remove it completely, click the trash icon.
Some extensions ask for more permissions over time, especially after updates. When that happens, Chrome shows you a notification. You can click on the extension's name in the Manage Extensions page to see exactly what it's asking for and decide whether to allow it.
Pinning extensions to your toolbar
By default, extensions appear as small icons in your toolbar, but they can pile up and take up space. You can hide the ones you use rarely and keep the ones you use every day visible. Right-click any extension icon and select "Pin" — that keeps it visible. Right-click again and select "Unpin" to hide it.
Unpinned extensions don't disappear; they move to a menu. Click the puzzle-piece icon on the right side of your toolbar to see all your unpinned extensions. This is useful if you have many extensions but only use a few regularly.
What to do if an extension stops working
Sometimes an extension breaks after a Chrome update, or it stops working on a particular website. First, check whether the extension is turned on. Go to Manage Extensions and look for the toggle switch next to its name. If it's already on, try turning it off and back on again — that fixes many problems.
If that doesn't work, check the extension's detail page in the Chrome Web Store to see if other people are reporting the same issue in the reviews. If many people mention the same problem, the extension's creator may already be working on a fix. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the extension, which sometimes clears out corrupted settings.
If an extension is causing your Chromebook to run slowly or behave strangely, turn it off when ready. You can investigate later whether it's the culprit or whether something else is the problem.
Extensions that need special attention
Some extensions ask for very broad permissions — the ability to see everything you type, or to change the content of every website you visit. These aren't automatically dangerous, but they deserve extra scrutiny. Before you install one, read the reviews. Look for comments from people who have used it for months or years and can tell you whether it does what it promises.
Password managers and security extensions are common examples of tools that need broad permissions to work. That's normal and expected. What matters is whether the extension comes from a creator you trust and whether other users report that it actually protects them rather than exposing them.
Avoid extensions with very few reviews, or with recent reviews saying things like "this stopped working" or "it's asking for more permissions than it used to." A well-maintained extension usually has hundreds or thousands of reviews, and the creator responds to problems in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same extensions on my phone as on my Chromebook?
No. Chrome on Android phones and iPhones does not support extensions the way desktop Chrome does. You can use some of the same services (like password managers) through their apps instead, but the extensions themselves only work on computers and Chromebooks.
What happens to my extensions if I sign out of my Chromebook?
Your extensions stay on your Chromebook. They're tied to the device, not to your Google account. If you sign in with a different Google account on the same Chromebook, the extensions remain installed and active. If you sign in on a different Chromebook with the same account, you'll need to install the extensions again on that device.
Can I install extensions from somewhere other than the Chrome Web Store?
On a standard Chromebook, no. Chrome only installs extensions from the official Chrome Web Store. This is a security feature — it means every extension has been reviewed by Google before it reaches you. If someone tells you to install an extension from a link outside the Web Store, that's a red flag.
Do extensions slow down my Chromebook?
Most extensions use very little memory or processing power, especially on a Chromebook. However, if you install many extensions at once, or if an extension is poorly written, you might notice your Chromebook running slower. If that happens, turn off extensions one at a time to find which one is causing the problem, then remove it.
What's the difference between an extension and an app on a Chromebook?
Extensions add features to Chrome itself — they live in your browser and work within web pages. Apps are separate programs that run on your Chromebook, like a calculator or a note-taking tool. You find apps in the Google Play Store or the Chrome Web Store (they're listed separately). Extensions only work inside Chrome.