Chrome extensions normally install from the Chrome Web Store, but you can load an unpacked extension directly from a folder on your computer

If you have a Chrome extension as a ZIP file — either one you downloaded from outside the Web Store or one you built yourself — you can install it by extracting the ZIP, then loading the folder into Chrome using Developer Mode. This is different from the usual one-click install, but the process takes about two minutes once you have the files in place.

The extension will work the same way as one from the Web Store, but Chrome will remind you each time you restart the browser that it's running an extension from outside the official store. This is a safety feature: it keeps you aware that you're using code that Chrome hasn't reviewed.

Key Takeaways

  • Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer first — Chrome cannot load directly from a ZIP.
  • Turn on Developer Mode in Chrome's extension settings, then use "Load unpacked" to point to that folder.
  • Chrome will show a warning each restart that the extension is not from the Web Store, which is normal and expected.
  • If the extension stops working after a browser update, the folder must still exist in the same location — moving or deleting it breaks the extension.

Extract the ZIP file to a permanent location

Before you can load the extension into Chrome, you need to unzip the file. Right-click the ZIP file and choose "Extract All" (on Windows) or double-click it (on Mac). Choose a folder where you plan to keep it long-term — your Desktop, Documents folder, or a dedicated Extensions folder all work. Do not extract it to your Downloads folder and then delete the ZIP later; Chrome needs the extracted folder to stay in place.

Open the extracted folder and look inside. You should see a file called manifest.json. If you see another folder inside, and that folder contains manifest.json, you may have extracted one level too deep. Move the inner folder up one level so manifest.json is directly inside the folder you'll load into Chrome.

Turn on Developer Mode in Chrome

Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions in the address bar, or click the menu button (three dots), then Settings, then Extensions. In the top right corner of the page, toggle the switch labeled Developer mode to the on position. The page will refresh and show new buttons.

Once Developer Mode is on, you'll see a button that says Load unpacked. This is the button you use to load your extracted extension folder.

Load the extracted folder into Chrome

Click the Load unpacked button. A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder where you extracted the ZIP file, select it, and click Select Folder (or the equivalent button on your system). Chrome will read the manifest.json file inside and install the extension.

If Chrome shows an error message, the most common reason is that manifest.json is not in the top level of the folder you selected. Go back and check the folder structure: manifest.json should be directly visible when you open the folder, not buried inside another subfolder.

What the warning message means

Each time you restart Chrome, you'll see a message at the top of the extensions page saying something like "You have extensions running in developer mode." This is not an error. It's Chrome reminding you that this extension came from outside the Web Store and hasn't been reviewed by Google's security team. If you trust the source of the extension, you can ignore this message.

If you want the warning to stop appearing, you can turn off Developer Mode — but that will also unload the extension. The extension will stay installed, but it won't run until you turn Developer Mode back on.

Keep the folder in place for the extension to work

Chrome doesn't copy the extension into its own storage the way it does with Web Store extensions. Instead, it reads the files from the folder you selected every time it starts. If you move the folder to a different location, delete it, or rename it, Chrome will disable the extension and show an error.

If you need to move the folder later, unload the extension first (click the trash icon next to it on the extensions page), move the folder, then load it again from the new location. This takes a few seconds and keeps everything in sync.

Turn off Developer Mode when you're done

Once the extension is working, you can turn Developer Mode off if you want to stop seeing the warning message. Click the Developer Mode toggle again to turn it off. The extension will keep running — turning off Developer Mode doesn't unload extensions that are already installed, it just stops showing the warning.

If you ever need to load another unpacked extension, or if the extension stops working and you need to troubleshoot, you can turn Developer Mode back on at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I get an error when I try to load the folder?

The most common cause is that manifest.json is not in the folder you selected. Open the folder and look for manifest.json directly inside it. If you see another folder, open that and check if manifest.json is there instead. If so, move that inner folder up one level so manifest.json is at the top.

Can I delete the ZIP file after I extract it?

Yes. Once you've extracted the folder and loaded it into Chrome, the ZIP file is no longer needed. You can delete it. But keep the extracted folder itself — Chrome needs it to stay in place for the extension to work.

Why does Chrome keep warning me about the extension?

Chrome shows a warning each time it starts because the extension is not from the Web Store. This is a safety reminder. If you trust the source, the warning is harmless. You can turn off Developer Mode to stop seeing it, but the extension will keep working either way.

What happens if I move my computer or reinstall Chrome?

If you move the extracted folder to a different location on the same computer, the extension will break until you reload it from the new location. If you reinstall Chrome, you'll need to load the extension again. The folder itself is not affected — as long as it still exists, you can reload it.

Can I share this extension with someone else?

You can give them the extracted folder or the original ZIP file, and they can load it the same way. They'll also see the Developer Mode warning. If the extension is meant to be shared widely, the author should submit it to the Chrome Web Store so people can install it normally.