Where to find your Chrome extensions
Chrome extensions live in a menu at the top right of your browser window. Look for the puzzle piece icon — that is your extensions button. Click it once and you will see a list of every extension you have installed. Some extensions appear as their own icon in the toolbar instead, but they all live behind that puzzle piece menu.
The exact location depends on which version of Chrome you are using, but the puzzle piece icon has been standard since 2023. If you have an older version, you might see individual extension icons spread across the top right corner instead. Either way, clicking any extension icon opens it or shows you its menu.
If you cannot see the puzzle piece icon at all, your extensions may be hidden. This happens when you have many extensions installed. Look for a small arrow or chevron icon near the top right — clicking that will reveal your full extension list.
Key Takeaways
- The puzzle piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome opens your extensions menu and shows every extension you have installed.
- Some extensions open a popup window when you click them, while others run in the background and have no visible button.
- You can pin extensions to your toolbar so they stay visible, or hide them behind the puzzle piece menu to reduce clutter.
- The extensions settings page (chrome://extensions) shows you which extensions are on or off and lets you remove ones you no longer use.
- If an extension stops working, turning it off and back on usually fixes the problem without needing to reinstall it.
Opening an extension that has a popup window
Many extensions show a small window when you click them. This window might contain settings, a search box, a note-taking area, or a list of options. Click the puzzle piece icon, then click the name or icon of the extension you want to use. The popup appears right below the toolbar.
Some popups stay open as long as you need them. Others close automatically when you click somewhere else on the page or in another tab. If you need the popup to stay open while you work, look for a pin icon inside the popup window — clicking it will keep the popup visible even when you switch tabs.
If a popup does not appear when you click an extension, that extension probably runs in the background without a visible window. You can still control it through the extensions settings page, which we cover below.
Pinning and unpinning extensions to your toolbar
By default, most extensions hide behind the puzzle piece menu. If you use an extension constantly, you can pin it to your toolbar so its icon stays visible all the time. Click the puzzle piece icon, find the extension you want to pin, then click the pin icon next to its name. The extension icon now appears in your toolbar permanently.
Pinning is useful for extensions you open multiple times a day — password managers, note-takers, or grammar checkers are common choices. Unpinning works the same way: click the puzzle piece, find the pinned extension, and click the pin icon again to hide it.
You can rearrange pinned extensions by dragging them left or right in the toolbar. This lets you put your most-used extensions in the easiest spots to reach. The order you arrange them is saved automatically.
Turning extensions on and off
Sometimes an extension causes problems — it slows down your browser, conflicts with another extension, or stops working properly. Before you remove it, try turning it off first. Click the puzzle piece icon, then look for the toggle switch next to the extension name. Click the toggle to turn it off. The extension icon disappears from your toolbar and stops running.
Turning an extension off does not delete it or lose any of its settings. If you turn it back on later, everything returns exactly as it was. This makes it a safe way to test whether an extension is causing a problem. Turn it off for a day and see if your browser runs better. If it does, you have found your culprit.
If turning it off fixes the problem but you still want to use the extension, try updating Chrome itself. Many extension problems are actually browser bugs that get fixed in new versions. Go to the three-dot menu in the top right, click "About Chrome", and let it update automatically.
Managing extensions through the settings page
For more control, open the extensions settings page directly. Type chrome://extensions into your address bar and press Enter. This page shows every extension you have installed, whether it is on or off, and how many permissions it has.
From this page you can turn extensions on or off using the toggle switch in the bottom right of each extension card. You can also remove an extension entirely by clicking the trash icon. Removing an extension deletes it completely — you would need to reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store if you change your mind later.
The extensions page also shows you what each extension is allowed to do. Click on any extension to see its permissions — for example, whether it can read your browsing history, access your passwords, or see what you type. If an extension asks for more permissions than it needs, that is a sign to be cautious about using it.
What to do when an extension stops working
Extensions sometimes stop responding or produce errors. The first step is always to turn it off and back on. Open the extensions menu (puzzle piece icon), find the extension, click the toggle to turn it off, wait a few seconds, then click the toggle again to turn it back on. This resets the extension without losing any of its data.
If that does not work, try updating Chrome. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "About Chrome", and let it update. Chrome updates automatically, but sometimes extensions need the new version to work properly. Restart your browser after the update finishes.
If the extension still does not work after a restart, check whether the extension itself needs an update. Go to chrome://extensions, make sure "Developer mode" is off (toggle in the top right), and look for an "Update" button. Click it to check for extension updates. If none are available, the extension may be abandoned by its creator, and you might need to find a replacement.
Finding extensions you have already installed
If you installed an extension weeks ago and forgot about it, the extensions menu shows you everything. Click the puzzle piece icon to see the full list. Extensions are listed alphabetically, so if you remember part of the name, scan down the list to find it.
You can also search for an extension by name on the extensions settings page. Type chrome://extensions into your address bar, then use the search box at the top of the page. Type the extension name and Chrome will filter the list to show only matches.
If you cannot remember the name at all, look at the icons in your toolbar. Hover your mouse over each icon for a second and a label appears showing the extension name. This is often faster than searching if you remember what the icon looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some extensions not have a button in my toolbar?
Extensions that run in the background without a visible popup do not need a toolbar button. They work automatically — for example, a spell-checker runs as you type without you clicking anything. You can still control these extensions through the puzzle piece menu or the extensions settings page.
Can I use the same extension in multiple browsers?
No. Chrome extensions only work in Chrome. If you use Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you would need to find and install the equivalent extension for that browser. Some extensions are available across multiple browsers, but you install them separately in each one.
What happens to my extension data if I turn it off?
Your data stays saved. When you turn the extension back on, all your settings, notes, passwords, or other information the extension stored will be exactly as you left it. Turning an extension off is completely safe and does not erase anything.
How do I know if an extension is slowing down my browser?
Open the extensions settings page (chrome://extensions) and look for a "Details" button on any extension. Click it and scroll down to see how much memory and CPU that extension uses. Extensions using very high amounts may slow your browser. Try turning off the heaviest ones and see if Chrome feels faster.
Can I move an extension from one computer to another?
The easiest way is to sign into your Google Account on the new computer. Chrome will automatically read and install all the extensions you had on your old computer. If you do not use a Google Account, you can manually install each extension again from the Chrome Web Store.