The fastest way to remove an extension
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner of your browser window. You will see a puzzle-piece icon — that is your extensions menu. Click it, then right-click the extension you want to remove. A small menu will appear with the option "Remove from Chrome". Click that, and the extension is gone.
That is the complete process for most people. The extension stops running when ready, and Chrome removes all its files from your computer. You do not need to restart your browser or your computer.
If you cannot see the puzzle-piece icon, your extensions menu may be hidden. Look for three vertical dots in the top right corner instead, click them, then select "Extensions" and "Manage extensions". From there you can find the extension and remove it using the same right-click method.
Key Takeaways
- The puzzle-piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome opens your extensions menu, where you can right-click any extension and select "Remove from Chrome".
- Removing an extension takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart your browser or computer.
- If you want to keep an extension but turn it off temporarily, you can disable it instead of removing it by toggling the switch next to its name.
- Removing an extension does not affect your browsing history, saved passwords, or other Chrome data.
- If you accidentally remove an extension, you can reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store at any time.
Removing an extension from the full settings page
If the right-click method does not work for you, or if you want to see more information about an extension before removing it, use the full settings page instead. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "Extensions" and "Manage extensions".
You will see a list of all your installed extensions with a toggle switch next to each one. Find the extension you want to remove and look for the trash-can icon in the bottom right corner of that extension's box. Click the trash-can icon, and Chrome will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" in the confirmation box, and the extension is deleted.
This page also shows you useful information: when you installed each extension, what permissions it has, and whether it is currently enabled or disabled. If you are not sure whether you need an extension, you can disable it here first by clicking the toggle switch. The extension will stop running, but you can turn it back on later without reinstalling it.
What happens when you remove an extension
When you remove an extension, Chrome deletes the extension's files from your computer and stops it from running. Any changes the extension made to your browser — like adding buttons to the toolbar or changing your new tab page — disappear when ready.
Removing an extension does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, bookmarks, or any other Chrome data. Those things stay in your browser. The extension also cannot take your data with it when you remove it, because extensions do not have access to that information unless you specifically gave them permission.
If an extension was slowing down your browser, you should notice an improvement once you remove it. Some extensions use a lot of memory or make extra network requests, so deleting them can make Chrome faster and your computer more responsive.
Disabling an extension instead of removing it
Sometimes you want to turn off an extension temporarily without deleting it completely. This is useful if you are not sure whether you need it, or if an extension is causing problems but you might want to use it again later. To disable an extension, go to the extensions management page (three dots, then "Extensions" and "Manage extensions"), find the extension, and click the toggle switch next to its name. The switch will turn gray, and the extension will stop running.
A disabled extension does not run at all, but it stays installed on your computer. You can turn it back on anytime by clicking the toggle switch again. This is faster than uninstalling and reinstalling an extension if you think you might need it again soon.
You can also disable an extension directly from the puzzle-piece menu. Click the puzzle-piece icon, find the extension, and click the toggle switch next to its name. The switch will turn gray when ready.
Removing extensions that are hard to find
Most extensions appear in your extensions menu and are straightforward to locate. Some extensions, though, hide themselves or do not show up where you expect them to be. If you cannot find an extension in the puzzle-piece menu, it may be pinned to your toolbar instead, or it may be running in the background without a visible icon.
The safest way to find any extension is to use the management page. Click the three vertical dots, select "Extensions" and "Manage extensions", and you will see every extension installed on your browser, whether it is visible or hidden. Search for the extension by name using the search box at the top of the page, then click the trash-can icon to remove it.
Some extensions are installed by other programs or by your workplace and may be harder to remove. If you try to remove an extension and Chrome does not let you, it may be managed by your organization or by another program on your computer. In that case, you may need to uninstall the other program first, or contact your IT department if this is a work computer.
Preventing unwanted extensions from installing
Extensions sometimes get installed without your knowledge, usually because you clicked "accept" on a checkbox you did not read carefully, or because another program installed one as part of its setup. To prevent this, always read the fine print when you install new software. Look for checkboxes that say things like "install toolbar" or "add extension" and uncheck them if you do not want them.
You can also check your extensions regularly to see if anything unfamiliar has appeared. Open the management page (three dots, then "Extensions" and "Manage extensions") and look at the list. If you see an extension you do not recognize, search for it online to find out what it does, then remove it if you do not want it.
Chrome also has a built-in malware scanner that runs automatically. If it detects a harmful extension, it will remove it for you and show you a notification. If you see such a notification, the extension has already been deleted, and you do not need to do anything.
Reinstalling an extension you removed by mistake
If you remove an extension and then realize you need it, you can reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Open a new tab and go to chromewebstore.google.com, or click the three vertical dots in Chrome, select "Extensions", and click "Open Chrome Web Store".
Search for the extension by name. When you find it, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button. Chrome will ask you to confirm the permissions the extension needs. Review them, then click "Add extension". The extension will install when ready and start running.
Your settings and data from before you removed the extension may or may not be restored, depending on how the extension works. Some extensions save your settings to your Google account, so they come back when you reinstall. Others do not, so you may need to set them up again. The extension's page on the Chrome Web Store usually explains how it handles this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing an extension slow down my computer?
No — removing an extension will not slow anything down. In fact, it may speed things up. If an extension was using a lot of memory or making your browser sluggish, removing it should make Chrome faster and your computer more responsive.
Can I remove multiple extensions at once?
Chrome does not have a "select all and delete" option, so you have to remove extensions one at a time. However, it only takes a few seconds per extension. Go to the management page, find each extension you want to remove, click the trash-can icon, and confirm.
What if I remove an extension and my browser stops working properly?
If removing an extension breaks something, you can reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Open a new tab, go to chromewebstore.google.com, search for the extension by name, and click "Add to Chrome". If you are not sure which extension caused the problem, reinstall them one at a time and test your browser after each one.
Do I lose my passwords or bookmarks if I remove an extension?
No. Removing an extension does not affect your passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, or any other Chrome data. Extensions cannot access that information unless you specifically gave them permission, and removing the extension does not delete anything you stored in Chrome itself.
Can I remove extensions that came with Chrome?
Chrome does not come with any extensions pre-installed. Every extension on your browser was either installed by you, installed by another program, or installed by your organization. Any of these can be removed using the same method — right-click it in the extensions menu or use the trash-can icon on the management page.