Where to find your Chrome extensions

Chrome keeps your extensions in one place: the extension menu in the top right corner of your browser. Click the puzzle piece icon (it looks like four colored squares) and you will see a dropdown list of every extension you have installed. This is the fastest way to see what is running on your browser right now.

If you want a more detailed view — one that shows you which extensions are turned on, which ones have permission to read your data, and which ones are using your computer's resources — you need to go to the Extensions management page. Type chrome://extensions into your address bar and press Enter. This page shows everything about each extension in one organized place.

Key Takeaways

  • The puzzle piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome shows you all installed extensions in a quick dropdown menu.
  • The Extensions management page (chrome://extensions) displays detailed information about each extension, including whether it is active and what permissions it has.
  • You can turn extensions on and off with a single toggle switch without removing them from Chrome entirely.
  • The Extensions management page shows you which extensions are using your computer's memory and processing power.

Using the Extensions management page

The Extensions management page is where you get the full picture. At the top left, you will see a toggle for Developer mode — leave this off unless you are testing your own extensions. Below that, every extension you have installed appears as a card with its icon, name, and description.

On each extension card, you will find a toggle switch on the right side. Flipping this switch turns the extension on or off without deleting it. Below the toggle, you will see a row of buttons: one to remove the extension, one to see what it does, and sometimes one to report abuse if the extension is behaving badly.

Scroll down on each extension card to see the Permissions section. This tells you exactly what the extension is allowed to do — whether it can read your browsing history, access your passwords, see what you type, or modify pages you visit. If an extension has permissions that seem too broad, you can remove it or restrict what it can access.

Checking which extensions are using your resources

Chrome extensions run in the background and can slow down your browser if too many are active at once. On the Extensions management page, look for a button labeled Details on any extension card. Click it to see how much memory and processing power that extension is using right now.

If you notice an extension using a lot of resources, you have three choices: turn it off with the toggle, remove it entirely, or restrict when it runs. Some extensions let you set them to turn on only when you visit certain websites, which saves resources when you are not using them.

Turning extensions on and off without removing them

The toggle switch on each extension card is your quickest tool. Flip it to the left (gray) to turn the extension off, or to the right (blue) to turn it back on. The extension stays installed on your computer, so you can reactivate it anytime without having to find and reinstall it.

This is useful when an extension is causing problems but you might want to use it again later. You can also use the puzzle piece icon in the top right corner: click it, find the extension in the dropdown, and click the toggle next to its name to turn it on or off from there.

Removing extensions you no longer need

If you have decided you do not want an extension anymore, go to the Extensions management page and find the extension card. Click the Remove button (usually shown as a trash icon) and confirm when Chrome asks if you are sure. The extension will be deleted from your browser completely.

Removing an extension frees up memory and closes any permissions it had. If you change your mind later, you can always reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store, though you may need to set it up again.

Understanding extension permissions

Every extension asks for permission to do certain things on your computer. When you first install an extension, Chrome shows you a list of permissions it needs. You can see these permissions anytime by going to the Extensions management page, clicking Details on an extension card, and scrolling to the Permissions section.

Common permissions include "Read your browsing history," "See what you type," "Modify pages you visit," and "Access your data on all websites." If an extension asks for more access than it seems to need — for example, a grammar checker that wants to read your passwords — that is a sign to look for a different extension or to remove it.

Some extensions let you limit their permissions. On the Details page, you may see an option to restrict the extension to certain websites only, or to let it run only when you click its icon. Using these restrictions keeps your data safer while still letting you use the extension.

Finding extensions that are hidden from the menu

If you have many extensions installed, some may be hidden from the puzzle piece dropdown menu to keep it from getting too crowded. Click the puzzle piece icon and look for a button that says Show extensions or a small arrow. This will reveal all your hidden extensions.

You can also pin extensions to the menu so they stay visible. In the dropdown, find the extension you want to see, and click the pin icon next to its name. Pinned extensions appear directly in the top right corner of your browser, making them easier to access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if an extension is slowing down my browser?

Go to the Extensions management page, click Details on each extension, and look at the memory and CPU usage. If you notice your browser is slow and one extension is using significantly more resources than others, try turning it off for a day to see if performance improves. You can also check Chrome's Task Manager by pressing Shift+Esc to see which extensions are using the most power.

Can I see what websites an extension has visited?

No, Chrome does not show you the browsing history of individual extensions. However, you can see what permissions each extension has, which tells you what it is allowed to do. If you do not trust an extension, the safest choice is to remove it and find one from a developer you recognize.

What does "host permissions" mean?

Host permissions control which websites an extension can access. An extension with "host permissions for all websites" can see everything you do online. An extension with permissions for specific sites (like "example.com") can only access those particular websites. You can usually restrict an extension to certain sites on the Details page.

Why do some extensions have a warning badge on their icon?

A warning badge means Chrome has detected a problem — the extension may be using too many resources, it may have been flagged for suspicious behavior, or it may need an update. Click the extension to see what the warning says, and consider removing it if Chrome recommends doing so.

Can I see when an extension was last updated?

Yes. Go to the Extensions management page, click Details on the extension, and scroll down. You will see the version number and the date it was last updated. Extensions that have not been updated in a long time may have security issues, so checking this occasionally is a good habit.