How to Remove Chrome Extensions (Even Stubborn Ones)

Extensions are handy until there are too many of them. They slow Chrome down, clutter the toolbar, and some quietly change your search engine or read the pages you visit. Removing one takes a few seconds. Here's how to do it on a computer, what to do about extensions that refuse to go, and how to tell which ones you can safely delete.

The fastest way: right-click the icon

1. Find the extension's icon to the right of the address bar. If you can't see it, click the puzzle-piece icon to show all your extensions.
2. Right-click the extension's icon.
3. Choose Remove from Chrome.
4. Click Remove to confirm.

Remove extensions from the Extensions page

1. Click More, the three dots at the top right.
2. Choose Extensions, then Manage Extensions. Or type chrome://extensions in the address bar.
3. Find the extension in the list.
4. Click Remove and confirm.

This page is the best place for a clear-out because it shows every extension at once, including ones with no toolbar icon. Each card has a switch as well as the Remove button.

Turn off or remove?

Choice	What happens	Use it when
Switch off	Extension stops working but stays installed	You only need it now and then
Remove	Extension and its settings are deleted	You don't use it or don't trust it
Reset Chrome	Every extension switched off at once	You can't tell which one is causing trouble

Extensions you didn't install

Google's own help says that installing some Windows or Mac programs also installs a Chrome extension. Chrome then asks you to Enable or Remove it the next time you open the browser. If you didn't ask for it, choose Remove. If one slipped through, look for it on the Extensions page and remove it, then uninstall the program that brought it, or it may come back.

When the Remove button is missing or greyed out

If you see a note saying an extension is installed by your administrator, Chrome won't let you remove it. Google's enterprise documentation explains that extensions set as force-installed can't be switched off or removed by the user. On a work or school computer that's deliberate, so ask IT. On your own computer it's a warning sign, because some unwanted software sets these policies to protect itself.

• Type chrome://policy in the address bar to see which policies are set.
• Uninstall any unfamiliar programs on Windows from Settings, Apps, or from the Applications folder on a Mac.
• Run a reputable security scan.
• Restart Chrome and check the Extensions page again.

My review of whether Malwarebytes is safe covers one scanner people use for exactly this kind of clean-up.

Which extensions are worth keeping?

Have a look down your list and ask three questions of each. Do I still use it? Do I know who makes it? Does it need the access it's asking for? An extension that can read and change all your data on every website needs a good reason to have it. If you can't remember installing it, remove it; you can always add it back from the Chrome Web Store.

Extensions on phones

Chrome on Android and iPhone doesn't run extensions in the same way, so there's nothing to remove there. Google's help mentions that on a phone you can send an extension to your computer with Add to Desktop, which installs it next time you open Chrome on the computer. That's another reason an extension can appear on a computer seemingly by itself.

Clear out several at once

There's no button to remove all extensions in one go, but there are two shortcuts. Resetting Chrome switches every extension off, so you can turn back on only the ones you want. Or create a new Chrome profile, which starts with no extensions at all, and move into it. Both leave your bookmarks safe.

If Chrome feels faster afterwards

That's normal. Every extension runs some code as pages load, and a handful of heavy ones, especially shopping helpers, deal finders and toolbar add-ons, can make Chrome noticeably sluggish. If the browser speeds up after a clear-out, you've found the cause. Add extensions back one at a time if you miss any, and you'll spot the culprit if things slow down again.

Keep the ones you add safe

For anything you install from now on, stick to the Chrome Web Store, read the permissions before you click Add extension and check who the developer is. Google notes that Safe Browsing's Enhanced protection warns you when an extension isn't trusted, which is worth switching on. For a password tool that works as an extension, see my guide to open-source password managers.

My verdict

Right-click and Remove from Chrome is the quickest way, and chrome://extensions is the best place for a full clear-out. Remove anything you don't use or can't identify, and treat an extension you can't remove on your own computer as a security issue, not a quirk. Thinking of a browser with fewer add-ons needed? My look at Brave is a good start.

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove a Chrome extension?

Right-click its icon and choose Remove from Chrome, or click Remove on the chrome://extensions page.

Why can't I remove a Chrome extension?

It's probably installed by policy. On a work device ask IT; on your own computer scan for unwanted software.

Where are my Chrome extensions?

Click the puzzle-piece icon, or open the three-dot menu, Extensions, Manage Extensions.

Does removing an extension delete its data?

Yes, its settings in Chrome are removed. Reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store if you need it again.

Should I turn off or remove an extension?

Turn it off if you'll need it again soon. Remove it if you don't use or trust it.

How do I remove all Chrome extensions at once?

Reset Chrome to switch them all off, or start a new profile with none installed.