How to keep using adblockers on chrome and chromium

manifest-v2-chrome.md

How to keep using adblockers on chrome and chromium

1. google's manifest v3 has no analouge to the webRequestBlocking API, which is neccesary for (effective) adblockers to work
2. starting in chrome version 127, the transition to mv3 will start cutting off the use of mv2 extensions alltogether
3. this will inevitably piss of enterprises when their extensions don't work, so the ExtensionManifestV2Availability key was added and will presumably stay forever after enterprises complain enough

You can use this as a regular user, which will let you keep your mv2 extensions even after they're supposed to stop working

Linux

In a terminal, run:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed /etc/opt/chromium/policies/managed
echo '{ "ExtensionManifestV2Availability": 2 }' | sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/policy.json /etc/opt/chromium/policies/managed/policy.json

ChromeOS

• enable developer mode
• upon rebooting, go into vt2 (shift+ctrl+right arrow function key)
• log in as root
• type in /usr/libexec/debugd/helpers/dev_features_rootfs_verification && reboot
• upon rebooting, go into vt2 again and log in as root
• run the commands from the linux section

Windows

Open regedit, and create Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionManifestV2Availability in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE as a dword set to 0x00000002

MacOS

In a terminal, run: defaults write com.google.Chrome ExtensionManifestV2Availability -int 2 defaults write com.google.Chromium ExtensionManifestV2Availability -int 2

(note that i haven't tested this for mac. please let me know if it doesn't work)

worth noting that uBO Lite is pretty good. despite the Lite moniker, it's not that much weaker, there's only a small percentage of unsupported filters. you can't add custom filters or filter lists via the extension, but you can always build uBlock from source, not much tooling involved. run make mv3-chromium after cloning the repository, and install the resulting extension

I've daily-driven it for a while and have been impressed at how far gorhill was able to take it, I'd probably even consider using it on Firefox if not for the above caveat.

---

EDIT: partial logs that shows the processing done on filters

Default filterlist

Version: 2024.6.8.134
Secret: 2cb75976600b7431
============================
Listset for 'default':
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/unbreak.min.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/privacy.min.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/quick-fixes.min.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easyprivacy.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/filters.min.txt
	Fetching remote https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/ubol-filters.txt
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/badware.min.txt
Input filter count: 123080
	Accepted filter count: 121778
	Rejected filter count: 143
Output rule count: 16373
	Pruning requestDomains: from 83752 to 83536
	Pruning requestDomains: from 3401 to 3398
	Pruning requestDomains: from 5759 to 5755
	Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/dnr/default.json
	Plain good: 14697
	Maybe good (regexes): 173
	redirect=: 347
	removeparams= (accepted/discarded): 51/12
	modifyHeaders=: 59
	Unsupported: 1046
CSS-generic: 13580 plain CSS selectors
CSS-generic-high: 527 plain CSS selectors
CSS-specific: 11224 distinct filters
	Combined into 10414 distinct hostnames
	Combined into 495 distinct entities
CSS-declarative: 493 distinct filters
	Combined into 875 distinct hostnames
	Combined into 51 distinct entities
Procedural-related distinct filters: 804 distinct combined selectors
	Combined into 988 distinct hostnames
	Combined into 95 distinct entities

My own filterlist

Version: 2024.6.8.142
Secret: 5180f77e03741eda
============================
Listset for 'default':
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/filters.min.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/badware.min.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/privacy.min.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/unbreak.min.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/quick-fixes.min.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/ubol-filters.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easyprivacy.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-cookies.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-social.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-chat.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-newsletters.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-notifications.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/filters/annoyances-cookies.txt
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/thirdparties/easylist-annoyances.txt
        Fetching remote https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ABPindo/indonesianadblockrules/master/subscriptions/abpindo.txt
Input filter count: 128051
        Accepted filter count: 127582
        Rejected filter count: 73
Output rule count: 22421
        Pruning requestDomains: from 81485 to 81455
        Pruning requestDomains: from 3401 to 3398
        Pruning requestDomains: from 6862 to 6850
        Fetching remote https://ublockorigin.github.io/uAssets/dnr/default.json
        Plain good: 20743
        Maybe good (regexes): 174
        redirect=: 347
        removeparams= (accepted/discarded): 51/12
        modifyHeaders=: 59
        Unsupported: 1047
CSS-generic: 44807 plain CSS selectors
CSS-generic-high: 4719 plain CSS selectors
CSS-specific: 24518 distinct filters
        Combined into 33865 distinct hostnames
        Combined into 521 distinct entities
CSS-declarative: 573 distinct filters
        Combined into 6730 distinct hostnames
        Combined into 53 distinct entities
Procedural-related distinct filters: 827 distinct combined selectors
        Combined into 1012 distinct hostnames
        Combined into 95 distinct entities

Probably worth updating the Windows instructions to clarify that key goes under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, since the current phrasing leaves its ambiguous whether it's HKLM, HKCU, or a secret third thing.

Does the Windows reg key also work for Opera GX? Or would that need a different key?

Windows 11 here, there is no google in my HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Policies\

Edit: I managed to make the keys/folders uptil Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ and then tried to make the dword ExtensionManifestV2Availability but the dword does not seem to be able to accept 0x00000002

Edit 2: I removed the 0x and only put in 00000002 and it seems to have worked.

So basically if you dont have those folders make them yourself they are called keys in the new menu and then when you get to \chrome make a dword called ExtensionManifestV2Availability and set it to 00000002.

Please let me know if anything I did here is wrong. Thanks a lot for the guide!

@trekshcool You can also save the .reg file I put as the first comment. Double-clicking it will prompt to add the key.

@Leah96xxx Opera does not currently require a flag for override. I've updated my comment to include a link to the keys for other browsers.

Thanks for this

Windows 11 here, there is no google in my HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Policies\

Edit: I managed to make the keys/folders uptil Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ and then tried to make the dword ExtensionManifestV2Availability but the dword does not seem to be able to accept 0x00000002

Edit 2: I removed the 0x and only put in 00000002 and it seems to have worked.

So basically if you dont have those folders make them yourself they are called keys in the new menu and then when you get to \chrome make a dword called ExtensionManifestV2Availability and set it to 00000002.

Please let me know if anything I did here is wrong. Thanks a lot for the guide!

If it was right you'll see it ExtensionManifestV2Availability in chrome://policy

Windows 11 here, there is no google in my HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Policies
Edit: I managed to make the keys/folders uptil Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ and then tried to make the dword ExtensionManifestV2Availability but the dword does not seem to be able to accept 0x00000002
Edit 2: I removed the 0x and only put in 00000002 and it seems to have worked.
So basically if you dont have those folders make them yourself they are called keys in the new menu and then when you get to \chrome make a dword called ExtensionManifestV2Availability and set it to 00000002.
Please let me know if anything I did here is wrong. Thanks a lot for the guide!

If it was right you'll see it ExtensionManifestV2Availability in chrome://policy

Yeah you are right it shows up there. Thanks for the info.

On windows you can run reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome /v ExtensionManifestV2Availability /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f in cmd

For macOS the value needs to be set as an integer.

Chrome:
defaults write com.google.Chrome ExtensionManifestV2Availability -int 2
Chromium:
defaults write org.chromium.Chromium ExtensionManifestV2Availability -int 2

@vulpes2 thank you!

On windows you can run reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome /v ExtensionManifestV2Availability /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f in cmd

Thank You! Saved! (I made an account just to thank you btw)

on my Manjaro install using the extra/chromium package, the policy folder was located in /etc/chromium/policies/..., note the lack of opt

Powershell option from this thread:
Run powershell as admin and then use this command:
$path = "registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome"; New-Item $path -Force; Set-ItemProperty $path -Name ExtensionManifestV2Availability -Value 2

Thank you!

This change makes Chrome say "Your browser is managed by your organization" in the settings. It has an impact of disabling browser DNS setting, and maybe something else. Some claimed they had issues restoring browser to unmanaged state even after clearing the registry.

I found an official guide on how to properly clear out the policies and their cache: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/9844476?hl=en

Policy state can also be checked here (after successful modification it says ExtensionManifestV2Availability: 2):
chrome://policy/

Try setting "DnsOverHttpsMode": "secure"
Windows command: reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome /v DnsOverHttpsMode /t REG_SZ /d secure /f

The value "automatic" can also be used instead of "secure".

source

For Ubuntu : Chromium is packaged by snap, so the right file is /var/snap/chromium/current/policies/managed/policy.json

this no longer works on ChromeOS as of R131 due to this patch: https://chromium-review.googlesource.com/c/chromium/src/+/5258257

also the path for chromium is /etc/chromium/policies/managed/

src/chromium/src/components/policy/core/common/policy_paths.cc:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
#if BUILDFLAG(IS_POSIX) && !BUILDFLAG(IS_MAC)
#if BUILDFLAG(GOOGLE_CHROME_BRANDING)
const char kPolicyPath[] = "/etc/opt/chrome/policies";
#elif BUILDFLAG(GOOGLE_CHROME_FOR_TESTING_BRANDING)
const char kPolicyPath[] = "/etc/opt/chrome_for_testing/policies";
#else
const char kPolicyPath[] = "/etc/chromium/policies";
#endif  // BUILDFLAG(GOOGLE_CHROME_BRANDING)
#endif  // BUILDFLAG(IS_POSIX) && !BUILDFLAG(IS_MAC)

it works on win/mac, good job.