How to Remove Browser Extensions: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2024

Web browsers with a modern architecture offer extension support. Extensions, small software components that embed into browsers, offer features that aren’t provided with the web browser out of the box.

There can be occasional issues with extensions, though, ranging from minor annoyances to critical data leaks. You’ll occasionally want to review and remove these add-ons.

What are Browser Extensions?

A browser extension is a small software component that adds specific features or functionalities to a web browser.

For example, some of them might block unwanted ads, manage your passwords, or change the visual appearance of certain websites. They’re designed to make your online experience more tailored to your needs or preferences.

Why You May Need to Uninstall Browser Extensions

Web browsers have evolved over the years, becoming more than just tools to view websites. Extensions are one of the many useful enhancements. As useful as they might be, there are times when it becomes necessary to uninstall or manage them.

• Enhancing Browser Performance: Over time, as you add more extensions, you may notice that your browser starts to lag or become sluggish. Some extensions can be resource-intensive, meaning they use up a lot of your computer’s memory or processing power. By removing the ones you no longer need, you can speed up your browser.
• Privacy Concerns and Potential Data Breaches: Not all extensions are built with your best interests in mind. Some might collect your data without your knowledge, putting your personal information at risk. By being selective and removing extensions that you’re unsure about, you protect your data from potential breaches and maintain your online privacy.
• Possible Security Vulnerabilities and Malware: The internet is, unfortunately, filled with malicious actors. Some extensions could be poorly coded or, worse, specifically designed to introduce malware or other security threats to your system. Regularly reviewing and removing suspicious or unnecessary extensions helps to protect your computer from potential threats.
• Decluttering and Maintaining an Organized Browser Environment: A well-organized browser can improve your overall browsing experience. By removing extensions you rarely use, you declutter the browser’s interface, making it easier to find and use the tools you genuinely need.

How to Remove Browser Extensions

The steps required to remove an extension depend on the browser you’re using. Here’s how to disable browser extensions and completely remove them from the most popular browsers.

How to Remove Browser Extensions in Google Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most widely used browsers available, and its extension ecosystem is very large. There will undoubtedly come a time when you want to remove an extension, whether it’s no longer supported or it’s causing performance issues.

Here is how to remove extensions on Chrome:

• First, type chrome://extensions in the address bar.

• You’ll now be on the page that shows a complete list of the extensions that are currently installed in Chrome.
• You’ll notice that each of them has a slider in the bottom-right corner of its card. If the slider is to the right (blue), the extension is enabled. If it’s to the left (gray), then it is disabled.
• Toggle the slider of the extensions you want to disable to the left.

• The extension is now disabled, but it will still appear on the extensions page. You can remove it by clicking “Remove” under the extension name. A pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm. Click “Remove” again to confirm its removal.

Now you know how to remove Chrome extensions.

Depending on the extension, you may be asked to leave feedback about it and why you removed it. This is an optional step that can be skipped.

How to Remove Browser Extensions in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge, like Google Chrome, is a Chromium-based web browser. As a result, you’ll notice a lot of similarities between these two popular browsers – including how to remove extensions.

• Open Edge and type edge://extensions in the address bar.

• You’ll now see all of the extensions that you have installed in Edge. Each of them has a slider to the right of its card.
• If the slider is positioned to the right (blue), the extension is enabled. If it’s to the left (gray), then it is disabled.
• Toggle the slider of the extensions you want to disable to the left.

• You’ve successfully disabled the extension, but it will still appear on the page. You can remove it from the list by clicking “Remove” and then clicking “Remove” again in the pop-up window that appears.

The extension is now removed from the list. You can choose to leave feedback about it if you want, depending on whether the extension redirects you to a questionnaire page or not.

How to Remove Browser Extensions in Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox also has a large ecosystem of extensions readily available to users. Here’s what you need to do to remove them.

• First, enter about:addons in the address bar.

• You’ll now see a list of your extensions. Unlike Chrome and Edge, Firefox actually puts the enabled and disabled extensions in separate lists, which is really handy. Still, the rule remains the same. Right and blue for enabled, left and gray for disabled.
• Toggle the slider to the left for the extension you want to disable.

• To remove the disabled extension from your list, click the three dots in a horizontal line to the right of the extension. A drop-down menu will appear. Here, select “Remove.”

• You’ll be asked to confirm its removal. Click “Remove” again, and the extension will be removed from the list.

How to Remove Browser Extensions in Safari

Safari is the recommended browser for Apple users. As expected, it also supports extensions.

• To remove them, open Safari and then click the “Safari” option in the header menu.
• While it would make contextual sense to select Safari Extensions, that’s not the right option (unless you want to install additional extensions). Instead, click “Settings.”

• You’ll be in the General tab of the Safari Settings window. Click “Extensions” in the header menu.
• A list of extensions is displayed in the left-hand pane. Extensions that are enabled have a checkmark next to them, and those that are disabled have an empty box. To disable an extension, just uncheck the box next to it.

• To completely remove an extension from the list, select it and click “Uninstall.”

• A pop-up window will appear. In an attempt to make the process as cumbersome as possible, Apple wants you to locate the extension in the Finder app before you can remove it.
• Click “Show in Finder.”

• Next, locate the extension in Finder and right-click it. Finally, select “Move to Trash” in the context menu.

The extension is now removed. Unfortunately, you’ll need to repeat this lengthy process for each extension you want to get rid of.

How to Remove Browser Extensions in Opera

Opera is yet another popular web browser that supports the use of extensions. Here’s what you need to do to get rid of them.

• First, enter opera://extensions in the address bar.

• This is the page that houses your extensions. You can filter them out by clicking the Enabled or Disabled buttons at the top. All of them are displayed by default.
• Enabled extensions show a blue slider that’s toggled to the right, and disabled extensions show a gray slider toggled to the left. You can toggle the slider to the left, or click the “Disable” button, to disable an extension.

• To remove an extension, click “Remove” at the bottom of its card and then click “Remove” again in the pop-up menu.

Note that there are a couple of extensions that come with the browser that Opera allows you to disable but not remove.

That’s all there is to it. Enjoy cleaning up your extension list.

Browsing the Extension Cleanup Aisle

Browser extensions definitely play an important role in our browsing experience, from visual effects to protection of our data.

Even with the surface-level benefit, you’ll still want to manage browser extensions periodically so that you can maintain optimal browser performance and a safer digital environment.

Cleanup on aisle 5.