The Chrome ver. 150 update, releasing on June 30, removes the last technical loophole that allowed old ad blockers to function. This is the finale of a years-long saga that Google has been driving since 2018. If you use Chrome and are used to not seeing ads in your browser, forget about it: now they’re coming back. Google is simply rewriting the rules of how Chrome works, and now even the most powerful ad blockers that could still function will be left out in the cold.
Ad blockers in Google Chrome no longer work
Why Ad Blocking No Longer Works in Google Chrome
The main casualty of these changes is popular ad blockers like uBlock Origin, built on the old architecture. They have been losing their capabilities for a while now — it just happened gradually. However, now Google has decided to deliver the final blow.
The schedule looks like this:
- Chrome 150 (June 30) — removes the last workaround that kept old ad blockers afloat
- Chrome 151 (July) — completely cleans out the remaining settings
After this, extensions built on the old rules simply stop working. According to data from the Chromium code, add-ons based on Manifest V2 are no longer permitted in any supported version of the browser. There is no manual way to bring them back.
Old ad blockers based on Manifest V2 are being disabled in Chrome 150 and 151.
How Google Makes Its Money
The changes affect millions of users, and Google has several reasons to block ad blockers.
The official reason is security and simplifying the architecture. Supporting the old extension mechanism does indeed create complications and risks, and there is a rational point to this.
But there’s also a second obvious fact: almost all of Google’s revenue comes from advertising. It just so happens that technical arguments and commercial interests have conveniently aligned, and the search giant has no reason not to implement the upcoming changes.
Browsers with Ad Blocking on PC
If it’s essential for you to continue blocking ads on your computer, the most direct path is to switch browsers. Support for old extensions that block online ads will be maintained by:
- Firefox — will continue to support old ad blockers
- Brave — also retains compatibility with the old format
Both options remain a reasonable alternative to Chrome on desktop, if ad blocking matters to you more than habit. Those who aren’t too bothered by browser ads can leave everything as is and simply stay on Chrome.
Firefox and Brave plan to maintain support for Manifest V2 extensions.
That said, there’s no reason to panic. Simply put, after June 30, the familiar experience in Chrome will change. If an ad blocker is part of your everyday comfort, it makes sense to look into Firefox or Brave in advance and transfer your bookmarks and passwords so the transition doesn’t catch you off guard. Alternatively, if you don’t want to do that, you can use blockers like AdGuard that work on top of the browser. However, you won’t be able to use a VPN alongside it, but as they say, everyone decides for themselves what matters more.
If you’re fine with ads or use Chrome for the sake of syncing with other Google services, just keep in mind: old ad blockers are being permanently disabled, and there won’t be a universal replacement within Chrome itself.
