With Google announcing their move from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3, many Manifest V2 Chrome extensions are being forced to retire, leaving gaps in plenty of users' digital extensions backpacks.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular extensions that are set to stop working when the rollout is complete, as well as several alternatives that you can try.
Note: Some of the extensions may be updated to V3 after the publication of this article.
Google has already begun transitioning from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3.
Google is moving to Manifest V3 after some common issues began to arise from Manifest V2.
With Manifest V3:
Overall, the new version aims to be significantly more secure and robust, protecting users and improving the performance of extensions.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular V2 Chrome Extensions and viable alternatives you can consider instead.
Cookie Autodelete is a popular Chrome Extension that does exactly what it says. It automatically deletes any unused cookies and site data any time you shut down a browser tab. It was a great option for anyone looking to maintain more privacy online, as it’s easy to use and customizable.
Extension link: Cookie Autodelete
Cookie Autodelete Alternative Chrome Extensions: Privacy Badger, Clear Cache, or Ghostery.
Another popular Chrome Extension that was set to expire before a recent update was the Wayback Machine, a beneficial extension for accessing the Internet Archive on the go.
The Wayback Machine lets you see old versions of each page, save the current version to document it for later, or retrieve pages that no longer exist.
It’s brilliant for retrieving deleted content or getting contextual knowledge from old content that has since fallen into the digital ether.
Extension Link: Wayback Machine
Wayback Machine Alternative Chrome Extensions: Web Archives, Wayback Everywhere, SingleFile, and Save Page WE.
Note: Wayback Machine has updated its extension and is no longer showing a banner suggesting that it will expire.
For anyone who needs a quick tool for writing notes while browsing, Notepad was a great option up until recently, now that it’s set to retire with Google’s updates.
It’s perfect for simple note-taking without having unnecessary tabs open. You can also sync it across multiple devices with customizable settings.
Chrome Extension Link: Notepad
Notepad Chrome Extension Alternatives: Google Keep, Evernote Web Clipper, Note Board, and Notion Web Clipper.
Google Docs Quick Create is one of the most popular Chrome extensions available, and not just because it is a Google product.
The Google Docs Quick Create extension offers quick and easy access to create new Google Drive documents from your toolbar, saving precious time.
Plus, as it’s a Google product, it works seamlessly with other Google products. It’s hard to imagine that Google won’t update its own extension, but if they don’t, check out some of the alternative options below.
Chrome Extension Link: Google Docs Quick Create
Google Docs Quick Create Alternatives: Office, 1-Click Google Docs, and Google Drive Quick Search.
Interested in getting a quick summary of any article, text, or webpage in just one click? TLDR This uses natural language processing to quickly condense full pieces into easy-to-understand summaries.
It’s quick and easy to access, automatically summarizes content in seconds, and can save users a ton of time, making it a great option for anyone undertaking research.
Chrome Extension Link: TLDR This
TLDR This Alternatives: Resoomer, Auto Highlight, Scholarcy, and Pocket.
Draftback has long been a go-to tool for reviewing a Google Doc, allowing users to see revision history and establish how it was created or revised overtime.
This type of extension is now more important than ever with the rise of generative AI and the increasing amount of AI in Google Search results.
A more robust alternative to Draftback is the free Originality.ai Chrome Extension, which allows users to track revisions and uses AI detection software to determine whether or not the content is likely AI writing.
Draftback Chrome Extension Review and Alternatives
Manifest V2 Chrome Extensions are based on Manifest V2, which was once the standard that defined what permissions, capabilities, and resources an extension can use. However, it is now set to be replaced by Manifest V3.
Manifest V3 aims to improve security and performance, as well as introducing visual changes like limiting background pages and improving how permissions can be requested and used.
The main reason Google has opted to move to a new version is to enhance security, improve privacy, and fine-tune performance.
