Google Chrome has started deprecating uBlock Origin

Google Chrome has begun phasing out uBlock Origin. The developer of the free ad blocker, Raymond Hill, recently posted a screenshot showing that Chrome has started automatically turning off uBlock Origin in some places because it is "no longer supported."

The change comes as Google Chrome transitions to Manifest V3, a new extension specification that can affect the effectiveness of some ad blockers. In response to this transition, uBlock Origin introduced uBlock Origin Lite, which uses Manifest V3, but you have to install the extension manually.

Hill says that you may notice a difference when using uBlock Origin Lite versus uBlock Origin, but it depends on the websites you visit and the configuration of the extension. This is because uBlock Origin Lite has more limited filtering options than uBlock Origin, as the Manifest V3 specification places restrictions on the Net Request API used by ad blocking extensions.

"In general, uBlock Origin Lite will be less effective against sites that have solutions to detect these types of programs, as many filters cannot be converted to DNR rules," explains Hill.

If you are not satisfied with the new solution, you can still switch to another browser, such as Firefox, where the original application still works.