If you visit the chrome://extensions/ screen in your Google Chrome web browser, you may find that some extensions cannot be disabled because the “Enabled” option is grayed out and cannot be unchecked. This is usually coupled with a message on the extension that says “This extension is managed and cannot be removed or disabled”.
These extensions are normally installed with other applications or can be part of adware. Though you can’t remove these extensions by unchecking the “Disabled” box, you can do it another way.
Sometimes you can simply remove the application from “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features“. If that doesn’t work for you, follow these steps.
- Type “chrome://extensions/” in the address bar, then press “Enter“.
- Check the “Developer mode” check box.
- Note the ID of the extension you wish to remove, located on the “Extensions” screen, then close Google Chrome.
- Open Windows Explorer and select the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” by selecting “Organize” > “Folder and search options” > “View“.
- Navigate to :
- Windows – C:\Users\your username\Appdata\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
- MacOS – ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default
- Linux – ~/.config/google-chrome/Default
- ChromeOS – /home/chronos/
- Delete the folder that matches the ID on the Chrome Extensions screen.
Now open Google Chrome again. The extension should be completely removed.
candice Wilson says
These instructions involved Windows Explorer, which I do not have/use. Everything else was doable but the Windows Explorer instructions are necessary to successfully remove my extension that is ‘operated by an Administrator” outside of my Chrome….which is scary
Melvyn Rosengarden says
I was able to remove the extension BUT in Google Chrome settings->Privacy->Site Settings the extension still exists (Awesome Screenshot) with grayed out “allow” privileges. I need help removing that.
Dev says
Some of the managed extensions are enforced in:
/etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed
(thats the path in linux, find the one for win/mac somewhere else)
Mitch Bartlett says
@BoVice What you are describing sounds like virus behavior to me. I would run a scan to ensure something isn’t taking control of your extensions.
BoVice says
NOPE.. The extension is running an updater.exe. this literally will re install itself.
Saravanan Duraichamy says
Thank you problem solved
Followed step 5
Nick says
How do you get to home/chronos on chrome OS software, I’m doing this because I’m trying to remove pesky extensions, from my school laptop of them trying to watch me. I know I can just switch the hard drives, but I don’t want to go and buy a 2.5″ laptop drive.
Dude says
Worked like a charm. Thanks
Brandon says
I’m afraid this did not work for me Mitch. Do you have a link to the source for your article please?
connor says
WHAT IF THE DEVELOPER MODE IS GREYED OUT
Marcelo says
~/.config/chromium/Default/Extensions Does not have any stuff with the ID selected ‘-‘
Crazy says
How do you do this on chromebook? It says go to home/chronos but that is not a file/folder on chromebooks
John Gentleman says
Oh, if it were that easy!!
This is a once off fix. When you reboot your system and reopen Chrome the dammed extensions reappear. In addition to your suggestion, there’s also a registry key with the same value/id which can be deleted via Regedit but sadly, this doesn’t provide a permanent fix either.
There’s ‘something’, ‘somewhere’ which instructs these annoying extensions to re-load.