Complete guide to installing add-ons and extensions in Microsoft Edge

Customizing Microsoft Edge with extensions is a great way to enhance your browsing experience.From blocking annoying ads to automatically translating pages or managing your passwords, Edge add-ons let you tailor the browser to your daily preferences and needs.

In this article, we teach you absolutely everything you need to know about how to install, manage, and remove extensions in Microsoft Edge., both from its official store and from other sources like the Chrome Web Store, or even by installing developer extensions locally. If you're looking for a complete and clear guide, stay tuned for more.

What are extensions or add-ons in Microsoft Edge?

Extensions are small programs that integrate into your browser to add extra functionality.For example, you can add an ad blocker, a screenshot tool, social media extensions, translators, password managers, and more.

Microsoft Edge, being based on Chromium (the same open source project as Google Chrome), is able to install and use not only extensions from its own store, but also those from the Chrome Web Store. Thanks to this, the range of available options is immense.

How to install extensions from the Microsoft Store

Adding extensions from the official Microsoft store is the most common and safest method, since the extensions have been reviewed by Microsoft.

Steps to install an extension from the Microsoft Store:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
2. Click on the three vertical dots menu in the top right corner and select Extensions.
3. Press on Manage extensions.
4. Choose Get extensions from Microsoft Store.
5. Find the extension you want to install.
6. Click on Get and then Add extension after confirming the permissions.

Once added, the browser will confirm that the extension has been installed successfully.. Its icon will appear next to the address bar, where you can easily manage it.

Install extensions from the Chrome Web Store

Another great advantage of Edge is the ability to install extensions designed to Google Chrome, thanks to the fact that they share the same base technology: Chromium.

Steps to enable and obtain Chrome extensions:

1. Access the extensions section as indicated above.
2. Activate the option Allow extensions from other storesThis will display a warning indicating that third-party extensions have not been verified by Microsoft.
3. Click on Allow to confirm your decision.
4. Go to Chrome Web Store and choose an extension.
5. Click on Add to Chrome and then Add extension to install it.

Once installed, it will work just like if you were in Chrome., with the same options and access to their settings.

How to remove or disable Edge extensions

If you no longer need an extension or it is causing you problems, removing it is very simple..

You have two ways to do it:

• Right click on the extension icon in the top bar and select Remove from Microsoft Edge.
• Or, go to Extensions from the menu (three dots) and click on Delete under the corresponding extension.

In both cases, the browser will ask you to confirm that you want to delete it.

How to install an extension locally in Microsoft Edge

If you are a developer or are testing an extension before publishing it, you can install it directly from your local files.This is known as sideloading.

Steps to load an extension locally:

1. Open Edge and go to Extensions.
2. Click on Manage extensions.
3. Activate Developer mode.
4. Click on Load unpacked.
5. Select the extension folder, which must contain at least the file manifest.json.
6. Click on Select folder and Edge will install the extension.

This is especially useful for testing before uploading your extension to the official store.. If you make changes to the code, you can easily reload the extension using the option Reload.

How to update or remove an extension locally

Updating a locally installed extension simply requires modifying the code and reloading it.. Steps:

1. Edit and save the source code.
2. From the extensions tab, click Reload on the corresponding card.
3. Reload the web page you are working on if necessary.

To remove a local extension:

1. Go to the tab Manage extensions.
2. Click on Remove inside the extension card.

If you encounter errors when running the extension, Edge will display a link to Error next to the button RemoveYou can click on it to see more details and correct any errors before reloading.

Microsoft Edge, with its support for Chrome extensions and its own store, offers enormous flexibility. If you know how to install, manage, and remove extensions correctly, you'll be able to get much more out of your browsing.. To learn more about managing extensions, you can check out How to delete history in Edge or visit How to fix errors in Edge.