01What happened
The story, straight
Google Chrome versions 150 and 151, expected in late June and July 2026, will remove the final bits of code supporting Manifest V2 extensions, ending all remaining workarounds for older ad blockers like uBlock Origin. Google began phasing out Manifest V2 support in 2024, pushing users toward Manifest V3 alternatives such as uBlock Origin Lite or different browsers. The change means only Manifest V3–compatible ad blockers will function in Chrome 151 onward.
chrome 150 and 151 are dropping in late june and july, and they're killing the last bits of code that let old manifest v2 ad blockers keep limping along. google started phasing v2 out back in 2024 — most people already switched to v3 alternatives like uBlock Origin Lite or just moved to firefox. now the final workaround is gone. after 151, it's v3 or nothing.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
03Source receipts
Every claim, linked
04What's solid, what isn't
What's solid and what isn't
- Chrome versions 150 and 151 will remove the final Manifest V2 extension support code.
- Only Manifest V3 ad blockers will function in Chrome 151 onward.
- Google began phasing out Manifest V2 in 2024.
- The exact release dates for Chrome 150 and 151 (The Verge says late June and July, respectively, but no specific dates are given).
05Why it matters
The editorial take
This is the final chapter in Google's multi-year effort to retire Manifest V2, a move privacy advocates have criticized as prioritizing Google's ad business over user control. Chrome commands roughly 65% of the global browser market, so the change effectively forces the majority of desktop users onto weaker ad-blocking tools or alternative browsers. It's the clearest signal yet that the open web's most popular browser is aligning its extension architecture with its advertising revenue model.
the manifest v2 sunset has been a slow-motion fight between google and the ad-blocking community for years. chrome controls ~65% of desktop browsing, so this isn't some niche change — it's the most-used browser on earth quietly nerfing the tools people installed to skip ads. privacy folks aren't surprised, but they're still mad. if you're still on chrome with an old ad blocker, july is your deadline.
