Edge Transitions to MV3, Sparking Debate Over Extension Capabilities
Microsoft Edge will transition to Manifest Version 3 (MV3), the Chromium browser extension platform, in the coming months. This move follows Google Chrome's lead and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with enterprise deprecation following in early 2027.
The Microsoft Edge team states that 95% of top MV2 extensions on the Edge Add-ons store have already been moved to MV3, marking significant progress towards a smooth transition. However, some developers and users are concerned about the implications of this change.
One notable concern is that MV3 may limit capabilities, particularly for ad and tracker blockers. The uBlock Origin team has spoken out about how MV3 forced them to compromise their extension's functionality. Microsoft's goal is to complete the transition with no loss of customer functionality, but some users may still experience changes.
The Edge team will start disabling MV2 in August 2026, beginning with the Canary channel and gradually broadening to Stable over several months. This move is part of a broader trend of browser developers pushing for more control over extensions and their capabilities.