[Solved] How to install extensions in Chrome without a Google Account? (2023)

google-chrome google-chrome-extensions

47,592

Solution 1

You now seem to need sign in to a Google account to install any extensions/add-ons from Chrome Web Store.

But you can still install an extension without logging in to a Google account by doing the following:

Find the ID for the extension you want to install. You can see it in the URL on in Chrome Web Store.
For example Adblock Plus extension has an URL like:
```
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/adblock-plus/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb?hl=en-US
```
The ID we want is the long string of random characters like cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb in the URL above.
Download the extension package, a .crx file.
You can do this by using this URL with the <ID> part replaced by the ID from above:
```
https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx?response=redirect&x=id%3D<ID>%26uc
```
For the Adblock Plus .crx the URL would be:
```
https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx?response=redirect&x=id%3Dcfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb%26uc
```
You will get a warning about that extensions cannot be added from this site, but you can ignore that, the .crx will be downloaded anyway.
Go to your extensions page in Google Chrome. You can find it in the Tools -> Extensions menu or by using the following URL:
```
chrome://extensions
```
Drag and drop the downloaded extension .crx file you just downloaded in to this window to install it.

And you're done.

You could also use helpers like Chrome Extension Downloader to download the .crx file.

Solution 2

Here is the announcement about locking installation of Chrome extensions so that they can only be installed via the chrome store: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome/d35tIyH8dVM%5B1-25-false%5D

They also say:

What if I want to run non-web store extensions? Advanced users can continue to use our Dev & Canary channels to run any extension. Please note that these channels are updated very regularly, and may contain features and bug fixes that are actively being developed.

The easiest way around is to just not use the Chrome Web Store, or just don't use Chrome.

Chrome is completely useless for me if I can't install extensions. I will not create a google account just so I can download from the chrome store. This looks much more like forcing millions of Chrome users to create google accounts than actually do anything about security.

Solution 3

^{Summing up information collected in the comments on the question itself:}

For Ungoogled Chromium, this is how it worked out for me (steps 1-3 by Evolve):

One-time Preparations

visit from the address bar: chrome://flags
search 'exensions'
Set 'Extensions Menu Access Control' to 'Enable'
clear the search, then set chrome://flags/#extension-mime-request-handling to 'Always prompt for install'

Install process (without login)

search for the extension you want to install (see this answer for details)
copy it's ID (e.g. cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm for uBlock Origin)
paste it to the text input at crxviewer.com and choose to download as extension
once the download is completed, you should see a popup prompting you to install or save. Simply hit 'install', and you should be done.

Extensions will show up as "not from Chrome Web Store" in chrome://extensions/, and I'm not sure they will update automatically.

If the above for some reason should not work out, you can still download from crxviewer as ZIP, unzip to an empty directory, enable developer mode in chrome://extensions/, and load the extension as unpacked. That's how I started – so it might be needed to have developer mode enabled as well.

More hints can e.g. be found here. I didn't install this extension as I didn't want direct ties to Google; if you don't care about that, installing the Chromium Web Store extension might make the process much easier for you if you're on Chromium.

47,592

msbg

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

msbg 1 day

I am trying to install a free extension in Google Chrome, but whenever I click "Add To Chrome", I am asked to sign in to a Google account. This has never happened before, and I do not want to use an account just to install an extension. This problem is occurring for all extensions. How can I install extensions without signing in?
- Admin about 9 years
  
  I just went to their web site, where they had a direct download to the extension off their github.
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  Admin about 9 years
  
  Just use the direct link chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readium/…
- Admin almost 9 years
  
  @MichaelHampton It's not for downloading, it's for installing/adding!
- Admin about 8 years
  
  Seems like Google Chrome/Web Store doesn't require one to login currently/anymore to install extensions (v36.0.1985.143).
- Admin 7 months
  
  In Chrome now you'll be told you cant do it unless you first enable a flag 1) visit from the address bar chrome://flags 2) search 'exensions' 3) Set 'Extensions Menu Access Control' to 'Enable' 4) They'll likely keep renaming this as they are jerks. 5) You'll now be able to drag the extension file saved from crxviewer.com or similar onto the page
- Admin 6 months
  (Video) How to Enable 'Extensions' Menu button in Google Chrome Toolbar?
  
  @Evolve this didn't quite work for me (using ungoogled Chromium), but was a good starter. I succeeded by downloading the ZIP from crxviewer, unpack it into an empty directory, then enabled developer settings in extensions and loaded the extension as "unpacked" (after having applied your changes). Some more hints can be found here – most likely drag'n'drop will work after having set chrome://flags/#extension-mime-request-handling to "Always prompt for install", as suggested there. Thanks for your hints, wouldn't have managed without!
- Admin 6 months
  
  PS: Bingo, thanks to the last mentioned setting being added to the equation, I now can directly install extensions (via crxviewer) without manually unpacking them first. I'm prompted to install – and it installs.
Nufail over 8 years

In newer version drag and drop in Step 4 does not work. It says This can only be added from the Chrome Web Store. Workaround for this is rename .crx extension of the downloaded file to .zip and extract the file. Then in chrome extensions page enable developer mode and click on 'Load unpacked extension'. Then select the extracted folder.
Qtax over 8 years

@Nufail, wow, so they want to make it even more complicated. That's just great... (Will update this when I have the time, unless someone else does that first.)
Admin over 8 years

And for those who don't have drag and drop support, just extract the crx file with 7zip, activate developer mode in the extension panel and load extension from folder. Cheers!
Noitidart about 8 years

This doesn't work anymore. Any update to this? Im just trying to get the .crx file, not install it.
msbg over 7 years

I agree. It's Google BS.
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Underverse over 7 years

Firefox is heading the same way - nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/02/17/… "In the second half of 2015, it says, Firefox will require all browser extensions to be digitally signed." I have already switched to Palemoon and Dragon. RIP Firefox, it was your extensions that made you great.
not2qubit almost 7 years

@Underverse: That's different. Having signed extensions is a good thing, but forcing you to sign-up and use Google's servers for any kind of installation is not.
Noitidart almost 7 years
(Video) Install 3rd party Chrome extensions without using the Web Store in Chrome 21+

Is it possible to just download the crx without having to log in?
Naman over 5 years

Followed Nufail's suggestion. Got error about _metadata folder. Renamed it to metadata. Then, it worked.
golimar almost 3 years

Step 2 does not work anymore, it just shows a blank page
Daniel over 1 year

Open chrome://extensions/ and drag the .crx file into that tab.
jelabarre about 1 year

I'd agree with Underverse's answer, "...or just don't use Chrome". As long as Google persists in their arrogance, we shouldn't support them.

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[Solved] How to install extensions in Chrome without a Google Account? (2023)

Solution 1

Solution 2

Solution 3

One-time Preparations

Install process (without login)

Related videos on Youtube

msbg

Comments

Recents

FAQs

How do I manually install Chrome extensions? ›

How do you unblock extensions? ›

How do I unblock as administrator on Chromebook? ›

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How do I get rid of Chrome extensions installed by administrator? ›

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