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The Complete Guide to Chrome Extensions

The Complete Guide to Chrome Extensions
Leri Koen

Leri Koen

  • Updated:

Browser extensions are useful tools that allow you to extend the features of your browser. These extensions can increase productivity, manage projects, reduce distractions, and source content more conveniently. None offer a larger variety than the Chrome browser of all the browsers available. There is a wide variety of Chrome browser extensions available that can assist you with many tasks. 

Do you need to check the weather? There’s a Chrome extension for that. Or perhaps you need to avoid distractions by prohibiting you from accessing social media or other distracting sites? There’s an extension for that as well. Or perhaps you need something to help ensure that your spelling and grammar in projects, emails, and important documents are correct? You guessed it; there is an extension for that too.

What Are Chrome Extensions?

Like other browser extensions, Chrome extensions are programs that have been built on web technologies such as HTML, CSS, or Javascript. These forms of software allow users to customize and personalize their online browsing experience while using Chrome. They are also often referred to as Add-Ons as they add more features to your base Chrome browser.

Browsers can be very useful as they can let you block ads, check your spelling and grammar, share news and statistics, monitor your productivity, and keep you motivated. The type of Chrome extension you need depends largely on your needs and what you’d like from your browser. 

The Complete Guide to Chrome Extensions

How to Use Chrome Extensions?

Now that you know what Chrome extensions are, we can look at how to add extensions, where to find them, and more.

How to Add Extensions to Chrome?

Before you can start using Chrome extensions, you’ll first need to add them to your browser. You can find chrome extensions on many reputable websites such as Softonic, or you can get them directly from the Chrome store. Using the Chrome Store, you can use the search bar to find the extension you’re looking for. 

Once you find it, you can click on the extension to be taken to its page. Here you can see more details about the extension as well as reviews. If you want the extension, click on ‘Add to Chrome.’ A pop-up window will appear confirming whether you want to add the extension to Chrome. By accepting it, the add-on will be installed on your browser.

The Complete Guide to Chrome Extensions

How to Access Chrome Extensions?

Once you’ve installed Chrome extensions, you will find an icon for that add-on in the top menu bar next to the browser settings icon. By clicking on the icon, you can access the extension. If you have more than one Chrome extension installed, this area may become a bit cluttered. By right-clicking on an icon, you can choose to move the icon to the extensions menu instead of the toolbar. This is useful for keeping only the extensions you frequently use on the toolbar.

Alternatively, you can also access your Chrome extensions page to see the details of all your add-ons. To do this, open the options menu in your browser by clicking on the three vertical dots. Next, select ‘More Tools’ and then ‘Extension.’

The Complete Guide to Chrome Extensions

How to Remove Chrome Extensions?

To remove Chrome extensions, you need to enter the extensions page as shown above. Once you’ve found the extensions in your browser menu, you can scroll through all of your enabled extensions and see their details. From here, you can then choose to disable them until you need them again, or you can remove the extension completely.

Where Can I Find Chrome Extensions?

Are you looking for Chrome Extensions? Perhaps you need an add-on to make your browsing faster? Or maybe you want some cool extensions to improve your productivity and motivation? Or maybe you use multiple tabs and wish there was a way to organize them better? Or perhaps you use Instagram often and wish there was a better way to use it on your PC? 

Regardless of your reason, you need to know where you can find safe extensions. You may be able to find them at reputable third parties or directly from the Chrome store. Here you’ll also find quite a few useful extensions that are free to use, while others may have a monthly subscription or once-off payment to start using them.

Must-Have Chrome Extensions

Here are a few references to some of the best Chrome extensions that you can use:

Are Chrome Extensions Safe?

There are a lot of Chrome extensions that are perfectly safe to use. However, it is always wise to make sure that you double-check before installing anything on your computer and ensure that you are safe. If you are downloading extensions from a third-party site, make sure you do your due diligence to ensure that they are safe.

This is why we recommend only using reputable sites or the Chrome Store. Google has its own safety criteria when evaluating whether an extension is safe before allowing it to be added to the Chrome store. Add-ons that have been checked thoroughly will also have a trusted label from Google.

Leri Koen

Leri Koen

Born and raised in South Africa I am the mother of two busy kids and one loving husband. Since leaving school I immediately started working and have been involved in many different industries where I learned a wide range of skills. Some of my skills range from marketing to management and even teaching special needs children, particularly those with severe developmental delays. I am a self-proclaimed holiday nut, taking any chance I can get to decorate and celebrate major holidays such as Easter, Halloween and Christmas, often planning these months in advance! I have a wide range of passions that I persue (as often as I can) such as reading, writing, bonsai, crafting, creating natural beauty products, listening to music and playing games (prefered platforms being PC and Xbox).

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