Source and context
What Google is changing
Chrome 150, expected around June 30, removes one of the last internal flags that users used to keep full Manifest V2 extensions running. Chrome 151, expected in July, removes additional Manifest V2-related cleanup code. The net effect: the remaining practical escape hatches for running the full Manifest V2 version of uBlock Origin in Chrome will be closed.
How we got here
Google began the Manifest V2 transition years ago: it stopped accepting new Manifest V2 extensions in January 2022 and began disabling installed Manifest V2 extensions in Stable Chrome in October 2024. Chrome 138 completed the consumer shutdown on July 24, 2025, and enterprise policies that extended V2 support were removed in later updates. That left a small group of advanced users relying on internal flags and other technical workarounds, which Chrome 150 and 151 now aim to eliminate.
Key takeaway
Chrome 150 and 151 are set to eliminate the remaining internal flags that let some users keep Manifest V2 ad blockers working in Chrome.
Why it matters
The underlying architectural change is Chrome’s move away from Manifest V2’s blocking webRequest model toward Manifest V3’s declarativeNetRequest API, which uses browser-enforced rulesets rather than allowing extensions to inspect and synchronously block requests. Google has described the remaining V2 code as difficult to maintain and a security risk, motivating the removal of leftover internal flags.
What changes for ad-blockers
For most Chrome users, little will change: mainstream ad blockers that already run on Manifest V3—examples cited include AdGuard, Adblock Plus, and uBlock Origin Lite—should continue to function. Google says top content-filtering extensions have Manifest V3 versions available, and a 2025 preprint comparing V2 and V3 blockers across hundreds of sites found no statistically significant drop in ad- or tracker-blocking effectiveness for the mainstream blockers it tested. That suggests ordinary blocking and tracker protection remain viable under Manifest V3 for typical browsing.
4 min read
PhonesGATE coverage from PhonesGATE. Published Jun 17, 2026.
Where users lose ground
The primary casualties are advanced users who depended on the full, Manifest V2 uBlock Origin. The full uBlock Origin remains a Manifest V2 extension and has no direct one-to-one V3 replacement in Chrome. uBlock Origin Lite exists for Chrome but is intentionally different: it must be installed manually and is limited by the declarativeNetRequest model. Advanced features such as dynamic filtering, complex custom rules, some cosmetic filters, and anti-anti-adblock handling are more constrained under Manifest V3.
Practical options and recommendations
If your blocker is already a V3 extension, no action is required. To check, open chrome://extensions and look for warnings that an extension is “no longer supported” or has been turned off.
If you rely on the full uBlock Origin in Chrome, you have two clear choices before Chrome 151 arrives: install a reputable Manifest V3 blocker (for example, uBlock Origin Lite or other V3 extensions) to stay in Chrome, or switch browsers to retain the full uBlock Origin experience. Firefox supports uBlock Origin’s full functionality and documents its own Manifest V3 differences; Brave offers a Chromium-style alternative that may continue to support the full experience depending on its own policies. Other Chromium-based browsers such as Opera and Edge are less certain choices for full V2 compatibility.
PhonesGATE quick analysis
This is the final cleanup phase of a long transition that Google initiated years ago. For average users, Manifest V3 blockers already cover most needs; the key impact is on advanced, power-user workflows that depended on the synchronous, programmatic control allowed by Manifest V2. Relying on remaining Chrome flags is no longer a sustainable strategy—users who need those advanced features should plan a browser migration or accept reduced functionality under V3.
What this means for buyers
Shoppers choosing a browser today should consider how important advanced ad-blocking controls are to their browsing experience. If the full uBlock Origin feature set is essential, consider Firefox for straightforward support or Brave if you prefer a Chromium-based option and accept browser-specific support tradeoffs. If you prioritize staying in Chrome, test your preferred V3 blocker to confirm it meets your needs before Chrome 150 and 151 roll out.
Related internal links
Suggested coverage to reference: uBlock Origin, uBlock Origin Lite, Firefox, Brave, AdGuard, Adblock Plus.
Sources and methodology
This article is based on reporting from Android Gadget Hacks, with PhonesGATE editorial context and buyer-focused analysis.