To install an extension in Microsoft Edge, select the Extensions button next to the address bar (or Settings and more > Extensions), select Get Extensions for Microsoft Edge, find the one you want, and select Get > Add extension. Microsoft says Edge can also use extensions made for Google Chrome.
These steps follow Microsoft’s Add, turn off, or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge article and its developer guide to sideloading extensions. Microsoft describes extensions, or add-ons, as simple tools that customize your browser.
If you only want a shortcut to a website, you can pin it to Start or the taskbar in Edge using the built-in controls without an extension.
How to Add an Extension in Edge
- Select Extensions to the right of the address bar. If you don’t see it, select Settings and more (…) > Extensions.
- Select Get Extensions for Microsoft Edge.
- Find the extension you want and select Get.
- Read the permissions the extension asks for, then select Add extension if you want to go ahead.
Result: Microsoft says you’ll see a final prompt confirming the extension was added. Its icon then appears next to the address bar and on the Extensions page, and you can click the icon to use it.
How to Install a Chrome Extension in Edge
- In Edge, go to the Chrome Web Store.
- Search for the extension and select its tile to open its details page.
- Select Get extension on the banner at the top, or the Get button on the page.
- If Edge shows a prompt to Allow extensions from other stores, select Allow.
- Review the permissions and select Add extension.
Result: The Chrome extension installs and works in Edge, and Microsoft says you’ll see the same confirmation prompt. You only need to allow other stores once.
How to Turn Off an Extension
- Select Extensions to the right of the address bar, then select Manage extensions.
- Select the toggle next to the extension you want to turn off.
Result: The extension stops working but stays installed, so you can turn it back on with the same toggle. The Details button on that page shows more about each extension.
How to Remove an Extension
Microsoft gives two ways to uninstall an extension:
- Right-click (or select and hold) the extension’s icon to the right of the address bar, then select Remove from Microsoft Edge > Remove.
- Select Extensions, select More actions next to the extension, then select Remove from Microsoft Edge > Remove.
Result: The extension is uninstalled from Edge. There’s also a Remove button on the Manage extensions page.
How to Load an Extension You Made (Developer Mode)
Edge can also install extensions from a folder on your computer. Microsoft’s developer guide calls this sideloading and says it’s meant for testing an extension before it’s published:
- Select Extensions > Manage extensions.
- Turn on the Developer mode toggle.
- Select Load unpacked.
- Choose the folder that contains the extension’s files, such as manifest.json, and select Select Folder.
Result: According to Microsoft, the extension installs like one from the Edge Add-ons website. Microsoft says regular users browse and install extensions from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons website instead.
Stay Safe With Extensions
Microsoft says to carefully review the permissions prompt before you select Add extension. Extensions can ask for things such as reading your browsing history or showing notifications. If you find an extension on the Edge Add-ons website that contains malware or breaks the rules, Microsoft says you can sign in, open the extension, and select Report abuse.
If a website window still seems blocked after you check your extensions, review Edge pop-up permissions. A trusted-site exception is separate from installing or turning off an extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Chrome extensions in Microsoft Edge?
Yes. Microsoft says extensions designed for Google Chrome can be used in Edge. Install them from the Chrome Web Store and allow extensions from other stores when Edge asks.
What’s the difference between turning off and removing an extension?
Turning an extension off with the toggle keeps it installed so you can turn it back on later. Removing it with Remove from Microsoft Edge uninstalls it, so you’d need to add it again to use it.
More Edge Guides
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.