How Chrome Extension Auto-Updates Work

Chrome keeps extensions up to date by itself. You rarely need to do anything, but it helps to know when updates happen, how to force one, and why an update sometimes switches an extension off.

When extensions update

• Chrome checks the Chrome Web Store for extension updates every few hours while it's running.
• When an update is found, Chrome downloads it and installs it in the background, usually once the extension isn't busy.
• Updates arrive after the developer publishes and the Web Store's review approves them, which can take from hours to several days.
• Developers can roll out an update gradually, so you may get a new version a few days after someone else.

How to force an update

1. Go to chrome://extensions.
2. Turn on Developer mode (top right).
3. Click Update at the top. Chrome checks all extensions immediately.

You can turn Developer mode off again afterwards. Restarting Chrome also triggers a check.

Why an update can turn an extension off

If a new version asks for permissions that add a new warning, Chrome turns the extension off and shows a notice until you accept. That's a safety feature: it's your chance to ask why an extension now wants, say, access to all sites. See how to tell if an extension is spying on you.

Can you stop auto-updates?

Not for extensions from the Chrome Web Store on a personal computer. That's deliberate, since many updates fix security problems. Organizations can control extensions with policies, and extensions you load yourself in Developer mode don't update unless you replace their files.

Seeing what changed

Chrome doesn't show a changelog. Check the extension's Web Store listing for an "Updated" date and version, and the developer's website or release notes for details. Some extensions show a "what's new" page after updating.

When an update breaks something

• Reload the pages you had open, since old copies of the extension's scripts may still be running in them.
• Restart Chrome.
• Check the extension's support page or reviews to see if others have the same problem.
• Turn it off for now. See how to disable an extension without uninstalling it.

For developers

Increase the version number in the manifest for every release, keep new permissions to what you truly need (or make them optional permissions requested at the moment they're used), and expect review times to vary. If you need help shipping or maintaining an extension, see Chrome extension development.