Microsoft Edge MV2 extensions are starting a staged retirement this month, putting older add-ons, including the original uBlock Origin, on a path to being disabled by default for consumer users. Microsoft says it aims to finish that consumer transition by the end of 2026, while enterprise deprecation is planned for early 2027.
The change concerns Manifest Version 2, or MV2, the older extension platform used by some Edge add-ons. It is not a ban on ad blocking as a category. Extensions already available in the newer Manifest Version 3, or MV3, format can remain available, and users whose tools are MV2-only will be pointed toward MV3 versions where those exist.
Microsoft disclosed the schedule in an August 7 post by its Edge team. The company says it will first show notices to some people with MV2 extensions installed, both on Edge's Manage Extensions page at edge://extensions and Edge Add-ons pages. Over the following months, it will turn off MV2 extensions by default in stages after advance notice.
When will Microsoft Edge disable MV2 extensions?
- August 2026: Notices begin for a subset of users with affected extensions.
- Following months: The rollout starts in Canary, Dev and Beta builds, then expands to the Stable release.
- By the end of 2026: Microsoft’s target is to complete the consumer transition away from MV2.
- Early 2027: Microsoft plans enterprise deprecation. Managed devices are excluded from the 2026 consumer rollout.
For people using the original uBlock Origin in Edge, the consequence is straightforward: reporting by The Verge says the MV2 extension will be cut off as support ends. The Verge identifies uBlock Origin Lite as one MV3-based alternative. The evidence does not establish that the Lite edition matches the original extension’s blocking capability, so users should check the version and features of any replacement before switching.
What should Edge users with older ad blockers do?
Open edge://extensions and check for a notice from Edge. If an extension still depends on MV2, look for an MV3 release from its developer or an MV3-based alternative. Microsoft says users will receive notice before the browser disables their MV2 extension by default and will be directed to a recommended MV3 version when one is available.
Microsoft says 95% of the leading MV2 extensions in its Edge Add-ons store have moved to MV3. It also says 58 MV2-based extensions have meaningful usage, with only three lacking a publicly available MV3 edition. Those are Microsoft’s figures, as is its claim that MV3 improves security and performance and that most extensions migrated without a loss of customer functionality.
Chrome made a comparable move away from MV2 earlier in 2026, according to The Verge. Edge users now get the same basic fork in the road: update an extension that has moved to MV3, or find a replacement before the old one is switched off.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.
