Google Chrome’s transition to the Manifest V3 browser API has been delayed yet again, keeping Manifest V2 extensions alive for a while longer. While Chrome ceased to accept new Manifest V2 extensions last year and stopped visibility changes for existing ones, the planned switch to Manifest V3 in 2023 and 2024 has been postponed.
In an email to developers, Google’s Developer Relations Engineer, Oliver Dunk, explained that the company is still working on a phase-out plan for Manifest V2, and the changeover is still several months away.
The Manifest V3 API is intended to improve security, privacy, and performance for Google Chrome users globally, but the switch has faced numerous delays since it was first announced. The email emphasizes the need for feedback from developers and a commitment to rolling out Manifest V2 “in a timely manner.”
Despite the delay, many developers have begun to lose faith in Manifest V3. There are concerns that the API’s adoption may prevent ad-blockers from working on Chromium-based browsers, virtually ending any hope of private browsing.
The move to Manifest V3 has also sparked discontent among internet users. One developer remarked that Manifest V3 would arrive when Apple’s headset launches (another much-anticipated but delayed product).
TechRadar Pro has reached out to Google for further information on the transition from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3 and what is being done to support developers in the meantime.
