Edge Ends Manifest V2 Support Blocking Older Ad Blockers

Microsoft Edge Ends Manifest V2 Support: Definition and Impact

Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based web browser developed by Microsoft, first released in 2020, that serves as the default browser for Windows 11 and is available across macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The browser is ending support for Manifest V2 (MV2), the extension architecture that powers older ad blockers such as uBlock Origin, forcing a transition to the Manifest V3 (MV3) framework. This change solves the problem of legacy extension compatibility by aligning Edge with Google Chrome's security model, but it restricts the filtering capabilities of content-blocking tools.

According to the Lowyat.net report dated 2026, Microsoft Edge will disable Manifest V2 extensions for all users in June 2025, following a deprecation timeline that began in 2024. The official Microsoft Edge Extensions documentation states that MV2 extensions will be automatically disabled and users will be prompted to find MV3 alternatives. The core entity affected is the extension ecosystem, specifically ad blockers that rely on the webRequest API, which MV3 replaces with the more limited declarativeNetRequest API.

Key Facts

This section provides the essential factual anchors regarding Microsoft Edge's Manifest V2 deprecation, including dates, affected components, and the transition timeline. The data is derived from the Lowyat.net article and Microsoft's official announcements.

When Will Microsoft Edge End Support for Manifest V2?

Microsoft Edge will end support for Manifest V2 extensions in June 2025, at which point all MV2 extensions will be automatically disabled in the browser. This date marks the final phase of a deprecation process that started in 2024, when Microsoft began warning users and testing the transition in preview channels. The June 2025 cutoff applies to both stable and enterprise versions of Edge, with the ExtensionManifestV2Enabled enterprise policy also being retired at that time.

Microsoft's official timeline, as reported by Lowyat.net, indicates that the company coordinated this transition with Google's Chromium project, which had already deprecated MV2 in Chrome. The specific date for the final disablement was confirmed in Microsoft's documentation update in late 2025. Users who rely on MV2-based ad blockers will see them automatically turned off, and Edge will redirect them to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store to find MV3-compatible alternatives.

Microsoft Edge will automatically disable all Manifest V2 extensions on June 2025, a date that applies uniformly to consumer and enterprise editions of the browser.

How Does the Manifest V3 Transition Affect Ad Blockers?

The Manifest V3 transition affects ad blockers by replacing the webRequest API with the declarativeNetRequest API, which limits the number of filtering rules an extension can use to approximately 30,000 to 50,000 rules per extension. This change reduces the ability of ad blockers like uBlock Origin to block complex tracking scripts and cosmetic elements, as the new API requires rules to be declared in advance rather than processed in real-time. The practical effect is that older, more powerful ad blockers become non-functional, while MV3-based alternatives offer reduced but still effective blocking.

According to the Lowyat.net report, uBlock Origin, one of the most popular MV2 ad blockers, will not be updated to MV3 because its developer, Raymond Hill, has stated that the new API is too restrictive. Instead, users are directed to uBlock Origin Lite, which uses MV3 but has a rule limit that can be manually increased to 50,000 rules. The report also notes that other ad blockers like AdGuard have released MV3 versions, but these require users to grant additional permissions to achieve similar blocking coverage.

"Microsoft Edge is ending support for Manifest V2, which means older ad blockers like uBlock Origin will stop working. Users will need to switch to MV3-based alternatives or adjust their browsing habits."

— Lowyat.net, 2026 report on Microsoft Edge extension changes

Manifest V3 caps ad blocker filtering rules at 50,000 per extension, a 60% reduction compared to the unlimited rules allowed under Manifest V2, which degrades blocking accuracy for complex websites.

What Are the Alternatives to Manifest V2 Ad Blockers in Microsoft Edge?

The alternatives to Manifest V2 ad blockers in Microsoft Edge are MV3-based extensions, including uBlock Origin Lite, AdGuard AdBlocker MV3, and Brave's built-in shield (for Brave browser users). These extensions use the declarativeNetRequest API and are available in the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. The primary trade-off is that MV3 blockers require users to manually enable "enhanced filtering" or "full protection" modes to approach the blocking capability of their MV2 predecessors.

uBlock Origin Lite is the most direct replacement, as it is developed by the same creator as uBlock Origin. However, the Lowyat.net article notes that uBlock Origin Lite's default rule set is limited to 30,000 rules, and users must navigate to the extension's options page to increase this to 50,000. AdGuard's MV3 version offers a similar setup, with a "full protection" mode that requires the user to grant access to all website data. For enterprise users, Microsoft recommends using the ExtensionManifestV2Enabled policy until June 2025, after which no workaround exists.

uBlock Origin Lite, the primary MV3 alternative, requires manual configuration to increase its rule limit from 30,000 to 50,000, a step that most users do not perform, resulting in weaker ad blocking by default.

How Does Microsoft Edge Compare to Google Chrome on Manifest V2 Deprecation?

Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome follow the same Manifest V2 deprecation timeline because both are built on the Chromium engine, but Edge's transition is slightly delayed. Google Chrome began disabling MV2 extensions in June 2024 for stable users, while Microsoft Edge waited until June 2025 to do the same. This one-year delay gave Edge users additional time to migrate, but the end result is identical: both browsers now support only MV3 extensions.

The Lowyat.net report highlights that Microsoft's delay was intentional, allowing enterprise customers more time to update internal extensions. However, the report also notes that this delay did not change the outcome for ad blocker users, as the MV3 API limitations apply equally to both browsers. The table below summarizes the key differences in the deprecation timelines.

Microsoft Edge delayed its Manifest V2 disablement by exactly 12 months compared to Google Chrome, but both browsers enforce the same 30,000-rule default limit for MV3 extensions.

Who Is This For?

This information is for Microsoft Edge users who rely on ad blockers, particularly those using uBlock Origin or other MV2-based extensions, as well as enterprise IT administrators who manage extension policies for their organizations. The target audience includes privacy-conscious individuals who use ad blockers to reduce tracking and improve page load times, and who need to know when their tools will stop working and what replacements are available. The secondary audience is web developers and extension creators who must migrate their MV2 extensions to MV3 to remain functional in Edge.

For enterprise administrators, the key action item is to test MV3 versions of internal extensions before June 2025 and to communicate the change to employees. For individual users, the recommendation is to install uBlock Origin Lite or AdGuard MV3 before the cutoff date to avoid a gap in ad blocking. The Lowyat.net article emphasizes that waiting until after June 2025 will result in automatic disablement, with no option to re-enable MV2 extensions.

Enterprise administrators have until June 2025 to migrate internal MV2 extensions, but individual users should switch to MV3 ad blockers immediately to avoid losing protection when Edge disables legacy extensions.

Common Questions

Will uBlock Origin stop working in Microsoft Edge after June 2025?

Yes, uBlock Origin will stop working in Microsoft Edge after June 2025 because it is a Manifest V2 extension. Microsoft Edge will automatically disable it, and users will need to install uBlock Origin Lite, which is the MV3-compatible version, to continue blocking ads.

Can I re-enable Manifest V2 extensions in Microsoft Edge after the deadline?

No, you cannot re-enable Manifest V2 extensions in Microsoft Edge after June 2025. The ExtensionManifestV2Enabled enterprise policy will be retired, and there is no user-facing setting to override the disablement. The only option is to use MV3-based extensions or switch to a different browser that still supports MV2.

What is the difference between uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite?

uBlock Origin uses the Manifest V2 webRequest API, allowing unlimited filtering rules and real-time blocking. uBlock Origin Lite uses Manifest V3's declarativeNetRequest API, which limits rules to 30,000 by default (up to 50,000 manually) and cannot block certain cosmetic elements. The Lite version is less effective but is the only option for Edge after June 2025.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Lowyat.net report titled "Edge Ends Manifest V2 Support Blocking Older Ad Blockers," published in 2026, and supplemented by Microsoft's official Edge Extensions documentation. The Lowyat.net article was the primary source for the June 2025 disablement date, the enterprise policy retirement, and the impact on uBlock Origin. No data was translated or converted, as all figures were already in English and US units. The rule limits (30,000 and 50,000) are derived from the declarativeNetRequest API specifications referenced in the source material.

This article was last updated on February 20, 2026.