Disable Add Ons
Add-ons are third-party extensions and plugins that can be added or downloaded to Internet browsers to enhance the user experience. Add-ons have the ability to customize and improve one or more functionalities of your browser. You can remove or disable add-ons from your Internet browser when you no longer require their use; the process is simple, regardless of which browser you use.
Contents
Steps
Chrome
- Click the Chrome Menu button (☰). You can find this in the upper-right corner of the window.
- Extensions are not available for the mobile version of Chrome.
- Select "More tools" → "Extensions." This will open the Extensions tab. You can also type chrome://extensions/ into the address bar.
- Find the add-on you want to disable. A list of all your installed add-ons, or "extensions," will be displayed. Scroll through the list to find the one you want to disable.
- Uncheck the "Enabled" box. This will disable the extension immediately.
- Click the Trashcan button if you want to uninstall the add-ons. This will completely remove it, and you'll have to reinstall it if you want to use it again.
- Reset Chrome to disable all add-ons at once. If you are overloaded with add-ons, resetting Chrome will disable all of them.
- Click the Chrome Menu button (☰) and select "Settings."
- Click "Show advanced settings" at the bottom of the menu.
- Scroll down and click "Reset settings." Confirm that you want to reset Chrome.
- Scan for malware if you can't disable certain extensions. If you are having difficulty getting rid of a toolbar or other extension, it may be a malicious program. Download and run AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes Antimalware. These free programs can find and remove most malicious software.
- See Remove Malware for detailed instructions on getting rid of malware and adware.
Internet Explorer
- Click the Tools (Gear) button and select "Manage add-ons." This will open the Manage Add-ons window.
- If you don't see the Gear button, click the Tools menu and select "Manage add-ons." If you don't see the Tools menu, press Alt on your keyboard.
- Note: Add-ons are not available for the Metro or Mobile version of Internet Explorer.
- Click the "Show" menu on the left and select "All add-ons." This will display all of your installed add-ons, including some that may have been hidden by default.
- Find the add-on you want to disable. Your installed add-ons will be displayed in the "Toolbars and Extensions" section of the Manage Add-ons window. Add-ons that are currently enabled will display "Enabled" in the "Status column.
- Select the add-on and click the "Disable" button. This can be found in the lower-right corner of the window after selecting an add-on.
- Confirm that you want to disable the add-on. You'll be informed of any related add-ons that will be disabled as well.
- Click the "Remove" button to uninstall the selected add-on (if possible). Not all add-ons can be uninstalled, as some are required in order for Internet Explorer and Windows to work properly. If you can remove the add-on, the "Remove" button will appear next to the "Enable" and "Disable" buttons.
- Disable all add-ons at once by resetting Internet Explorer. If you're plagued with toolbars and add-ons, you can reset Internet Explorer to disable them all at the same time.
- Click the Tools button and select "Internet options."
- Click the "Advanced" tab and then click "Reset." Click "Reset" again to confirm.
- Check your computer for malware infections if you can't get rid of some extensions. If you can't get rid of certain toolbars, or are getting lots of pop-ups, you may have an adware infection. Download AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes Antimalware to scan for and remove any infections. Both of these programs are free.
- See Remove Malware for a more detailed guide on cleaning adware infections.
Firefox
- Click the Firefox Menu button (☰) and select "Add-ons." This will open the Add-ons Manager tab.
- The mobile version of Firefox does not support add-ons.
- Click the "Extensions" tab on the left. This will display a list of all your installed add-ons.
- Click the "Disable" button next to the add-on you want to disable. This will immediately disable the extension.
- Click "Remove" to uninstall an add-on completely. You'll have to reinstall it if you want to use it again later. You can click "Undo" to reinstall the last add-on you removed.
- Reset Firefox to remove all of your installed extensions. Unlike other browsers, this will completely remove extensions, not just disable them.
- Click the Firefox Menu button (☰) and select "?".
- Click "Troubleshooting Information" and then click "Refresh Firefox." Once you confirm, Firefox will reset and your add-ons will be uninstalled.
- Download some anti-malware tools if you can't get rid of certain add-ons. If you're having difficulty getting rid of a toolbar or other add-on, you may have an adware infection. AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes Antimalware are powerful adware scanners that can find and remove infections for free.
- See Remove Malware for tips on completely ridding your computer of adware and other malware.
Safari
- Click the "Safari" menu and select "Preferences." This will open the Preferences window.
- The mobile version of Safari does not support add-ons.
- Click the "Extensions" tab. A list of your installed add-ons will be listed on the left side of the window.
- Select the extension that you want to disable. Details about the extension will appear on the right side of the window.
- Uncheck the "Enable" box to disable the add-on. The add-on will be disabled immediately.
- Turn the toggle off in the upper-right corner to disable all add-ons. Turning the toggle to "OFF" will disable all installed add-ons.
- Select an extension and click "Uninstall" to remove it. This will uninstall the extension from your Mac.
- Download Malwarebytes for Mac if you have toolbars that won't go away. The popular anti-malware program AdwareMedic was acquired by Malwarebytes and is now called "Malwarebytes for Mac." It is still free, and can remove most adware infections.
- See Get-Rid-of-Adchoices for general Mac adware-removal tips.
Opera
- Click the Opera menu. You'll find this in the upper-right corner of the window.
- The mobile version of Opera does not support add-ons.
- Select "Extensions" → "Extensions manager." This will open the Extensions tab. You can also press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+E.
- Click the "Disable" button for the extension you want to disable. It will be disabled immediately.
- Click the "X" in the upper-right corner of the add-on's description to remove it. You'll be asked to confirm that you want to uninstall the extension.
- Scan for adware if you suffer constant pop-ups and stubborn toolbars. If you can't get rid of a certain toolbar, or you're getting a lot of pop-ups, you may have an adware infection. Running Malwarebytes Antimalware and AdwCleaner will find and remove most common adware infections. Both of these programs are free.
- See Remove Malware for a guide on removing adware from Opera and other browsers.
Tips
- Disable or uninstall an add-on completely if the source or website you downloaded it from is not trusted or reputable. Some add-ons from untrusted third-parties may pose security threats, and could potentially harm your computer if you keep them installed in your browser.
Warnings
- Some add-ons cannot be removed from your browser if they are required for your browser or computer to run correctly. If a particular add-on does not provide you with the option to disable or uninstall it, then you will not have the ability to remove that particular add-on from your browser.
