Google bans direct installation of Chrome extensions from websites

Google has announced that from now on all new Chrome extensions can no longer be installed via a button on a website, but only via the Chrome Web Store. For existing extensions, this change will take effect later this year.

Google says it is taking the measure because many Chrome users are said to complain about unwanted extensions. These would largely arise from ‘misleading or confusing’ use of so-called inline installations on websites. For example, sites may offer a button to install an extension directly from the page itself without leaving that page. These have long been a thorn in the side of Google because of the potential for abuse and the search giant has taken action in the past to combat misleading practices.

Moreover, according to Google, if users install an extension via the Web Store, they remove it a lot less often. Therefore, from now on, new extensions can only be installed via the Web Store, for existing extensions this change will take effect on September 12. Users on sites that currently use the chrome.webstore.install() function will be redirected to the Web Store. On December 12, the api will disappear completely from Chrome 71.