Microsoft Edge users who rely on older ad-blocking extensions are about to face a major change.
Microsoft is beginning the next phase of its Manifest V2 (MV2) shutdown, meaning popular extensions that haven’t moved to the newer Manifest V3 (MV3) platform will gradually stop working in Edge. The move puts Microsoft’s browser on a path similar to Google Chrome, which has already moved away from the older extension platform.
The change could be particularly noticeable for users of uBlock Origin, one of the most popular ad blockers that still relies on Manifest V2.
Microsoft Edge Is Phasing Out Manifest V2
According to Microsoft, only 58 extensions with meaningful usage on the Edge Add-ons Store still use Manifest V2. More importantly, just three of those extensions don’t currently have an MV3 version available.
Microsoft says remaining MV2 extensions will gradually be turned off by default, with users receiving notifications before the change affects them. The rollout will begin with Edge’s Canary, Dev, and Beta channels before eventually reaching the Stable version.
Microsoft is targeting the completion of the consumer transition by the end of 2026.
Enterprise users get a little more time. Microsoft says managed devices won’t be affected during the initial consumer rollout, with enterprise deprecation planned for early 2027.
What Does This Mean for uBlock Origin?
The biggest concern for many Edge users is uBlock Origin.
The full version of uBlock Origin is an MV2 extension and depends on capabilities that aren’t available in the same way under Manifest V3. That doesn’t necessarily mean ad blocking is disappearing from Edge, but some of the most powerful MV2-based extensions won’t be able to continue operating normally once Microsoft completes the transition.
Users can instead move to an MV3-compatible option such as uBlock Origin Lite, which was specifically designed for the newer extension architecture.
Microsoft’s own documentation confirms that its long-term direction is toward Manifest V3 and that MV2 extensions will eventually stop functioning in Edge.
Why Is Microsoft Doing This?
Manifest V3 has been controversial for years, particularly among privacy advocates and users of advanced ad blockers.
The newer extension platform changes how extensions interact with network requests. One of the important differences is the move away from the powerful webRequest approach toward the Declarative Net Request system.
For ordinary browser extensions, this can bring security and performance benefits. For sophisticated content blockers, however, the change can limit how extensions inspect and filter web traffic.
That’s why the transition has generated so much debate. Google has already gone down this road with Chrome, and Microsoft is now following the same broader Chromium ecosystem direction.
Edge Users Don’t Need to Panic Yet
This isn’t an overnight shutdown.
Microsoft says the MV2 extensions will be gradually disabled, starting with its preview channels and expanding to Stable over the coming months. Users will also receive advance notifications and recommendations for MV3 alternatives where available.
So if you’re currently using uBlock Origin or another MV2 extension in Edge, there’s still time to decide what you want to do.
For many users, the easiest option will be switching to an MV3-compatible ad blocker. Those who want the full capabilities of older MV2 extensions may instead start looking at browsers that continue to support them.
Edge Is Following Chrome’s Path
The bigger story here is that Manifest V2 is becoming a thing of the past across much of the Chromium browser ecosystem.
Chrome has already made its transition, and Edge is now moving toward the same endpoint. That means users who care deeply about powerful content blocking will increasingly have to choose between adapting to MV3 or using a browser that takes a different approach to extension compatibility.
For everyday Edge users, the change may be barely noticeable. But for people who depend on advanced ad blocking and privacy extensions, Microsoft’s 2026 transition could be one of the browser’s more significant changes.
Microsoft’s Edge Add-ons platform will continue supporting MV3 extensions, so developers are being encouraged to migrate their existing extensions rather than abandon them altogether.
The bottom line: Edge isn’t suddenly removing all ad blockers. Instead, Microsoft is finally closing the door on the older extension technology that powers some of the most capable blockers. If you’re using an MV2 extension today, it’s worth checking whether an MV3 replacement is available before Edge disables it.
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