Browser extensions (also known as add-ons or plugins) are small, browser-specific applications which add features to common web browsers. They do all kinds of things like blocking unwanted advertisements, checking for coupons on retail sites and so on.

Occasionally an extension will, with the best of intentions, cause a problem with our web-hosted application. For example an Ad-Blocker might mistake a valid image for an ad and block it incorrectly.

It can be valuable, when troubleshooting browser issues, to temporarily disable extensions to see if the problem goes away. If it does, we can be pretty sure an extension is causing a problem and identify the specific extension through process of elimination.

Mentioned below are the steps to disable extensions for various web browsers available.

Apple Safari

Safari uses the term Extensions

Disabling extensions

  1. Choose Safari -> Preferences from the menu
  2. Click the Extensions tab
  3. Extensions appear on the left side of the sheet
  4. Uncheck an extension to disable it

 

 

Google Chrome

Chrome uses the term Extensions

  1. At the top right corner of Chrome click More (3 dots) > More tools > Extensions
  2. For any extension you wish to disable, click the slider at the bottom right corner of the information pane for the extension and slide it to the off position (to the left)

 

 

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox uses the terms Add-ons, Extensions and Plugins

Disabling extensions

  1. In the top right corner of the browser, click the 3-bars icon and choose Add-ons and Themes
  2. On the left, click Extensions
  3. Select the extension you wish to disable and toggle the slider to the off position.
  4. If prompted to Restart Now, click it - your tabs will be remembered and restored

 

 

Disabling plugins

  1. In the top right corner of the browser, click the 3-bars icon and choose Add-ons and Themes
  2. On the left, click Plugins
  3. For any plugin you wish to disable, click the 3 dots next to it's name and choose Never Activate from the drop down menu.

 

 

Microsoft Edge

Edge uses the term Extensions

  1. Click the three horizontal dots at the top-right of the Edge window.
  2. Select Extensions
  3. For any extension you wish to disable, slide the switch to the off position