If you’re a user who has had their Chrome extensions installed by an administrator, you may be wondering how to remove them. There are a few different ways to do this, depending on your operating system and the version of Chrome you’re using. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to remove Chrome extensions installed by an administrator on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
First, let’s take a look at how to remove Chrome extensions installed by an administrator on Windows. To do this, you’ll need to open the Registry Editor. To do this, press the Windows key + R, then type “regedit” and press Enter. Once the Registry Editor is open, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist. Once you’ve found this key, delete the value that corresponds to the extension you want to remove. Once you’ve deleted the value, close the Registry Editor and restart Chrome.
If you’re a Mac user, you can remove Chrome extensions installed by an administrator by using the Terminal. To do this, open the Terminal application, then type the following command: sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.google.Chrome ExtensionInstallForcelist. Once you’ve entered this command, press Enter and enter your administrator password when prompted. Once you’ve entered your password, the extension will be removed.
Identifying Administrator-Installed Extensions
Administrator-installed extensions are those that have been installed on your computer by an administrator, typically for security or management purposes. These extensions may not be visible to you in the Chrome Web Store, and they may not be able to be removed in the usual way. However, there are a few ways to identify and remove administrator-installed extensions.
Checking the Extension’s Details Page
To identify an administrator-installed extension and view its policy settings, follow these steps:
Checking the Chrome Policy List
If the extension’s details page does not show any policy details, you can check the Chrome policy list to see if the extension is managed by an administrator.
Disabling Extensions via Browser Settings
This method entails disabling the extensions through your browser’s settings. Here’s a detailed guide to help you do this:
-
Open Chrome and access the Extensions page: Click on the three dots at the top-right corner of the browser and select "More tools" > "Extensions" or type "chrome://extensions" in the address bar and press Enter.
-
Identify the Administrator-installed extension: The list of installed extensions will appear. Check for any extensions that you didn’t personally install or that have the "Installed by an administrator" label.
-
Disable the extension: Locate the toggle switch next to the administrator-installed extension and slide it to the "Off" position. This action will disable the extension.
-
Confirm the changes: Once you’ve disabled the extension, a pop-up may appear asking you to confirm your choice. Click on the "Disable" button to complete the process.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Chrome and access the Extensions page |
| 2 | Identify the Administrator-installed extension |
| 3 | Disable the extension |
| 4 | Confirm the changes |
By following these steps, you can effectively disable any Chrome extensions that were installed by an administrator without having to modify the registry or use third-party tools.
Using Registry Editor to Remove Extensions
To remove Chrome extensions that have been installed by an administrator using Registry Editor, follow these steps:
1. Open Registry Editor
Type “regedit” into the Windows search bar and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the Extensions Key
In the Registry Editor navigation pane, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist
3. Delete the Extension Subkeys
Under the `ExtensionInstallForcelist` key, there will be subkeys for each of the extensions that have been installed by an administrator. To remove an extension, delete its subkey. For example, to remove the “AdBlock” extension, you would delete the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist\abepjfaephodpficdabkdjiafobidhpe
| Extension Name | Subkey Name |
|---|---|
| AdBlock | abepjfaephodpficdabkdjiafobidhpe |
| uBlock Origin | cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm |
Once you have deleted the subkey for the extension you want to remove, close Registry Editor and restart Chrome. The extension will no longer be installed.
Leveraging PowerShell for Extension Removal
PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that can be used to manage and configure Windows systems, including the removal of Chrome extensions installed by an administrator.
Step 1: Open PowerShell
Launch PowerShell as an administrator by right-clicking on the Windows Start button and selecting “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
Step 2: Get the List of Chrome Extensions
Use the following command to retrieve a list of all installed Chrome extensions:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions" -Name Id
Step 3: Find the Extension to Remove
Locate the extension you want to remove by comparing its ID with the list displayed in the previous command. The ID is typically a long string of characters.
Step 4: Remove the Extension
Use the following command to remove the extension:
Remove-Item -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\[Extension ID]" -Recurse
Step 5: Verify that the Extension is Removed
To verify that the extension has been successfully removed, check the Windows Registry at the following location:
HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\[Extension ID]
If the registry key no longer exists, the extension has been successfully removed.
Additional Notes:
| Additional Tips |
|---|
| Some extensions may have a registry value named “LastUsed”. If this value exists, you should also remove it after removing the extension key. |
| You can use the “Get-ChromeExtension” cmdlet from the ChromePwsh module to get more detailed information about Chrome extensions. |
Deleting Extension Files Directly
If you’re comfortable manipulating files directly, you can manually delete the extension files from your computer. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Navigate to the following directory:
- Locate the folder for the extension you want to remove. Typically, the folder name will match the name of the extension.
- Right-click on the extension folder and select “Delete” (Windows) or “Move to Trash” (Mac).
- Restart your Chrome browser to complete the removal.
| Operating System | Directory |
|---|---|
| Windows | C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions |
| Mac | ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions |
Note: This method will permanently delete the extension files from your computer. If you need to restore the extension later, you’ll need to reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store.
Restoring Default Browser Settings
If you are unable to remove extensions installed by the administrator using the methods above, you can try restoring your browser to its default settings. This will remove all extensions, including those installed by the administrator, as well as any other customizations you have made to your browser. To restore your browser to its default settings:
- Open your browser.
- Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select “Settings”.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Advanced”.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
- Click on “Reset settings”.
- Your browser will now be restored to its default settings.
Note that restoring your browser to its default settings will also remove any saved passwords, bookmarks, and other data. Make sure to back up your data before restoring your browser to its default settings.
Restoring Chrome to Default Settings
Navigate to Chrome’s “Settings” menu and select “Reset and cleanup.” Click “Restore settings to their original defaults.” This action will remove all extensions, themes, and other modifications made by the administrator.
Using a Third-Party Removal Tool
Several free and paid tools are available to scan and remove malicious extensions, including those installed by administrators. Some popular options include:
| Tool | Features |
|---|---|
| AdwCleaner | Detects and removes adware, malware, and hijackers |
| Malwarebytes | Provides comprehensive malware protection and extension removal |
| SpyBot Anti-Malware | Scans for and removes spyware, malware, and rootkits |
Checking for Group Policies
If you are using Chrome in a corporate or school environment, group policies may be preventing you from removing administrator-installed extensions. Check with your IT administrator to determine if any relevant policies are in effect.
Disabling Extensions
You can temporarily disable administrator-installed extensions to prevent them from running. In Chrome’s “Extensions” menu, toggle the switch next to the extension to the “Off” position.
Prevention Measures to Avoid Future Unauthorized Installations
Setting Up Password Protection
Enable password protection for your user account to prevent unauthorized access and extension installations.
How to Remove Chrome Extensions Installed By Administrator
If you’re trying to remove a Chrome extension that was installed by an administrator, you may not be able to do so through the normal methods. That’s because administrators have the ability to lock down certain settings on your computer, including the ability to install and remove extensions.
However, there are a few ways to get around this. One way is to use a third-party tool like the Chrome Extension Manager.
Another way to remove an extension installed by an administrator is to use the registry editor. However, this is a more advanced solution and should only be attempted by users who are comfortable working with the registry.
People Also Ask
How do I remove an extension that says “installed by enterprise policy”?
You can remove an extension that says “installed by enterprise policy” by using a third-party tool like the Chrome Extension Manager.
Can I remove extensions installed by administrator?
You can remove extensions installed by an administrator using a third-party tool like the Chrome Extension Manager or by using the registry editor.
How do I remove Chrome extensions installed by group policy?
You can remove Chrome extensions installed by group policy by using a third-party tool like the Chrome Extension Manager or by using the registry editor.
