5 Minute HelpDesk – How to Disable or Uninstall Browser Extensions

You may have installed different extensions to add additional features to your browser. But did you know too many extensions can slow down your browser? Want to disable or uninstall the extensions in your web browser that you no longer want to use? Our IT helpdesk from Perth shows you how to disable or uninstall browser extensions for various browsers.

Google Chrome

To Disable an Extension

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the “Chrome Customize and Control” button (the triple dots in the window’s upper-right corner).
Go to “More tools” in the drop-down menu.
Select “Extensions.”

All the installed extensions will be displayed in the Extensions tab.
Go to the extension card you want to disable.
Click the blue toggle switch to disable—the blue toggle changes to grey.

To Remove an Extension

To remove or uninstall an extension, go to the extension card you want to remove.
Click the “Remove” button.

Mozilla Firefox

To Disable an Extension

Open Mozilla Firefox.
Click on the “Open menu” icon (the triple bar in the upper-right corner of the window).
From the drop-down menu, select Add-ons.

Select “Extensions” from the sidebar on the left side of the Add-ons Manager tab
Under Manage Your Extensions, the list of installed extensions will be displayed.
Go to the extension you want to disable.
Then, click the blue toggle switch on the right side to disable—the blue toggle changes to grey.

To Remove an Extension

To remove or uninstall an extension, go to the extension card you want to remove.
Click the Menu button (triple dots) on the right side.
Then select Remove from the drop-down menu.

Microsoft Edge

To Disable an Extension

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click on the “Settings and more” button (the triple dots in the upper-right corner of the window).
Select Extensions from the drop-down menu.

Under “Installed extensions” the list of installed extensions will be displayed.
Go to the extension you want to disable.
Then, click on the “blue toggle switch” on the right side—the blue toggle changes to white.

To Remove an Extension

To remove or uninstall an extension, go to the extension you want to remove.
Click the “Remove” button.
Then Edge will ask for a confirmation, select “Remove” again to confirm.

Internet Explorer

To Disable an Extension

Open Internet Explorer.
Select the “Tools button” (gear icon) in the upper-right corner of the window.
Select Manage add-ons from the drop-down menu.

From the Manage Add-ons window, click on Toolbars and Extensions.
Then go to the add-on you want to disable.
Click the add-on you want to disable.
Then, select the “Disable” button at the bottom-right of the window.

To remove or uninstall an add-on from Internet Explorer, you will need to use the “Add/Remove programs” feature in Windows.

To Uninstall an Extension in Windows 10

Go to search bar
Type “Apps & Features” and press Enter.
From Apps & Features window, you can manage your installed programs.
From the list of all apps, select the program you want to uninstall.
Select “uninstall button”. A popup will appear for confirmation.
Click on “Uninstall” again for confirmation.

In case you can’t find the extension in the list of apps, find the location of the extension where it is installed on your computer, and delete it manually.

Safari

To Disable an Extension

Open Safari.
Click on the Safari menu.
Select Preferences.

Then, select the Extensions tab.
Go to the extension you want to disable.
On the left, uncheck the box next to the extension’s name.

To Remove an Extension

Select the extension name on the left.
Then click the Uninstall button.

Opera

To Disable an Extension

Open Opera.
Click on the Menu button in the upper-left corner of the window.
Go to Extensions
Select Extensions

Under the All tab, Opera will display the list of installed extensions.
Select the Disable button or click on the “blue toggle switch” on the right side—the blue toggle changes to grey.

To Remove an Extension

Click on the “X” button in the upper-right corner.

Note: The built-in Opera Ad Blocker extension can only be disabled and can’t be uninstalled.

These are the steps to disable or uninstall browser extensions in different web browsers. Can’t find your web browser or having trouble with disabling browser extensions? Contact us or email at helpdesk@computingaustralia.group, we are 24/7 ready to provide you with the best IT support.

Computing Australia is a member of The Computing Australia Group of Companies

Jargon Buster

Web Browser – An application used to access and view information on the internet—E.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge etc.
Extension – A software application that adds a capacity or functionality to a web browser.

Gordon Murdoch

Gordon is the Service Delivery Manager at The Computing Australia Group, he is responsible for the delivery of all Computing Australia technical support services. It is a busy portfolio to manage as we have a lot of techs and our clients generate thousands of new tickets every day. If you are looking for a tech company that is passionate about service delivery, give Computing Australia a go. Many of our clients have been with us for all of our last 20 years of operation which is something we are all proud of here.