Microsoft Edge Starts Phasing Out Manifest V2 Extensions

Microsoft Edge will begin phasing out Manifest Version 2 extensions for consumers in August 2026, with Microsoft aiming to complete the transition to Manifest V3 by the end of the year.

Enterprise customers will get more time. Microsoft plans to start deprecating Manifest V2 on managed devices in early 2027.

Most Edge extensions already support Manifest V3

Microsoft says the Edge extension ecosystem is largely ready for the change.

Around 95% of the most popular Manifest V2 extensions in the Edge Add-ons store already have Manifest V3 versions. Only 58 MV2 extensions with meaningful usage remain available in the store.

Of those 58 extensions, Microsoft says only three currently lack a publicly available Manifest V3 replacement.

Microsoft first committed to Manifest V3 as the future of extensions for Chromium-based Edge in 2020. The company says the newer platform offers stronger security protections and improved performance.

With most developers now supporting MV3, Microsoft believes it can begin disabling the older extension platform.

Edge will start warning users in August

Starting this month, some users with Manifest V2 extensions installed will begin seeing notices about the upcoming migration.

Microsoft will show warnings on the Edge Extensions management page and on relevant pages in the Edge Add-ons store.

Developers who still maintain MV2 extensions will also receive notices through Microsoft Partner Center.

The warnings will arrive before Microsoft starts disabling extensions, giving users and developers time to move to supported alternatives.

Manifest V2 extensions will gradually stop working

Microsoft will gradually disable Manifest V2 extensions by default over the coming months.

Users will receive advance notice before Edge switches an extension off. When an MV3 replacement exists, Microsoft will direct users toward the newer version.

The rollout will begin with Edge Canary, Dev, and Beta before reaching the Stable channel.

Microsoft expects consumer devices to complete the Manifest V3 transition before the end of 2026.

Enterprise customers get until 2027

Managed enterprise devices will not join the initial consumer rollout.

Microsoft will continue supporting Manifest V2 in enterprise environments beyond the end of 2026, with deprecation expected to begin in early 2027.

The extended timeline gives businesses additional time to test internal and business-critical extensions before migrating them.

Microsoft says it will continue publishing updates as the enterprise transition approaches.

Developers should migrate extensions now

Microsoft is encouraging developers who still maintain Manifest V2 extensions to move to Manifest V3 as soon as possible.

Developers need to create an MV3-compatible version of their extension and submit the update through Microsoft Partner Center.

Microsoft also provides migration documentation covering the technical changes required, while the Edge extensions team can assist developers who encounter problems during the process.

The Manifest V2 phaseout is not the only Edge change Microsoft is working on. The company was recently spotted rewarding users for inviting friends to install the Edge mobile app.

Microsoft Edge will also change local IP detection for enterprise proxy networks, another upcoming adjustment aimed specifically at managed environments.