Add/Install Chrome Extensions and Apps from Outside WebStore & Other Websites

Chrome web browser, from version 21 does not support installing of Apps and Extensions outside of Chrome Web store. This will create problems for those who want to install extensions from other websites like the famous Userscripts.org.

Previously, any website could prompt you to add an extension into your browser and that extension would install in no time. But with Chrome v21, Google has changed the way you add extensions that are not in the Chrome Web Store.

It seems that Google is now beefing up the security on the browser and they’ve gone to such an extent that now it will prevent users from installing apps, extensions and user scripts from outside the Chrome web store. When users try to install extensions from outside Chrome web store, they get a message, “Extensions, apps and user scripts can only be added from the Chrome Web Store.”

Users may think that it’s impossible to install extensions outside of web store, but it’s not so. Here’s what you need to do to install extensions from other websites.

How to Install Extensions, Apps, Userscripts Outside Web Store

1. Download the extension from the website and save it to your computer.
2. Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar and then select Tools > Extensions. OR simply copy and paste this URL: chrome://extensions in the omnibox (address bar) and press enter.



3. Now, find the extension file on your computer and drag the file onto the Extensions page.
4. Review the list of permissions in the dialog that appears. If you would like to proceed, click on “Add”.

This way, you can add/install third-party extensions/apps that are not supported in the web store.

This change by Google is surely going to force many developers to submit their extensions and apps to Web Store. For users, this means more work as now you need to download the extension file, navigate to the Extensions page and then drag and drop that extension file to that page.

We hope in future Google adds an option to bypass this security restriction. For now, use the above method to install apps/extensions manually in Chrome.