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How does one install an extension for Chrome browser from the local file system?

Synetech
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CW Holeman II
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3 Answers3

71

Found a set of instructions online for loading your own custom extension:

  • Navigate to chrome://extensions
  • Expand the Developer dropdown menu and click “Load Unpacked Extension”
  • Navigate to the local folder containing the extension’s code and click Ok
  • Assuming there are no errors, the extension should load into your browser
Rory O'Kane
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paradd0x
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  • Ok, updated the answer to include the correct way to upload extensions into your browser. I tested it on my own and it worked. – paradd0x Feb 18 '11 at 21:50
  • Here is the link from where I got those instructions. http://www.blackweb20.com/2010/01/11/creating-your-own-google-chrome-extension/ – paradd0x Feb 18 '11 at 21:52
  • If this worked for you, please mark it as an answer! Thanks! – paradd0x Feb 19 '11 at 04:27
  • Thanks. Gots to click the "Developer" check box nowadays, too – Kirby May 27 '16 at 18:05
  • **Note** Your unpacked extension is somewhat „hot linked“ to its original place. It is NOT copied to the profile folder, changes e.g. on styles still have direct effect. That is GOOD for a developer (instant feedback on changes, little “deployment” hassle), this is BAD if you then remove the extension folder (believing, it got copied into the profile folder... Nope, it didn't.) – Frank N Dec 18 '19 at 10:19
29

What kind of extension is it? Is it a .CRX file? A (possibly ZIP’d) folder? A .JS user-script? The process differs for each.

  • CRX:
    1. Drag and drop the .CRX file onto the page chrome://extensions
    2. Click the Install button in the prompt at the bottom of the screen

  • Folder:
    1. If it is ZIP’d, extract the contents somewhere
    2. In Chrome, open chrome://extensions/
    3. Click + Developer mode
    4. Click Load unpacked extension…
    5. Navigate to the extension’s folder and click OK
    6. Delete the (extracted) folder (the extension was copied)

  • User Script:
    1. Exit Chrome (all windows)
    2. Copy the .JS file to the User Scripts folder in your User Data folder
    3. Run Chrome
Synetech
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0

To install a user script, the file must have a suffix of .user, like my_script.user.js.

Caqu
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