Chrome for Android does not run extensions. If you find an extension in the Chrome Web Store on your phone, Google’s extension help says the button is Add to Desktop: it installs the extension in Chrome on your computer, the next time you open Chrome there with the same Google Account. To use extensions on the phone itself you need a different browser. This page covers the options that still work, and the Chrome settings that replace the most common extensions.
Why Chrome Android Lacks Extension Support
Google has not added extension support to Chrome for Android, and it does not publish a reason. What Google does document is the phone workflow above: you can pick extensions on your phone, and they install on your computer.
Alternative Browsers with Extension Support
If you need extensions on your Android device, consider using browsers that offer this feature.
Kiwi Browser Is No Longer Maintained
Kiwi Browser used to be the usual way to run Chrome extensions on Android. Its developers say on the Kiwi Browser GitHub page that it was archived and stopped being maintained in January 2025, and its Google Play listing is gone. An unmaintained browser gets no security fixes, so don’t install it from other download sites. The Kiwi page points users to Microsoft Edge instead, whose development version, Edge Canary, includes Kiwi’s extension code.
Firefox Android Extension Support
Firefox for Android supports extensions, which Mozilla says can block ads, protect your privacy and do more. Install Firefox from the Google Play Store, then follow Mozilla’s own help to add extensions.
Workarounds for Common Extension Features
If you rely on certain Chrome extension features, Chrome for Android has built-in settings that cover some of them:
Pop-ups and Ads
- Chrome blocks pop-ups by default. To check, tap More > Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
- If a site keeps sending notifications, tap Page info to the left of the address bar, then Permissions, and turn them off. Our ad blocker guide covers blocking ads in Chrome on a computer.
Password Management
- Use the built-in password manager in Chrome: tap More > Settings > Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager.
- Passwords saved to your Google Account also work in Chrome on your other devices, and you can manage them at passwords.google.com.
Dark Mode
- Turn on dark mode in Chrome by going to More > Settings > Theme and selecting Dark.
- Or choose System default to follow your phone’s dark theme setting.