Microsoft Edge to disable uBlock Origin and other MV2 ad blockers

Microsoft Edge will stop supporting Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions—including popular ad blockers like uBlock Origin—by the end of 2026, forcing users to adopt weaker MV3 versions or move to alternative browsers [1]. The change threatens the ad‑blocking experience for millions of Edge users and reshapes the competitive landscape for privacy‑focused browsers.

Edge’s shift to Manifest V3

Microsoft is aligning Edge with Google Chrome’s migration to Manifest V3 (MV3), the newer extensions framework that limits how ad blockers can filter content. While 95 % of MV2 extensions have already moved to MV3, the remaining < 60 MV2 add‑ons in the Edge store—including the full‑featured uBlock Origin—will lose functionality once the cutoff passes [1]. The MV3 version of uBlock Origin, dubbed “uBlock Origin Lite,” remains available but “hides content rather than keeping it from loading,” a less aggressive approach than the original MV2 blocker [1].

Options for users and competitors

Edge users can either switch to MV3‑compatible blockers (AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, AdGuard) or migrate to browsers that still support MV2 extensions. Firefox continues to allow the original uBlock Origin, preserving its full‑feature set [2]. Non‑Chromium browsers such as DuckDuckGo and Brave also provide built‑in ad‑blocking, offering privacy‑focused alternatives without the MV3 restrictions [1]. Opera, another Chromium‑based browser, has pledged temporary MV2 support but may eventually follow the same path [1].

What to watch

• Edge rollout timeline – Microsoft will begin disabling MV2 extensions by default over the next few months, with full deprecation by the close of 2026 [1].
• Firefox adoption – Monitor Firefox’s market share as users seeking full‑featured ad blockers may migrate from Edge or Chrome.
• MV3 blocker performance – Track how MV3 alternatives (e.g., uBlock Origin Lite) perform against the legacy MV2 version in real‑world blocking efficacy.

The phase‑out underscores a broader industry move toward MV3, which may dilute ad‑blocking power but improves security and performance. Whether Edge users will stay on the platform or shift to competitors hinges on how quickly MV3 blockers can match the effectiveness of their MV2 predecessors.