Yes, you can still use MV2 extensions on Opera: What you need to know

Tl;dr first:

• You can keep using your existing MV2 extensions on Opera for the foreseeable future.

• MV3 extensions are the new standard and will offer a more stable and secure experience. Opera itself will shift to an MV3-only extension store.

• Opera's built-in features will always work regardless of what happens to extension specifications. We recommend using our native features for the optimal experience on our browsers.

Hello Opera users!

As you may know, Google has been working to update its Chrome extension platform from Manifest V2 (MV2) to Manifest V3 (MV3). MV2 and MV3 are specifications for extensions on the Google Chrome extension store. MV2, the older specification, is being phased out to make way for the more modern, more efficient MV3 specification. However, one side effect of this is reduced functionality for popular extensions like ad blockers.

The Opera browsers are built on the Chromium framework. As Chromium-based browsers now move towards MV3, some of you have questions about what will happen to the MV2 extensions you have been using so far. With the transition to MV3 in full force, browsers like Chrome have stopped supporting older extensions, making them inaccessible to users.

Through that time, Opera has maintained support for MV2 extensions and we still plan to do so for as long as we can. Read on for some details on where things stand.

MV2 extensions are still supported on Opera

Late last year, we let you know we would look for ways to continue supporting MV2 extensions on Opera, even after Chrome no longer did. We did that because many users made it clear that maintaining access to their extensions was important to them. Since then, we have done exactly that, with your favorite MV2 extensions still available and working with our browsers.

Today, we reiterate what we said back in October 2024: MV2 extensions are still available to use on Opera, and we are actively working to keep it that way for as long as it's technically reasonable.

For you, this means that, for the time being, you are still able to use your currently installed MV2 extensions on Opera, without having to take any other action.

The ongoing shift to MV3

As things develop, MV3 will most likely dominate the extension ecosystem. As a result, eventually, some of your favorite MV2 extensions might no longer be supported by their developers and might become unstable or insecure to use. This would effectively make them 'legacy software', and as such, using them could carry risks. So you need to be careful and exercise standard care:

• make sure you trust the extensions you are using
• check when your extensions received their last updates
• keep an eye out for communication from extension developers
• check what permissions your extensions have on your browser

As part of continuously improving, Opera itself will be transitioning to MV3 extensions. This will include an MV3-exclusive extension store where you will be able to find updated versions or alternatives to your favorite extensions. Because of this transition, we will not be allowing the upload of new MV2 extensions to the store, and most older and less-used MV2 extensions will not be available to download anymore.

We realize that many users don't want to change their current extension setup and that's why we are making this effort to maintain support for as long as we are able. But it seems more and more likely that users will eventually need to make the transition to MV3. So while you can still use your favorite extensions on Opera for now, we recommend that you also take the extra time to research which corresponding or alternative MV3 extensions best fit your workflow, so that you don't experience any serious disruptions.

Opera's built-in features will still be your best choice

Of course, as Opera users know, our browsers have their own built-in features such as Ad Blocker and Translate that enrich the user experience and protect user privacy. As always, we recommend using them for the smoothest and most secure experience on Opera browsers - no new downloads, no extra steps, and no additional permissions needed! And of course, we are constantly working on, and improving, those features.

Best of all, we can guarantee that our native features will continue to function regardless of the status of extensions on Chromium - you can trust that your user experience will be unaffected.