Microsoft has abandoned the initial EdgeHTML-based browser in favor of Chromium . Although the change to the Chromium rendering engine opens the doors for all extensions from the Chrome Web Store, sometimes they stop working on the Edge browser.
Extensions that don’t work on Edge may leave you in a bad mood. This is especially frustrating when you don’t have an alternative to a particular extension or when your workflow depends on these extensions to get the job done. Here are the ways to fix extensions not working in Microsoft Edge.
1. Make sure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account
To get the most out of the Edge browser, you need to sign in with a Microsoft account. Therefore, it can sync your bookmarks, browsing history, installed extensions, and passwords to your account. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, you don’t have to worry about authenticating again with certain extensions like OneNote.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge browser on your PC or Mac.
Step 2: Click on the three dots menu at the top and select Settings.
Step 3: From Profiles, sign in with your account details.
2. Preparing Extensions
You cannot simply install extensions from the Chrome Web Store and connect to them daily. You need to set up these plugins with the account. For example, when you install a VPN extension, you need to sign in with your account details to make it work.
Likewise, you need to sign in with your account details when setting up web clipping tool extensions like Evernote, Notion, and OneNote.
Normally, when you install an extension in Microsoft Edge, it will automatically open the sign-in page for you. If it doesn’t, you need to login manually by clicking on the extension icon.
3. Reinstall extensions
If an Edge extension bothers you, you can uninstall the extension and download it again. This is what you have to do.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge on the computer.
Step 2: Open the list of extensions by clicking on the dedicated button at the top.
Step 3: From the list of extensions, select the three-dot menu next to the extension. Click Remove from Microsoft Edge.
Step 5: Open the Chrome Web Store.
Step 6: Search for the same extension in the search bar. From the results, select Add to Chrome from the App info page.
If necessary, sign in with your account on the extension and start using it.
4. Authentication to use the extension
If you use a password manager or extensions like Genius to create affiliate links, you need to authenticate frequently for security reasons.
For example, when trying to autofill your Edge browser login information via an extension, 1Password, Dashlane, or your favorite password manager will ask for the master password first.
Even with extensions like Genius, you need to add account details to generate API keys.
5. Reset settings in Microsoft Edge
If you do not find a solution to turn on the extensions, one option is to reset Edge settings. When you use the Reset settings option, the startup page, new tab page, search engine and pinned tabs will be reset. The function will turn off all extensions and clear temporary data such as cookies. However, favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be affected.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge and select the three-dot menu in the top left corner.
Step 2: Select Settings.
Step 3: Select Reset settings from the left sidebar. Click Restore settings to their default values and confirm your decision.
6. Update Microsoft Edge browser
Are you using an outdated Edge browser on your computer? Some extensions may develop incompatibility with the old browser version and stop working. In most cases, Microsoft Edge automatically updates itself in the background. However, you can update the browser manually as well.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge and go to Settings (see the section above) by clicking on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Go to the Help & Feedback menu, and choose About Microsoft Edge.
This should fetch and install any new Edge updates on your rPC. If you failed to update Microsoft Edge on your Mac, check out our post dedicated to troubleshooting the problem.
7. Try Microsoft Edge alternatives
There is no shortage of Chromium-based browsers on the market. If you’re having problems with extensions in Microsoft Edge, you can use the always privacy-focused Google Chrome, Vivaldi, or Brave to meet your browsing needs. They will work with all extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
Use Microsoft Edge like Pro
If your favorite extension doesn’t work on any of your Chrome browsers, you may need to start looking for an alternative. And if your workflow depends on this specific extension, you need to contact the developer via email or social media. What trick succeeded in solving the problem? Share your results in the comments below