Chrome disable extensions command line

Marian Lungu

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 8:42:47 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

Hello,

I want to make a program that can Enable and Disable Extensions in Google Chrome .I want to make it using c++(win api -just for windows) .

I have experimented with the Preferences file found in the chrome user data folder ,seen that it works(modifying that 'state' property) ..but only when chrome is closed.

My question is,does Chrome synchronizes that Preferences file with all Processes running ,or with the Google Account(in which I don't think I can do anything) .

Can I modify that Preferences file in some way while Chrome is Running?(by accessing it's shared memory zone,or obtaining a named mutex to the file ? )

Thank you.

Joao da Silva

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 8:52:20 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Chromium-dev

Manipulating the Preferences file from another process is extremely hacky and can fail in many ways (e.g. the keys used by Chrome can change at any time). FWIW Chrome only reads that file once at startup, so modifying it at runtime won't trigger any changes on the running Chrome process.

There are other ways to enable or disable extensions:

- the command line flag --disable-extensions (can't change at runtime)

- you can write an extension that enables/disables other extensions using the management API (see https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/management.html#method-setEnabled). This extension can then communicate with a C++ program over another channel (e.g. XHR to a local HTTP server)

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 9:13:14 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

I am asking because you can open the Preferences file,write in it,save ..but Chrome rewrites it while it's running ,so there must be a way of synchronizing with that file to write in it.

Joao da Silva

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 9:16:41 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Chromium-dev

Writing the Preferences file is not a good idea and I strongly discourage it.

Chrome writes that file at shutdown, so it will override whatever is written there during runtime. If you want to modify it externally then you have to do it while Chrome is not running.

If you want to enable and disable extensions at runtime then using the management API is probably the way to go.

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 9:22:43 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

Do you know how Chrome stores it's preferences and other data while it's running?With cookies ,or using session variable,or it syncs with the google account online.

And another thing,the Preferences file is modified instantly when you disable an extension (seems with that data in the browser)

Fred Akalin

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 9:50:02 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], chromium-dev

It's stored in memory.

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 10:44:01 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

Thank you,I guess it's using a FileMapping of some sort ,if I only knew the name of the mapping

Fred Akalin

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 10:56:20 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], chromium-dev

There's no "FileMapping". Preferences are stored in an in-memory data structure, i.e. not stored in memory as JSON. When the in-memory data structure is changed, it's serialized (i.e. converted to JSON) and written to disk.

Message has been deleted

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 11:16:46 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

Is there any way to see the contents of the in-memory data structure?

Joao da Silva

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 11:19:22 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to Marian Lungu, Chromium-dev

A debugger can inspect the memory of a debug build. It's also possible to analyze a release build but it's much harder, and unreliable.

What are you trying to do? Maybe there's a better way.

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 11:24:22 AM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Marian Lungu

If I could access that structure from another process/program ,maybe I could change something in it,via memory writing  

Finnur Thorarinsson

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 12:28:29 PM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Chromium-dev

Joao was asking you to take a step back, look at the bigger picture and describe *why* you are trying to use the least reliable -- and the most malware-like -- method to accomplish something that is readily available using much better official methods (ie. the Management Extensions API).

Can you take a moment to describe what your overall goal is and why the methods he pointed you at don't accomplish those goals?

Modifying the Preferences file in-memory directly is not supported.

Georgel And

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 12:35:07 PM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected]

I want to make a program from which I can modify Externally the properties of extensions ,Outside of Chrome .That is why I don't want to create an extension using the management api to do this,it has to be Externally from another program to monitor what the user does with extensions and interfere without using Chrome,or any api that chrome delivers.

PhistucK

unread,

Jun 28, 2013, 3:26:12 PM6/28/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Chromium-dev

So why does the Group Policy seem inappropriate here?

Justin Schuh

unread,

Jun 30, 2013, 3:53:24 PM6/30/13



Reply to author

Sign in to reply to author

Forward

Sign in to forward

Delete

You do not have permission to delete messages in this group

Link

Report message as abuse

Sign in to report message as abuse

Show original message

Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message

to [email protected], Chromium-dev

It sounds like you can do what you want using the extension management API to control the extensions, and the native messaging API to communicate with your external application. As others have already mentioned, mucking with the preferences file or manipulating Chrome through other undocumented means is a very, very bad idea and will not do what you want.

-j

Sure, there is an extension available that lets you disable all Chrome extensions with a single click, but this extension will only be helpful when you able to launch the browser. But if Chrome browser fails to load and crashes due to an installed extension or two, then what a user should do?.

Well, a reader experienced this situation and posted a comment on blog post Chrome about:conflicts page that tells conflicting software with Chrome as “I tried to open chrome. it always crashes. How to disable extensions when chrome not opening?” .

Know All Permissions Given to Installed Chrome Extensions

Open or launch Chrome without extensions

The problem here is Chrome doesn’t offer safe mode like to Firefox, which lets you troubleshoot issues in Mozilla browser by disabling all or some add-ons. Don’t worry! A command line switch for Chrome is available for this purpose.

What you need to do is

1. Right click on the Chrome shortcut on desktop and select “properties”

2. In the ‘Target’ field at the end of Chrome.exe after giving a space Add (two single hyphens) and click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ to apply the switch.

3. Now you’ll be able to open Chrome browser with all extensions turned off.

How to backup and restore Google Chrome Extensions

This solves the problem partially, if you have trouble in finding the culprit extension

• Close Chrome browser and navigate to extensions folder mentioned below and delete all extension related folders manually.
• Chrome installed extensions directory or folder in Windows : C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions

Summary: To launch Chrome without extensions, you need to add a command line switch to Google browser.

Here in this page, we’ll give you the step by step guide on how to start Google Chrome browser without extensions/add-ons. Let’s see how to do.

How to start Google Chrome Without Extensions

There is a tag “disable-extensions” which does disable all the extensions of the google chrome. Let’s see how to apply “disable-extensions” so that you can open chrome without extensions. There are two methods to do it, temporarily and permanently. Follow the steps below. The steps will be for Windows 10, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP, Servers.

Method 1:  Start Google Chrome without extensions (once)

1. 1. Press Windows+R key together to open the RUN box.
   2. Copy and then paste or type the following syntax into the “Open” field and click on “OK”
      For 32-bit Windows."C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --disable-extensions

      OR
      For 64-bit Windows

      ---

      
      

      ---

      "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --disable-extensions

      

      If you want to open up Google Chrome without add-ons, then you may also add:

      --disable-plugins

      in the end. Then the syntax will be: “C:\Program Files(x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” –disable-extensions –disable-plugins

Also Read: How to stop auto update Google Chrome.

Method 2: Open Google Chrome without extensions (every time)

1. Do right-click and click on properties on the Google Chrome’s shortcut which you want to make permanent to open without extensions.
2. Select the shortcut tab.
3. Click on the target field and move your cursor to the end of the text “C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” and add:--disable-extensions

   to the end. The final syntax will look like this “C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” –disable-extensions

4. Click on OK to apply.
5. Now open the Google chrome with this shortcut. Your google chrome will open up without extensions.
   

Also Read: How to Remove Extension from Google Chrome

Here's an architecture example for what wOxxOm proposed in comments:

• An extension can enable/disable other extensions with API and permission.
• An extension can spawn a companion daemon process that communicates with the rest of OS using Native Messaging's .
• Said daemon can create a named pipe that you can write to from the command line, and pass whatever commands are sent to the pipe to the extension using the Native Messaging protocol.

Note that Chrome cannot be contacted from "outside" directly: it must spawn a process on its own, and then you can communicate with the process.

Alternatively (if you don't want to use the Native Messaging protocol, or want the daemon to exist independent of Chrome), your daemon can open a local WebSockets server and your extension can communicate through that. However, it would be possible to impersonate your extension in that case.

answered Oct 4 '16 at 8:49

## OS
Windows 7

## Katalon Studio Version
5.4.1

## Katalon Studio Logs
attached

## Browser for desktop Web testing
Google Chrome 66.0.3359.139 with Force-Installed Extension

## Step to reproduce

Here is the demo project I made: https://github.com/kazurayam/OpenChromeOnBehalfOfKatalonStudio

(1) When you run TC1_defaultWayOfOpeningBrowser, it runs successful. In this case I used the usual way of opening Chrome browser: I clicked “Run with Chrome” button. A chromedriver log file C:/temp/chromedriver_TC1.log is written, attached here. You can find the command line to start Google Chrome browser. It looks like this:

Here you can find --disable-extensions switch and --disable-extensions-exept switch are specified.

(2) When you run TC2_openOrdinaryChrome, it runs successful. In this case I used a tricky way of opening Chrome browser: my test case script instantiates a ChromeDriver and let Katalon Studio use it by calling DriverFactory.changeWebDriver(driver) method. Another chromedriver log file C:/temp/chromedriver_TC2.log is written, attached here. You can find the command line to start Google Chrome browser. It looks like this:

This command line looks similar as above, but not identical. How is it different from the above? No --disable-extensions switch is given; no --disable-extensions-except switch is given either.

## Expected behavior

My test case TC2_openOrdinaryChrome will fail somehow (‘Chrome not reachable’ possibly?). I expected so because it lacks --disable-extensions and --disable-extensions-except switches.

## Actual behavior

TC2_openOrdinaryChrome succeeded. Katalon Studio successfully opened Chrome browser, it successfully communicated with Chrome, verification keywords succeeded.

## My requirment

Having these switches On in the command line seems to be unnecessary. I hope --disable-extensions and --disable-extensions-except switches are removed.

## My thought

TC2_openOrdinaryChrome’s proves that –disable-extensions and --disable-extensions-except switches are not necessary for Katalon Studio to communicate with Chrome browser.

As TC1_defaultWayOfOpeningBrowser shows, Katalon Studio 5.4.1 is implemented to start chrome.exe with these switches. This fact is a problem for me:

Here I am NOT going to claim a bug. I just record a problem I encountered and describe the reasons I have found out. I hope this helps someone who encountered similar problem. # Environment - OS : Windows 7 - Katalon Studio version : 5.3.1 - Katalon Studio log: not relevant - chromedriver.log: attached - Browser: Google Chrome: 65.0.3325.181 # Steps to reproduce On my PC in the office, - start Katalon Studio - create New Sample Project > Sample WebUI Testing Project - `CURA Test Pro…

Google Chrome’s Force-Installed Extension can not be disabled by user or by --disable-extensions* switches in the command line. I am afraid that Katalon Team had never taken this factor into design consideration.

## Why significant for me

I am quite willing to introduce Katalon Studio to my colleague. However, the --disable-extensions switch makes it very difficult for me to evangelize. In my company, Google Chrome is the default browser. They will start using Katalon Studio with Chrome first. Their Chrome has a force-installed extension to meet Company’s security policy. Soon they will find Katalon Studio does not work well! — Decision made; Don’t go for it.

## Memo
Some forks find difficulty to run tests with Chrome with extensions of their choice enabled.

chromedriver_TC2.log

chromedriver_TC1.log

.log

thirtydot is correct, run Chrome with the command-line option to disable extensions.

To simplify things, just do a search for all lines containing

and change them to

answered Mar 8 '11 at 21:26

There’s nothing more frustrating than a slow browser. Many things can slow it down, but what usually influences its speed are Chrome Extensions. If you install too many, your browser will become clogged with background processes and will start underperforming. If you’re experiencing similar problems with your Google Chrome and you’re unable to fix them, just keep reading to find out some tips to handle this issue.

In this article, we’ll explain how to disable and manage your Google Chrome Extensions. We’ll also mention how extensions influence your internet speed and computer performance and provide you with some quick solutions.

How to Disable Extensions in Chrome

Chrome Extensions are programs that improve your browsing experience by allowing you to optimize Google Chrome for your individual needs. They can be anything from translating tools, ad blockers, antivirus add-ins, or mail checkers. However, if they stop working or start crashing every time you want to use them, it’s time to disable them.

If you want to disable your Chrome extensions, you’ll have to uninstall them using the Chrome browser. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open the Chrome browser.
   
2. In the upper right corner, locate the three-dot menu icon and click on it.
   
3. Click on “More Tools” and “Extensions”
   
4. You’ll see a list of all Chrome extensions and a toggle where you can disable every extension.
   
5. If you no longer want to use specific extensions, you can click on “Remove” to uninstall the extension, and you’ll no longer see them on your list.
   

Disabling extensions are an effective way to improve your browser’s speed, especially if you notice that webpages are loading slowly or that you can’t open videos on YouTube.

To use your Chrome at its optimum level, you need to ensure that you don’t have dozens of add-ons that are working in the background while you’re struggling to get a simple search result.

Even if you’re not experiencing any problems with Chrome, try removing all unnecessary extensions for Chrome to make it work faster than before.

How to Disable Extensions on a Chromebook

To remove Chrome extensions you’re no longer using, you just need to follow these few simple steps:

1. Open Chrome on your Chromebook.
   
   
2. On the right upper corner, you’ll see a three-dot icon, click on it.
   
   
3. Click on “More Tools” and “Extensions.”
   
   
4. You’ll see a list of all Chrome extensions and a toggle where you can disable every extension.
   
   
5. If you no longer want to use specific extensions, you can click on “Remove” to uninstall the extension, and you’ll no longer see them on your list.
   

How to Disable Extensions in Chrome Without Opening Chrome

Some of the Chrome extensions can create problems and even make Chrome crash or disable it altogether. If that’s what you’re experiencing, the only way to make it work again is to open it without extensions. Once it’s up and running, you’ll have to remove the add-ones that are creating problems.

There are useful Chrome extensions that allow you to disable all your extensions at once, but they’re relatively useless if you can’t open Chrome itself. Luckily, there’s a way to launch Chrome without all its extensions and resolve this situation without opening Chrome. Here’s what you can do:

1. Right-click on the Chrome icon and click on “Properties.”
   
   
2. When the Properties window opens, you’ll see a “Target” field.
   
   
3. There, you need to add “(space)–disable-extensions. “
   
   
4. Click “Apply” and “OK” to apply the changes.
   
   

How to Disable Extensions in Chrome on Android

When you’re using Google Chrome on your Android phone, it’s impossible to use it with extensions. Indeed, some third-party apps can help you launch it with add-ons, but they won’t make your Chrome any better.

Besides, Chrome on Android is limited to perform searches and provide you with all the necessary info. That’s why it would be best to only use Chrome with its extensions on your computer.

How to Disable Extensions in Chrome on iOS

For security reasons, Apple doesn’t support extensions on its devices. As they’re not a part of the Apple Store, installing them on any iPhone device is impossible. You can install Google Chrome, but only as a search engine and without the option to add extensions.

How to Disable Add-Ons in Chrome

The same process is used to disable or remove extensions in Chrome and to disable add-ons. Here’s how to do this:

1. Open Chrome on your Chromebook.
   
   
2. On the right upper corner, click on the three-dot menu icon.
   
   
3. Click on “More Tools” and “Extensions.”
   
   
4. If you no longer want to use specific Chrome add-ons, you can disable them with a toggle or click “Remove” to uninstall them from your browser.
   
   

How to Permanently Disable Extensions in Chrome

Sometimes, you might install an extension believing that you’ll use it regularly. However, it then turns out that you have only opened it once as you’re using another one instead. If you’ve decided to clear out extensions in Chrome, here’s how to do so:

Of course, if you ever change your mind in the future about some of the extensions, you can always reinstall them and rediscover their functionality. The Google Web Store has new extensions every week for you to find all you need to upgrade your Chrome browser.

How to Reinstall Extensions in Chrome

Sometimes, we realize that the extension that we’ve deleted can help us with a new project and we want it back again. That’s why Google has made the installation process easy and straightforward because users often change their minds.

Once you’re sure that the app is safe to download and use, here’s how the process goes:

1. Open Chrome browser, log in to your Google Account, and type “Chrome Web Store.”
   
   
2. Go through the list of Extensions and choose the one you need.
   
   
3. Tap on “Add to Chrome.”
   
   
4. Some extensions will ask you to approve of them or permit them to collect data.
   
   
5. Finally, click on “Add Extension,” and you’ll see the app icon next to the address bar in Chrome.
   
   

How to Arrange the Extensions on the Toolbar

If you had all your extensions out in the open, your Chrome toolbar would look quite messy. With the option to hide and arrange your apps in the best way, you can have all the icons exactly where you want them.

If you want to position icons differently, here’s how to do so:

1. Open Chrome, and you’ll see the icons of all your add-ons.
   
   
2. Click-and-hold the icon to change its place.
   
   
3. Repeat this until you have all of them arranged.
   

Should you want to hide some of the extensions, this is what you need to do:

1. Hover on the icon and click on the three dots icon you want to remove.
   
   
2. From the drop-down menu, click on “Remove”
   
   
3. The extensions will remain active, but you won’t have easy access to it.
   
   

To bring the icon back on the Chrome toolbar, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Chrome and click on the extension’s icon to see the list of all extensions you’ve pinned and unpinned.
   
2. Click on the pin icon next to the app you want back on your toolbar.
   
   
   

Additional FAQ

Do Chrome Extensions Affect the Performance of My Computer?

When used correctly, extensions are a fantastic feature to transform Google Chrome into a powerful working tool. Unfortunately, some of them can drastically slow it down, behave like malware, and even influence your searches.

If your Google Chrome starts behaving strange, or it becomes too slow, the first thing you need to do is check all the extensions you have installed and remove anything you don’t need, or that looks suspicious. If you see apps that you don’t recognize or that are unfamiliar, uninstall them as soon as possible. Once you’re finished, make sure to restart your browser and check whether it’s working faster now that you’ve uninstalled redundant extensions.

Do Chrome Extensions Affect My Internet Speeds?

Nobody likes to type something in the search bar and wait for a long time to get the result. Extensions can play a significant role in slowing down Google Chrome and making you wait for search results for too long. Even if your internet speed is relatively high, the problem is that your browser probably has too many extensions that are slowing it down.

Here’s what you can do to make your Google Chrome work faster:

• Check how your add-ons are working and disable the ones you’re not using.

• Disable Google Chrome background processes.

• Install a data saver extension on Google Chrome.

• Disable Image Content in the browser.

• Clear your browsing data regularly.

• Clear your tabs and close them when you’re done.

• Update your Google Chrome to its latest version.

How to Check How Much Memory Chrome Extensions Are Using

You can quickly check the memory every extension needs to work properly.

Here’s how:

• Open Google Chrome.

• Click on three dots in the upper right corner.

• Click on “More Tools” and select “Task Manager.”

• You can also use the shortcut “Shift + Esc.”

If you notice a disproportionate data consumption, assess their usefulness and think about disabling or removing them. Using the Task Manager tool can save you time by pinpointing the problematic apps in just a few clicks.

Less Is More

Chrome Web Store has become an excellent place for anyone searching for extensions that will upgrade their browsers to improve performance and efficiency. Upgrading your Chrome experience enables you to solve more problems and customize your browser to serve you best.

Now that you have a clear idea of how to install and uninstall Chrome extensions, you’ll be able to focus on different aspects of your job. Plus, you won’t have to ask for someone’s help, as you can work out these problems by simply following our instructions.

What are your favorite Google Chrome add-ons? What are you using them for? Is there one that you can’t imagine using your browser without?

Tell us more in the comments section.