Browser Extensions Causing Problems: Fix Guide (2025)

Your browser just started acting weird. Pages load slowly. Ads have appeared where they weren't before. Your browser crashes randomly. The weird part? You didn't change anything.

Then you remember: you installed a new extension last week.

Extensions are powerful tools, but they run deep in your browser. One bad extension can break everything. Here's how to identify which extension is causing problems and fix it.

More browser fixes: Having other browser issues? See our complete Browser Problems Troubleshooting Guide for crashes, slow performance, loading issues, and more.

📌 Tip: Extensions that slow down your browser are a common issue. If you have lots of extensions and your browser is sluggish, see our guide on Browser Too Many Tabs Running Slow for more solutions.

How Extensions Cause Problems

Extensions can access:

• Everything you view in your browser
• Your browsing history
• Your passwords (sometimes)
• Websites before you see them
• Your computer's files (sometimes)
• Network traffic

When extensions go wrong, they go really wrong. Here are the main ways extensions cause problems:

1. Extension Conflicts

Two or more extensions interfere with each other. For example, one extension modifies websites while another tries to display ads, and they end up fighting over control.

Signs: Problems only happen on specific websites, or problems appear after installing a second extension

2. Outdated Extensions

When your browser updates, extensions might break if they haven't been updated to work with the new version.

Signs: Problems started right after a browser update

3. Malicious Extensions

Some extensions are designed to steal data, inject ads, or collect your browsing information. They might have been installed as part of another app, or they came from a third-party website.

Signs: Unusual ads appear, your searches are redirected, or your browser is constantly slow

4. Buggy Extensions

Sometimes extensions just have bugs. The developer either hasn't fixed them or abandoned the extension.

Signs: Browser crashes after installing a specific extension, or a specific website never loads correctly

5. Extensions Using Too Much CPU/Memory

Some extensions run background processes that consume tons of resources.

Signs: Your browser is slow and your computer gets hot, or your battery drains quickly on a laptop

How to Identify the Problem Extension

Method 1: Incognito/Private Mode Test (Fastest)

This is the quickest way to tell if an extension is the problem.

1. Open your browser in Incognito (Chrome) or Private (Firefox/Edge/Safari) mode
2. Try whatever you were doing when you noticed the problem
3. Does the problem go away?

If yes: An extension is the culprit. Go to Method 2.

If no: The problem is something else (browser settings, website issue, malware, etc.). Skip to "When It's Not an Extension."

Method 2: Disable Extensions One by One

Now that you know an extension is the problem, find which one.

Chrome:

1. Click Menu (⋮) → More tools → Extensions
2. Look at your list of extensions
3. Turn off the first extension by clicking its toggle
4. Try the action that was causing problems
5. If the problem persists, turn that extension back on and disable the next one
6. Repeat until you find the culprit

Firefox:

1. Click Menu (☰) → Add-ons and extensions
2. Click "Extensions"
3. Disable each extension one by one (click the toggle)
4. Try the problematic action after each disable
5. When the problem disappears, you've found it

Edge:

1. Click Menu (⋯) → Extensions
2. Disable extensions one by one
3. Test after each disable

Safari:

1. Click Safari menu → Settings
2. Click Extensions tab
3. Uncheck each extension
4. Test after each unchecking

Method 3: Check Extension Details

If disabling one by one is tedious, you can check extension details:

1. Go to your extensions list
2. Look for recent installs (sort by newest first if possible)
3. Look for extensions from unknown developers
4. Look for extensions with low ratings or many negative reviews
5. Disable or uninstall those first

Quick Fixes

Fix 1: Update All Extensions

Outdated extensions cause most browser problems with extensions.

Chrome:

1. Click Menu (⋮) → More tools → Extensions
2. Check the "Developer mode" toggle in top right
3. Look for any "Update" buttons
4. Click Update on all extensions

Usually Chrome auto-updates extensions, but manually checking helps.

Firefox:

1. Click Menu (☰) → Add-ons and extensions
2. Click Extensions
3. Extensions auto-update, but you can manually check by clicking the gear icon → Find updates

Edge and Safari:
They automatically update extensions. You don't need to do anything.

Fix 2: Uninstall the Problem Extension

Once you've identified the bad extension, remove it.

Chrome, Firefox, Edge:

1. Go to your extensions page
2. Find the problem extension
3. Click the trash/uninstall icon
4. Confirm removal

Safari:

1. Settings → Extensions
2. Find the extension
3. Click Uninstall

Fix 3: Disable Extensions You Don't Use

Even if they're not causing the current problem, unused extensions slow your browser.

1. Go to your extensions list
2. Ask yourself: Do I actively use this?
3. If no, disable or uninstall it
4. Keep only 3-5 essential extensions active

Fix 4: Reinstall the Problem Extension

Sometimes an extension gets corrupted. Reinstalling fixes it.

1. Uninstall the extension
2. Restart your browser
3. Go back to the extension store
4. Reinstall from the official store (not third-party websites)

Advanced Fixes

Fix 5: Check for Malicious Extensions

If disabling extensions didn't solve the problem, or if you suspect malware:

Chrome:

1. Click Menu (⋮) → Settings → Privacy and security
2. Click "Check for malware" or "Run security check"
3. Let it scan
4. Follow recommendations

Firefox:

1. Click Menu (☰) → Help → Troubleshooting information
2. Look for "Extensions" section
3. If anything looks suspicious, check Mozilla's official review
4. Uninstall anything not from the Firefox add-ons store

Fix 6: Reset Browser to Default Extensions

If you can't identify the problem extension, resetting usually works.

Chrome:

1. Click Menu (⋮) → Settings
2. Click "Reset settings"
3. Click "Restore settings to their original defaults"
4. This removes all extensions (your browser was likely working fine without them)
5. Reinstall one extension at a time, testing after each one

Firefox:

1. Click Menu (☰) → Help → More Troubleshooting Information
2. Click "Refresh Firefox"
3. This removes all extensions
4. Reinstall one at a time

Fix 7: Install Only from Official Stores

Malicious extensions sometimes hide on unofficial websites. Only install from:

• Chrome: Chrome Web Store (chrome.google.com/webstore)
• Firefox: Firefox Add-ons (addons.mozilla.org)
• Edge: Microsoft Store or Edge Add-ons
• Safari: App Store

Fix 8: Check Extension Permissions

Before installing a new extension, check what permissions it's asking for:

Before Install:

1. Look at the permissions list ("This extension can access...")
2. Ask: Does this extension need access to my browsing history? My location? All my tabs?
3. If permissions seem excessive, don't install it

After Install (Chrome):

1. Click Menu (⋮) → More tools → Extensions
2. Click "Details" on any extension
3. Scroll to "Permissions"
4. Ask if each permission makes sense
5. If not, uninstall it

Popular Safe Extensions

If you need to replace a problematic extension, here are trusted options:

Password Managers:

• 1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden

Ad Blockers:

• uBlock Origin (most trusted)
• Ghostery

Tab Management:

• The Great Suspender (Chrome)
• Tab Manager Plus (Chrome)

Grammar/Spelling:

• Grammarly (official version only)

Video Downloaders:

• Official YouTube Downloader

Productivity:

• Notion Web Clipper
• Evernote Web Clipper

Important: Always install from the official store for these extensions, not third-party websites.

When It's Not an Extension

If Incognito mode doesn't fix your problem, it's not an extension. Try:

• Browser is slow: Check Browser Too Many Tabs Running Slow
• Browser keeps crashing: Check Browser Keeps Crashing
• Pages won't load: Check Browser Not Loading Pages
• One specific website has problems: Could be the website itself, not your browser

Summary

1. Test in Incognito mode — Does the problem go away? If yes, it's an extension.
2. Disable extensions one by one — Find the culprit
3. Update, uninstall, or reinstall — Fix the problem extension
4. Keep only essential extensions — Fewer extensions = faster browser
5. Only install from official stores — Avoid malware

Extensions are powerful, but you don't need many of them. A browser with 3-5 trusted extensions is faster and more secure than one with 20.

🆘 Still having extension problems? Get personalized help:

Talk to a Tech Expert