How to Disable Browser Plugins, Extensions and Add-Ons

Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox call them "Add-Ons." Google Chrome calls them "Extensions." By any name, third-party files extend the abilities of your browser far beyond mere Web surfing. Every major browser manufacturer offers a gallery with thousands of extensions that enable enhanced browsing, add functionality to Facebook or Twitter, or add games to your browser. In addition, utilities such as Adobe Flash install a second category of third-party files known as plugins. These work in the background and usually connect with external software, enabling your browser to play videos, use Web applications and more.

Although extensions, add-ons and plugins should normally assist you in using the Web, too many extensions or plugins may slow your browser down or create conflicts. If problems occur, or you're simply ready to remove a specific feature you no longer need, you'll want to be able to disable plugins and extensions quickly.

Instructions

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and Later

• Locate the New Tab button near the top of the browser window to the right of the address field and any other open tabs. Right-click the empty space between the New Tab button and the Home house-shaped icon. Select "Command Bar" from the context menu that appears. Choose "Manage Add-ons" from the Tools drop-down menu to open the Manage Add-ons dialog box. IE9 hides the Command Bar by default, but IE8 does not. In IE8, the Tools menu is already visible.

Choose the add-on type you want to disable. By default, the Manage Add-Ons window lists the currently loaded add-ons.

Choose the add-on you want to disable and click "Disable." IE will also disable any add-ons dependent on the add-on you're disabling. If other related add-ons are installed, IE will display them and allow you to disable them as well.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click the orange "Firefox" button in the top left-hand corner of the browser window and choose "Add-ons" from the right column of the menu to open an Add-ons Manager tab in the active browser window. If you are using Windows XP, click on "Tools" from the menu bar near the top of the browser window and choose "Add-ons."
• Click "Extensions" to view the installed extensions that add features to Firefox, or click "Plugins" to view plugins that add compatibility and functionality, such as Apple QuickTime or Adobe Acrobat.
• Find the add-on you want to disable and click its "Disable" button. If you want to delete an extension entirely, click "Remove." Restart Firefox to complete the process.

Google Chrome

• Click the wrench icon at the top right of the browser window, choose "Tools" and choose "Extensions" to open a new "Options" tab.
• Uncheck "Enabled" to disable an extension, or click "Remove" to delete it completely.
• Enter "chrome://plugins/" in Chrome's address bar to view plugins that add compatibility and functionality, such as Apple QuickTime or Adobe Flash, and click the "Disable" link under the plugin you want to disable.

  Tips & Warnings

  • Internet Explorer 9 may display a dialog box to inform you when a new add-on version is installed, or when add-ons are loading slowly. You may prevent the latter dialog from appearing by clicking "Disable Add-Ons" or choosing a longer delay setting from the "Tell me when the total add-on time is greater than" pop-up menu.
  • Some plugins, such as McAfee Virtual Technician, Adobe Flash and Java, provide functionality that will be unavailable if you disable them. For this reason, most applications don't allow you to delete plugins as you can extensions.