Browser Apps and Extensions
You can add features to your browser with extensions. Popular extensions include ad and pop-up blockers, shortcuts to social media sharing, weather apps, and more.
Extensions are made by 3rd party developers. It is rare, but they can sometimes slow your browser or cause interference with other functions. Extensions can also reduce battery life on a laptop.
Most extensions are free or use the ‘freemium’ model where the basic function of the app is free but you must pay for extras. Some extensions collect additional information about your online activities in order to function.
Where do you find apps and extensions for your browser?
Each browser has its own “store” with apps and extensions. You can visit the store’s website, or manage your extensions through your browser’s settings. Here is where to look for each of the major browsers:
In Edge go to Microsoft Edge Add-ons or
- Select Settings and more
. - Click Extensions
. - Click Open Microsoft Edge Add-ons.
In Chrome go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/ or
In the upper right corner of Chrome, click Customize and control Google Chrome
(three dots stacked vertically).- Hover over More tools and select Extensions from the fly-out menu.
In Firefox go to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ or
- Click Open application menu
. - Click Add-ons and themes, then select Extensions.
Ad blockers
Ad blocking software has grown much more popular in the past few years as obtrusive and annoying pop-up ads have hijacked our web surfing windows. In fact, according to a recent study released by MetaFacts, roughly 45 million Americans currently use ad blockers—an increase of more than 48% since 2014. The practice has become so common that most Internet browsers now integrate some rudimentary ad blocking. Ever had to disable or enable pop-ups in your browser while surfing? That’s your web browser’s ad-blocking capabilities at work.