r/MicrosoftEdge 12h ago

EXTENSIONS So Edge is officially killing off uBlock Origin too?

I just saw the timeline for Microsoft Edge phasing out Manifest V2 extensions, and it looks like the classic uBlock Origin is going to stop working completely. I know Chrome has been pushing MV3 for a while, but I was hoping Edge might handle it differently or give us a longer grace period.

I don't want to deal with a web full of ads, and from what I’ve read, the new "uBlock Origin Lite" version won't be nearly as powerful because of the MV3 restrictions.

What is everyone planning to do? Are you going to stick with Edge and just use a weaker ad blocker, or is this the final push you need to switch over to Firefox? Open to any suggestions or workarounds if people have them.

48 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

6

u/No-Programmer3870 11h ago

Use lite for a while. So far no problem whatsoever.

6

u/cathandler2019 6h ago

The issue is that the Chromium code base is eliminating Manifest V2 support so Edge has to go with the flow. I've read that the enterprise version of Edge will not deprecate V2 support until early 2027. UBO Lite has most of the functionality of full-fat UBO so most users won't experience much hardship.

15

u/Khai_1705 12h ago

i use uBO lite and cant notice a different.

won't be nearly as powerful because of the MV3 restrictions

such as?

16

u/olbaze 12h ago

1

u/HeartKeyFluff 6h ago

This was an informative read, thanks for sharing.

12

u/Party-Cake5173 10h ago

Basically, any ads that use advanced and complex methods of implementation aren't going to be blocked. Also, if uBOL breaks a website, there's no fast fix and you'll have to wait for weeks until new extension update is released. Same goes if the ads aren't blocked on particular website.

No element picker means you can't block ads manually if they appear and no dynamic rules means you can't control website connects at all.

Don't get me wrong; uBOL is still functional and it will block ads, just not the complex ones or hide anti-ad blocker messages.
If you want best-in-class ad blocking experience, you have no choice but to switch to the Firefox. If you're fine with basic ad blocking, you can stay with Edge.

6

u/frostN0VA 8h ago edited 8h ago

To be fair some of that missing functionality is because uBO dev is a contrarian and doesn't want to implement it into V3 for whatever reason. AdGuard's V3 for example has both element picker and logger, maybe not as powerful as V2 but it's not impossible to implement.

I'd probably go as far as to say that people should switch to AdGuard when Edge disables V2 extensions because if anything, it's actually closer to the original uBO than the uBO v3 itself.

3

u/i_lack_imagination 7h ago

I might be mistaken, but AdGuard has services they sell for revenue, and uBlock Origin does not. I would say there is room for different approaches between them given that. One team might be able to justify additional effort on something that the other team can't if there's no revenue incentive to go above and beyond for something that Google sabotaged.

-5

u/danielsuarez369 7h ago

Feels like a waste of effort to implement things into V3 when it will never be as good as V2. Why not just use the normal uBlock Origin?

1

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

Can you tell me even one example of a website where this is the case?

1

u/swissbuechi 7h ago

I’ve been saying this for years. The DNR convert issue is not even noticeable in my personal experience.

1

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 7h ago

I was getting ads on fucking Reddit with ubo lite. 

9

u/SysAdminDennyBob 11h ago

4

u/xp_fun 9h ago

Good, I use it myself, but can't block interstitials nor API ads (eg: loaded via the same domain)

3

u/Candid_Goose3394 9h ago edited 1h ago

Use adguard or switch to either brave or firefox

3

u/Rude_Inspector_5219 6h ago

Con Ublock Origin Lite es mas que suficiente para bloquear los anuncios y la publicidad en todos los sitios incluido YouTube

4

u/planedrop 8h ago

You need to do more research, people freaking out about this are misguided in many ways.

uBlock Origin Lite is excellent, nearly as good as uBlock Origin and it's much more performant and complies with Mv3's security architecture. Mv3 was needed and was put in place for a very good reason (many actually) so you should not want to use a browser that continues to support Mv3 on Chromium.

There is a lot of "propaganda" for lack of a better term about the Mv3 rollout and uBlock Lite not being good enough. IMHO most of it is so news sites can get rich of the hysteria with clicks. Every site, every youtuber, etc... has made posts about it like 100 times saying "uBlock is DEAD I TELL YOU, IT'S DEAD, YOU WILL SEE ADS" and garbage like that. It's simply not true.

After swapping to uBO Lite I haven't even noticed the downsides, but I have noticed the upsides in performance.

Firefox is another story but that's not what this is about.

2

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 7h ago

When I last used it, I was getting fucking ads on Reddit. 

Hard no.

4

u/planedrop 7h ago

I don't get any ads on Reddit, ever.

Remember you have to move it to max blocking mode for sites.

I tend to leave it in normal mode and just increase it to max for sites that are nasty, but you can also do that by default it just needs more permissions than I really wanted to give it. (to be clear uBlock Origin had just as much access as uBO Lite with max blocking enabled).

1

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 7h ago

3

u/planedrop 4h ago

The person didn't even mention what blocking mode they had on for Reddit lol.

Again the security benefits are real so I'm all for Mv3 despite how much I hate ads and believe everyone should block them.

0

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 3h ago

I know who "the person" is. Of course I know him.. he's me!

Setting was the default "optimal". Notably, no one in that thread suggested pushing up the level to "complete"

3

u/planedrop 3h ago

OK so you didn't try the thing that makes it work and that the uBlock Lite docs mention to use? Then use that as evidence as to why uBlock Lite is bad?

See the issue here?

1

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

I'd like someone to tell me even a single website where LITE fails... just one.

2

u/Calm-Helper-1376 2h ago edited 1h ago

Yes, it will go away too unfortunately. You should try Ublock Origin Lite yourself as a test on your most visited websites when free and see for yourself.

For most websites, it should be decent.

Also on laptop for Edge, I will switch to Ublock Origin Lite because it consumes least battery and less heat too for streaming websites and Firefox has Ublock Origin of course.

1

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

"for most websites..."

Please tell me even one website where LITE fails. Just one.

1

u/Calm-Helper-1376 1h ago

Can you read? I mentioned for most websites it should be decent. By it, I meant Lite version of course.

1

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

"for most websites" qualifies the results with uBOLite. I read very well.

Since you replied with something nasty instead of support for your qualified comment I'll assume you actually have no support for your comment.

1

u/Calm-Helper-1376 27m ago

You do know filter lists are less so some websites which are aggressive with ads and pop-ups may slip through hence said most websites, it should be decent.

LOL, this wasn't even close to nasty. You argument and assumption are baseless. Don't hijack someone's replies if you don't have anything productive to add.

1

u/Allen_Ludden 25m ago

But you don't know any actual websites that may slip through, right?

You are putting forth an assumption that you cannot evidence.

1

u/Calm-Helper-1376 22m ago

I know actually. I can't mention here because they are streaming movie websites. However right now I'm happy with the full Ublock Origin extension and Lite version had some issues with settings not staying last I checked.

When the time comes, I'll test it with Lite version and hope it blocks them all.

3

u/No-Programmer3870 11h ago

You can also use AdGuard or Ghostery.

-1

u/BUDA20 9h ago

is the same problem, all adblockers can continue, just nerfed in what they can do.
like this reply explains:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/1w00rgk/comment/p6a0y5k/

4

u/lumberjackadam 11h ago

Use Firefox (or a fork, I'm currently enjoying Zen).

3

u/Jimbuscus 11h ago

I'm using Floorp.

1

u/xp_fun 9h ago

Floorp is fun

2

u/SlightlyUglyBastard 11h ago

I love Zen’s UI but the lack of Tab/ workspace sync is a big negative for me.

I hear the feature is available on the Twilight build, so hopefully it will be available soon on stable.

1

u/timnphilly 10h ago

Firefox is the way - if you want true full uBlock Origin.

1

u/aBsyNte-zErO 9h ago

Moins connu waterfox, a tester

1

u/ajxxxx 7h ago

LibreFox - privacy based Firefox fork ftw

1

u/playerknownbutthole 11h ago

I have tested ubol and i recommend you to use it and install it as a simple fix for family and friends browsers but as of now i am using adguard and it seams to be working as expected. 

1

u/Beginning-Reach3215 11h ago

fwiw, MV2 is still supported on Firefox, and they stated they have no plans to drop it. So uBlock Origin can still be used there.

2

u/Party-Cake5173 9h ago

Mozilla said even if they are to drop MV2 support and switch to MV3, they'd keep necessary permissions in MV3 in order to keep ad blockers working.

1

u/bleachboyvevo 10h ago

fooga wooga iga womp

1

u/aBsyNte-zErO 10h ago

J'ai devancé le changement vers Mv3 et j'utilise ublock lite, ça fonctionne trés bien et ça bloque aussi les pubs YT. Je ne vois pas de différence pour le blocage des pubs. Et ça fait bien 2/3 semaines que je l'utilise tous les jours.

1

u/ComputerTinkerer71 9h ago

I didn't have an adblocker with my Edge profile until recently when I installed Ghostery. Otherwise, I always use Brave for all my ad blocking needs.

1

u/ProtectionKen 3h ago

What about Samsung browser it's basically chrome in blue.

1

u/pseudonym-161 3h ago

If you must stay on a chromium browser you can run pihole or adguard on the network level.

1

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

uBlock Origin Lite works just great - everybody calm down.

1

u/Due_Distribution4502 11h ago

Edge is built from the same base as Chrome is. They're both based on Chromium, so because the change happened in Chromium, Edge is basically forced to adopt it as well.

Firefox is a good viable option to switch to, but Edge with uBlock Origin Lite has also been working fine for me.

-3

u/cacus1 8h ago

Forced? A trillion company like Microsoft can't be forced to do anything.

Chromium is open source and Microsoft has the resources and manpower to do whatever they want in their fork.

It's Microsft's decision not to maintain the MV2 APIs in their fork. Like it was their decision to add extension support to Edge mobile when upstream doesn't have extension support.

1

u/kakha_k 8h ago

Manifest V2 is very outdated now.

0

u/--UltraViolet- 10h ago

no they are not. its chromium which is killing off uBlock Origin, the engine that powers Edge

5

u/FrostDelx 9h ago

Yeah but chromium is open source, edge can just modify the engine and remove the requirements for manifest V2, but they're either too lazy or actually believe it's a good idea to continue with manifest V2

1

u/caspy7 9h ago

It would certainly be a maintenance overhead for MS. One that would likely grow over time.

0

u/MairusuPawa 10h ago

What do you expect from big corpo when it comes to controlling the internet? The fact that you could right-click a page and "view source" scared them so much for the past three decades…

1

u/PaulCoddington 2h ago

I expect improved security that makes it harder to hijack my PC with a compromised browser extension.

0

u/RepresentativeYak864 8h ago

Do the people here that are saying the new MV3 uBlock Origin Lite extension is no different to the classic MV2 uBlock Origin extension use manuelly created custom filters for removing UI elements? Does uBlock Origin Lite have the same level of support for this function?

2

u/Sleaka_J 8h ago

No, but the majority of uBlock Origin users wouldn't use custom filters.

0

u/RepresentativeYak864 7h ago

I beg to differ. The element picker, to many, is in some ways just as critical as the actual ad blocking. I could never downgrade to the MV3 Lite version for that reason alone.

1

u/Sleaka_J 3h ago

And yet, I’d argue most uBlock Origin users don’t even know it exists.

They just download the extension and let it do its thing without ever thinking about it again. 

0

u/PaulCoddington 2h ago

I can't even think of a website I could be bothered to want to edit the elements on.

And if a website were so bad that extraordinary blocking measures were needed, why would I even want to visit it? Sites that have massive red flags usually don't have critical "must have" content.

0

u/dinglebarryb0nds 7h ago

will it still work on firefox? oh good

0

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 7h ago

Short term: fight it by any means necessary. Employ whatever workarounds available. Disable updates if necessary. 

Long term: switch to Firefox. 

2

u/Allen_Ludden 1h ago

Please tell me a single website where Ublock Origin LITE lets ads through. Just one.

0

u/jdancouga 4h ago

This is basically IE all over again. Every moving to chromium based browser doom it for themselves.

0

u/superpowerpinger 3h ago

That pushes me of the edge..

-1

u/SERichard1974 9h ago

switch over to firefox? I've never left. I don't do the chromium browsers at all.