MICROSOFT EDGE PHASING OUT OLDER AD BLOCKERS

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

FRI, AUG 7, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Microsoft Edge is discontinuing support for Manifest V2 extensions, eliminating compatibility with popular ad blockers like uBlock Origin. The move mirrors Google Chrome's earlier transition to the newer MV3 platform.

The shift affects 58 extensions with meaningful usage on Edge's add-on store, though only three lack MV3 alternatives. uBlock Origin, one of the most widely-used ad blockers, will stop functioning unless users switch to uBlock Origin Lite or other MV3-compatible options. Microsoft's decision aligns with the broader industry transition away from Manifest V2, the older extension framework that developers and privacy advocates have criticized for limiting ad-blocking capabilities. Chrome initiated this transition earlier this year, prompting similar moves across other Chromium-based browsers. Users relying on older ad blockers have limited options: migrate to updated versions, adopt different blockers, or explore alternative browsers. The timeline for Edge's full MV2 deprecation remains unclear, though the company has signaled the change is coming.

■ SOURCES

► The Verge

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE BIG TECH DESK

P658MICROSOFT QUANTUM CHIEF DISMISSES SCIENTIFIC SKEPTICISM

Microsoft's quantum division leader Zulfi Alam is proceeding with claims his team engineered a new state of matter despite widespread doubt from the scientific community about the validity of the results.

JUST NOW— Industry Desk

P651GOOGLE'S 20,000-PERSON WALKOUT: HOW IT HAPPENED

In 2018, over 20,000 Google employees walked out to protest the company's handling of sexual harassment allegations. The action revealed how workers organized dissent from inside one of tech's largest corporations.

3H AGO— Industry Desk

P649TIKTOK BLAMES MODERATOR ERROR FOR DELAYED RESPONSE TO PEREZ HILTON LIVESTREAM

TikTok acknowledged a "moderator error" delayed removal of a livestream showing celebrity blogger Perez Hilton appearing to harm himself. The platform has since banned his account and notified law enforcement.

5H AGO— Industry Desk

P648RETAILERS OPTIMIZE FOR CHATBOTS WHILE GUARDING DATA

Retailers are revamping websites to rank high in AI chatbot search results, while steering purchases back to their own sites to collect customer data. As shoppers increasingly rely on ChatGPT and Google's Gemini for product recommendations, retailers face pressure to maintain direct customer relationships.

5H AGO— AI Desk

◄ BACK TO NEWS

MICROSOFT EDGE PHASING OUT OLDER AD BLOCKERS

■ MORE FROM THE BIG TECH DESK

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF