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Updated October 20, 2026

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Do Ad Blockers Still Work With Manifest V3?

By the Pick Ads team · Tested on Chrome · Published October 20, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026

Answer: Yes. Ad blockers still work in Chrome under Manifest V3, but they work differently. Instead of inspecting every request in their own code, they hand Chrome a fixed set of blocking rules, and Chrome caps how many rules each extension can rely on. Since August 31, 2026, only Manifest V3 extensions remain in the Chrome Web Store.

The nuance: some advanced filtering that older Manifest V2 blockers could do can't be expressed as MV3 rules, so results can differ by site.

What MV3 changed

In Manifest V2, an extension could intercept each network request and decide in its own code whether to block it ("blocking webRequest"). Manifest V3 replaces that with the Declarative Net Request API. The extension declares rules, and Chrome applies them (Replace blocking web request listeners).

Manifest V2Manifest V3
How requests are blockedExtension code decides per request (blocking webRequest)Chrome applies the extension's declared rules (declarativeNetRequest)
Who runs the logicThe extension's background pageThe browser
Rule countHandled by the extension's own filtering engineGuaranteed minimum plus a shared pool (see below)
Filter list updatesHandled by the extension's own codeBuilt-in (static) rules update when the extension updates; dynamic rules can be added at runtime
Background processBackground pageExtension service worker (migration guide)
Exception-Policy-installed extensions can still use webRequestBlocking

Network blocking vs cosmetic hiding

Ad blockers use two techniques:

  • Network blocking stops the request for an ad file or ad server before it loads. In MV3 this is done with declarative rules.
  • Cosmetic hiding leaves the page's content in place but hides the elements that are ads. This handles ads that come from the same server as the content you want, so blocking the request would break the page. A Facebook sponsored post in your feed is a typical case.

MV3 still allows both. The difference is timing and flexibility. Rules must be prepared in advance, and code that hides elements runs as content scripts. The developer of uBlock Origin Lite notes that some filters used by the original uBlock Origin can't be converted into MV3 rules. uBO Lite also leaves generic cosmetic filtering off unless you choose its "Complete" mode (uBO Lite FAQ).

Impact on filter lists and rule limits

Chrome's documented limits for the Declarative Net Request API (declarativeNetRequest reference):

LimitValue
Static rulesets an extension can include100
Static rulesets enabled at once50
Static rules guaranteed per extensionAt least 30,000 (more may be available from a global pool shared by all extensions)
Dynamic rules ("safe" actions: block, allow, upgrade)30,000 (Chrome 121+)
Dynamic rules (other actions)At least 5,000
Session rules5,000
Regular-expression rules1,000 per rule type

Two practical effects:

  1. Updates follow the extension. Built-in (static) rules are packaged with the extension and change when the extension updates. A blocker can't fetch a whole new filter list and enforce it as static rules overnight.
  2. Rule budget is shared. Beyond the guaranteed 30,000 static rules, extensions draw on a global pool. Running several blockers together competes for it.

Last verified: 2026-10-20

Chrome's MV2 timeline

DateWhat happened
January 2022Chrome Web Store stops accepting new public or unlisted MV2 extensions
June 3, 2024MV2 phase-out begins with warnings on pre-stable channels
October 9, 2024Chrome starts disabling MV2 extensions on the stable channel
March 31, 2025MV2 disabled, with an option to re-enable
July 24, 2025MV2 disabled everywhere from Chrome 138. The enterprise exception ends with Chrome 139.
August 31, 2026All remaining MV2 extensions removed from the Chrome Web Store

Source: Manifest V2 support timeline, Chrome for Developers (page updated 2026-09-09). Existing MV2 installs on Chrome 138 or earlier still run, but can't be updated or reinstalled.

What Adblock by Pick Ads blocks (and doesn't)

Adblock by Pick Ads is a Manifest V3 extension. It uses Chrome's Declarative Net Request rules plus page scripts for hiding elements (Chrome Web Store listing).

Free:

Premium ($2.99/month or $29.99/year): Facebook Feed Controls (Reels, Suggested Posts, Recommendations), Block Distractions (floating videos, newsletter popups, notification prompts), Hide Cookie Banners and Hide Anything.

What it doesn't do:

  • It doesn't promise to block every ad. Sites change their layouts and ad delivery, and support is limited to the sites and elements we maintain.
  • It isn't a general-purpose filter-list blocker with thousands of community lists. For that, compare Adblock by Pick Ads and uBlock Origin Lite.
  • It isn't AdBlock or Adblock Plus, which are separate products.

Last verified: 2026-10-20

How to choose

  1. Mainly want a cleaner Facebook feed? Choose a tool built for Facebook feed controls, such as Adblock by Pick Ads.
  2. Want broad, list-based blocking across the web? Choose a filter-list blocker such as uBlock Origin Lite.
  3. Only one content blocker at a time. uBO Lite's developer advises against running other content blockers alongside it. Two blockers also compete for the shared rule pool.
  4. On a managed work browser? Ask IT. Admins can install extensions by policy, and policy-installed extensions keep extra blocking options.
  5. Check the listing's last-updated date. A maintained MV3 extension should update regularly as sites change.

FAQ

Is uBlock Origin still available? Not in the Chrome Web Store. On 2026-10-20 its listing showed "This item is not available", in line with Chrome's removal of all Manifest V2 extensions on August 31, 2026. The same developer publishes uBlock Origin Lite, a Manifest V3 version that he describes as different from the original.

Do MV3 blockers block YouTube ads? Some MV3 blockers, including Adblock by Pick Ads, block supported YouTube ads. Results change when YouTube changes how it delivers ads, so no blocker can promise every ad is removed. If a video page breaks, pause the blocker on that site and report the problem.

Is MV3 about privacy? Partly. Chrome says blocking webRequest could slow extensions and pages, and needed invasive permissions. Under MV3, the browser applies an extension's blocking rules itself, so the extension doesn't need to inspect every request. Critics note it also limits how flexible blockers can be.

Can sites detect blockers? Yes, some sites run scripts that check whether ads loaded and then show a message or limit content. uBlock Origin Lite's developer notes MV3 blockers are less effective on sites that use anti-blocker techniques. If a site you trust stops working, pause the blocker for that site.

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Sources

Last verified: 2026-10-20