Ultimatum: chromium with webextensions support on android and much more
9/3/2025 05:58am
The official Chromium browser for Android that supports webextensions is still in development and not fully usable, but significant progress has been made in recent builds. Here's a summary of the current state and future plans:
1. **Current Limitations**: The latest version of the Chromium browser for Android, as of the writing of the article, is "1454704". Extensions can be installed, but only by dragging and dropping.crx files into the chrome://extensions page with Developer Mode enabled. This method is not user-friendly and requires the use of third-party apps like Files by Google to access and transfer the files.
2. **Future Plans and Progress**: Google is actively working on improving Chrome for Android's extension support. The new version of Chrome for Android that supports extensions is still experimental and intended for future Android-powered PCs, but it is possible to sideload the APK to try it on Android devices now. This is a significant improvement from the previous version, which required manual download and drag-and-drop installation of extensions.
3. **Significance of Extension Support**: The ability to install Chrome extensions on Android is crucial for enhancing the browser's functionality. Extensions can provide powerful tools like ad blockers, productivity boosters, and privacy features, which are currently lacking in the Chrome app on mobile.
4. **Alternative Browsers**: While Google Chrome on Android does not support extensions natively, alternative browsers like Kiwi and Yandex do allow the installation of extensions. These browsers can be used as a workaround until Google's official Chrome for Android with extension support is available.
In conclusion, while the official Chromium browser for Android with webextensions support is not yet fully functional, significant progress has been made, and it is expected to be available in the future. In the meantime, users can consider alternative browsers that support extensions or sideload the experimental APK to test the new features.