This blog post will provide instructions on how to add an unpacked browser extension to your browser. This is the recommended method for personal individual use for a maker and for testing. This is not how you should share a production/multi-user extension; I have posted instructions on how to do that by adding the extension to a web store.
Unzipping the Extension
1. Locate the ZIP File: Find the ZIP file that contains the browser extension you want to test. It should have been downloaded onto your computer.
2. Unzip the File:
- Windows:
- Right-click on the ZIP file.
- Choose “Extract All…” from the context menu.
- In the dialog that appears, choose the folder where you want to unzip the files and click “Extract”.
- Mac:
- Double-click on the ZIP file.
- The files will automatically be extracted into the same folder.
3. Check the Contents: Navigate to the folder where you extracted the ZIP file and make sure it opens successfully and is not corrupted.
Loading Unpacked Extension in Microsoft Edge
1. Open Microsoft Edge: Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
2. Navigate to the Extensions Page:
- Click on the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Choose “Extensions” from the dropdown list.
3. Developer Mode:
- On the Extensions page, look for a toggle switch for “Developer mode”, usually located on the bottom left.
- Toggle this switch on to enable Developer Mode.
4. Load Unpacked:
- Click on the “Load unpacked” button that appears once Developer Mode is enabled.
- A file explorer will open. Navigate to the folder where you unzipped the extension files.
- Select this folder and click “Open”.
5. Testing:
- Your extension should now be loaded in Microsoft Edge.
- Test the extension to make sure it’s working as expected.
Loading Unpacked Extension in Google Chrome
1. Open Google Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Navigate to the Extensions Page:
- Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Go to “More Tools” and then choose “Extensions” from the submenu.
3. Developer Mode:
- On the Extensions page, you’ll find a toggle for “Developer mode” usually in the upper-right corner.
- Toggle this switch on to enable Developer Mode.
4. Load Unpacked:
- Click on the “Load unpacked” button that appears once Developer Mode is enabled.
- A file explorer will open. Navigate to the folder where you unzipped the extension files.
- Select this folder and click “Open”.
5. Testing:
- Your extension should now be loaded in Google Chrome.
- Test the extension to make sure it’s working as expected.
Wrapping Up
And there you go! You’ve successfully loaded your browser extension as an unpacked extension in your chose browser for testing purposes. Remember, Developer Mode is intended for testing and development, so make sure to turn it off once you’re done to maintain your browser’s security.