If you have browser extensions you're not using; they can slow down your Mac and make web browsing sluggish. Moreover, you can have extensions and plugins you never installed. They just appeared in your browser at some point, and you would be lucky if they’re not malware or bloatware. How did it happen? When you browse the web and download stuff from unknown websites, some of them get paid to add extensions to their download items. That’s how you end up with weird add-ons, search bars, ad stripes, trackers, and other useless additions. In this article. we'll show you how to remove extensions from popular Mac browsers. 

The difference between add ons, extensions and plugins

Add-ons, extensions, and plugins: What is the difference?

While often used interchangeably, these terms are quite different. Let’s make clear what they are first. All of them are pieces of software created to extend the functionality of your browsers. All of them are installed onto a browser and run with it, providing you with additional tools. And all of them don’t come as part of the browser initially because they’re not essential. Now, let’s assess the differences.

Plug-ins can only change something in the web pages you’re seeing. They cannot install toolbars or provide additional menus in the browser itself.

Extensions are the same as add-ons, and they can do all sorts of things, like add stuff into the browser, process and change web pages, etc.

To make it even clearer: an extension can have a plugin inside it, but not vice versa.

For the most part, extensions (or add-ons) do a good job of enhancing your browsers or apps in the way you need them to. However, when there are too many of them, they are poorly mare or even malicious, you can have troubles.

Why it’s vital to steer clear of extra or unknown add-ons

  • They slow down your browsers.
  • They slow down your Mac.
  • Plugins can alter your browser’s behavior.
  • Plugins can alter the way websites look for you.
  • Some extensions insert additional advertisements into websites.
  • Tracking extensions send info about your web behavior to corporations.
  • They can be harmful and contain malicious code (malware).

How to manage plugins and add-ons on Mac 

Now, let us show you how to manage extensions with ease. 

How to add and remove Chrome extensions manually 

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Return. 
  3. You see a list of Chrome extensions you have installed.
  4. You can disable (turn off) or completely remove any of them.
remove Chrome extensions

How to add and remove plugins in Firefox manually

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Type about:addons in the address bar and press Return.
  3. You can see Extensions and Plugins tabs on the left.
  4. There you can remove or disable them.
  5. To get new extensions, type anything you're looking for next to "Find more add-ons."
How to remove extensions in Firefox

You can also upload an add-on from a file. To do this:

  1. Go to the Extensions tab.
  2. Click on the gear icon > Install Add-on From File.

How to add and remove Safari extensions manually

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Choose Safari > Settings in the top menu.
  3. Open Extensions tab.
  4. You can now manage your extensions.
    To remove one, click Uninstall > Show in Finder and drag the extension icon to the Trash.
  5. To install another one, click Add Extensions — it will open the App Store and let you download new extensions.
How to remove extensions in Safari on Mac

How to manage extensions in Microsoft Edge

If you use Edge, managing extensions is as straightforward as in Google Chrome. Here's what to do: 

  1. Open Edge and paste edge://extensions/ followed by Return into the address bar.
  2. You can now either disable or remove extensions.
  3. If you want to get more plugins, click Get extenstions for Microsoft Edge. 
How to remove extensions in Microsoft Edge

How to remove adware web browser extensions 

This is a tricky business. Adware is not as straightforward as the rest of the extensions. It's a piece of malicious code that was created with the sole purpose of showing you advertisements and misleading you to harmful websites. So sometimes it does help just to find the odd-named extension on your list in the browser in question and delete it, but not always.

What can you do if the ads keep popping up or redirecting your every move to some website? How do you remove adware web browser extensions for good? You can try Adblock. It's a free plugin that works on all browsers, and you can access its settings and set a specific website to be blocked from opening in your browser. So the adware won't be able to redirect you to that place anymore. 

How to ensure privacy and security

If you removed extensions manually but are not sure that they were not malicious, try CleanMyMac. It comes with the Protection feature that scans your Mac for the latest threats and lets you remove them with a click.

All you have to do is just open the app and click Protection > Scan. If CleanMyMac detects any malware, it lets you delete it. 

More than that, you can review detected privacy issues. With just a few clicks, you can also clear browser history, remove cookies and autofill data, and delete saved passwords.

All of these simple actions let you improve your privacy and online security.

The best part? You can test CleanMyMac for 7 days at zero cost — get your free trial here.

Now you know everything there is to know about extensions on Mac and how to deal with them. We hope this guide has been of help.