In the future, make sure to check out Web Store user reviews and ratings for extensions before you install them. Go ahead and initiate the cleanup tool and the extension should be deleted automatically. Extensions That Refuse to Uninstallĭid you download an innocent-looking extension that doesn’t work as expected? If you can’t remove it, then it most likely has malicious intent. The checklist below should help you figure out instances where you need to take matters into your own hands. Hence, rarely would you have to even consider running the built-in cleanup tool. Over the years, Chrome has improved considerably at maintaining its integrity against malicious attacks. Click Remove when prompted to do that.Īs you see, there’s nothing complicated about the whole thing, and you should have a much stable and secure browser afterward. The tool will ask you for permission to remove if it finds any harmful software. Once you initiate a scan, the entire process does take a while to complete.
But before you do that, consider turning off the slider next to Report Details to Google if you don’t want the tool to transmit results of any malicious software or extensions found on your system to the Chrome development team.
To scan for harmful software, click Find. So how can you get to it? Type ‘chrome://settings/cleanup’ in the address bar of a new tab, and then press Enter to open the tool immediately. So don’t consider it a replacement for system-wide protection. Unlike a dedicated anti-virus application, the cleanup tool only removes software which directly affects Chrome. In action, the tool works quite simply - command it to run, and it automatically scans for and removes unwanted extensions, improper configurations, malicious system processes, and other potentially unwanted software on your computer. The Chrome Cleanup Tool, after it’s direct integration with Google Chrome, is now aptly listed as an option labeled ‘Find and Remove Harmful Software’ deep within the browser’s Advanced Settings panel. So without any further ado, let’s check out how you must use the Chrome Cleanup Tool, and then discuss when you need to use that. Did you manage to locate it yet? How does it work and when should you use it? Understandably, the questions can be many.