Apps and extensions are a huge part of what makes Chrome/Chrome OS so amazing. These take the power of the internet to its fullest, while making browsing much more powerful and effective. We can access all kinds of features with Chrome apps and extensions, but things can easily get out of hand when trying to set up your browser for optimal usage.
Your apps and extensions list can get crowded if you don’t manage them right. I often find myself with way too many apps and extensions I never use. This won’t exactly affect performance (even though it can), but having a mess in your browser defeats the purpose and functionality of these awesome tools.
In this tutorial we will show you great tips for managing your Chrome apps and extensions, so you may have your browser organized at all times.
How to delete Chrome apps
We often find ourselves with many apps we never use. This creates a cluttered experience in your app page or app launcher, so it’s adviced that you clean up your app list from time to time.
This can be done in two ways: from the Chrome Apps page or your App Launcher.
- Go to your Apps page in Chrome and right-click on the app you wish to get rid of. Then select “Remove from Chrome”.
- Go to your Chrome or Chrome OS app launcher and right-click on the app y you wish to get rid of. Then select “Uninstall”.
How to organize your Chrome app list
Now, if you do not want to delete your apps, you can also organize them manually. Apps on You App page and App Launcher appear from oldest to newest, by default. These have multiple pages. You can easily drag and drop the apps to organize them as you wish.
I usually just place my most used apps in the first and second pages of apps. This way I can keep my app list clean while keeping the apps I rarely use.
How to disable Chrome apps and extensions
If you are still not happy with your list of apps and extensions, but also don’t want to get rid of them, you can disable those you don’t use often. This will simply leave the app or extension idle, without taking up space or resources.
- Click on the menu button.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on the “Extensions” tab.
- Scroll to the app/extension of choice and check off the “Enable” box.
This will hide your Chrome Apps and Extensions (or turn them gray) until they are enabled or activated again.
How to organize Chrome extension buttons
Extension buttons offer shortcuts and quick functions for many services and websites. I have extensions for Chromecast, Google Voice, Hangouts, Gmail and more. These allow me to stay in communication with others and easily access other services.
These buttons appear on the top-right corner of your browser, but that area can get crowded very easily. To keep them organized, simply drag and drop the buttons and list them as you prefer.
How to hide or delete Chrome extensions
Even after organizing Chrome extensions, you can still find your Chroem buttons area too crowded. You can do two things to solve this: hide them or delete them.
- To hide the extension, simply right click on the extension button and select “Hide Button”.
- There are two ways to delete an extension: You can right-click on the button and select “Remove from Chrome”, or you can go to the Extension settings and click on the trash bin next to the extension.
How to use Chrome extensions in Incognito Mode
By default, no apps or extensions are allowed in Incognito Mode. This is done to keep your browsing private and avoid any accidental storing of information. You may want to take advantage of some extensions while in Incognito Mode, though. If such is the case, you can do the following:
- Go to your Settings.
- Click on the Extensions tab.
- Find the extension you want to use in Incognito mode.
- Right below it, there will be an “Allow in incognito” checkbox. Click on it.
- Click on the same checkbox to reverse this.
How to access your extension options
Depending on the extension, there may be some options you can modify to improve your experience. These options are not in your general Chrome settings and need to be accessed and edited independently.
- Go to your Settings page.
- Click on the “Extensions” tab.
- Scroll down to your extension of choice and click on the “Options” link.
There is also an easier way to do this.
- Locate your extension’s button.
- Right click on it.
- Select “Options”.
How to check app/extension permissions
Chrome/Chrome OS is amazingly secure. Among the most secure platforms out there, in fact. This does not mean you should not be careful with what you install, though. You should always check for app and extension permissions.
This can be easily done when installing an App or extension. You will get notified during installation. You may want to double-check, though. In which case, this is how you do it:
- Go to the Settings page.
- Click on the Extensions tab.
- Under the app or extension, click the link labeled as “Permissions”.
