How to Install a Chrome Extension from a Downloaded ZIP File

If you've downloaded a Chrome extension as a ZIP file, follow these steps to install it manually. This guide will walk you through the process of extracting the files and loading the extension into Chrome.

Step 1: Extract the ZIP File

1. Locate the ZIP file you downloaded on your computer.
2. Right-click on the ZIP file and select "Extract All..." or use a similar option depending on your operating system.
3. Choose a destination folder and extract the contents. Make sure you remember the location where you extracted the files.

Step 2: Enable Developer Mode in Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the browser to open the menu.
3. Select "More tools" > "Extensions" from the menu. This will take you to the Extensions page.
4. In the Extensions page, toggle the switch in the top-right corner to enable "Developer mode".

Step 3: Load the Unpacked Extension

1. With Developer mode enabled, you will see three new buttons: "Load unpacked", "Pack extension", and "Update".
2. Click the "Load unpacked" button.
3. A file dialog will appear. Navigate to the folder where you extracted the ZIP file contents.
4. Select the folder containing the extracted files and click "Select Folder".

Step 4: Verify the Extension Installation

1. After selecting the folder, the extension should load and appear in the list of installed extensions.
2. You can now see the extension's icon next to the address bar if it includes a browser action.
3. Verify that the extension is working as expected.

Troubleshooting

• Manifest Errors: If you encounter errors related to the manifest.json file, double-check that all required fields are correctly specified and that there are no syntax errors.
• Permissions: Make sure the extension has the necessary permissions to function correctly. You can review and modify permissions in the manifest.json file.

Additional Tips

• Update Extensions: When you need to update the extension, simply replace the files in the extracted folder with the new version and click the "Update" button on the Extensions page.
• Disable/Remove Extensions: You can disable or remove extensions at any time from the Extensions page by clicking the respective buttons.