uBlock Origin Lite for Edge: what changed and how to switch
uBlock Origin Lite is the Manifest V3 version of uBlock Origin, and it is the ad blocker to install in Microsoft Edge now. Microsoft is turning off Manifest V2 extensions, including the classic uBlock Origin, by default for consumers, with the transition targeted to finish by the end of 2026. Install uBlock Origin Lite from the official Edge Add-ons listing, then adjust its filtering mode per site.
This page explains what is happening to uBlock Origin in Edge, how uBlock Origin Lite differs, how to install and set it up, and what the August 2025 store mix-up was about.
What is happening to uBlock Origin in Microsoft Edge?
Microsoft Edge is phasing out Manifest V2 extensions, and the classic uBlock Origin is a Manifest V2 extension, so it stops working in Edge as the rollout reaches your browser. Microsoft announced on the Microsoft Edge blog that MV2 extensions will be gradually turned off by default, starting with the Canary, Dev and Beta channels before Stable.
The key points of the Edge timeline:
- Consumer transition began in August 2026; deprecation notices appear for some users on edge://extensions and on Edge Add-ons product pages (Microsoft Learn dates the user warnings from mid-September 2026).
- The consumer transition is targeted to finish by the end of 2026.
- Managed (work or school) devices are not affected during the consumer rollout; enterprise deprecation follows in early 2027.
- Edge Add-ons stopped accepting new Manifest V2 extensions in July 2022, per the Manifest V3 overview on Microsoft Learn.
Microsoft says users are directed to recommended Manifest V3 versions where available. For uBlock Origin, that version is uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL), built by the same developer, Raymond Hill (gorhill). If you see a deprecation notice next to uBlock Origin on edge://extensions, that is the signal to switch.
How is uBlock Origin Lite different from uBlock Origin?
uBlock Origin Lite blocks content declaratively through the Manifest V3 API, which means the browser applies the filter rules and no background process runs for filtering. The uBOL project page on GitHub notes that its service worker only runs when you open the popup or the options page. That makes it light on resources, but it also removes some of the fine-grained controls power users relied on.
| Feature | uBlock Origin (MV2) | uBlock Origin Lite (MV3) |
|---|---|---|
| Default filter lists | uBO filters, EasyList, EasyPrivacy, Peter Lowe's list and more | uBO filters, EasyList, EasyPrivacy, Peter Lowe's list |
| Generic cosmetic filtering | On by default | Off unless the site is set to Complete mode |
| Dynamic filtering (matrix rules) | Yes | No |
| Per-site switches (no scripting, no remote fonts, no large media) | Yes | No |
| Custom element-hiding filters | Yes | Yes, via the Create a custom filter tool |
| Works in Edge after the MV2 phase-out | No | Yes |
Extra rulesets, such as regional lists and annoyance filters, can be enabled on the uBOL options page. The uBOL FAQ covers the technical limits in detail.
How to install uBlock Origin Lite in Edge
You install uBlock Origin Lite in Edge from the official Microsoft Edge Add-ons store, which is the only download source you should use. Copycat extensions with similar names and icons exist, so check the listing before you click.
- Open the uBlock Origin Lite listing on Edge Add-ons in Microsoft Edge.
- Select Get, then confirm with Add extension.
- Open edge://extensions and remove or turn off the old uBlock Origin so two blockers do not run at once.
- Pin uBOL to the toolbar from the Extensions (puzzle piece) menu so the popup is one click away.
- Open the uBOL options page (cog icon in the popup) and enable any extra rulesets you need.
uBlock Origin Lite does not import your old uBlock Origin settings. If you used custom filters or whitelisted sites, export or note them from the uBlock Origin dashboard before you remove it, then recreate the important ones in uBOL.
How to set uBlock Origin Lite filtering modes per site
uBlock Origin Lite controls blocking strength with a filtering mode slider in its popup, set per site. The modes range from off, on the far left, to Basic, Optimal and Complete. According to the uBOL quick guide, moving the slider completely to the left while on a site turns filtering off for that site.
- Use a higher mode on sites where ads or overlays still slip through. Generic cosmetic filtering only applies in Complete mode.
- Lower the mode, or turn filtering off, on a site that breaks, such as a login page or a checkout that will not load.
- Use Remove an element in the popup to hide something once; it returns after a reload.
- Use Create a custom filter to hide an element permanently; edit or delete these filters in the Custom filters pane of the dashboard.
The higher modes rely on uBOL's permission to read and change site data. The extension also works with reduced host permissions if you choose to restrict them, but blocking is weaker in that setup. For older tips on removing page elements, see our guide to removing any element with uBlock Origin.
What happened with uBlock Origin on Edge in August 2025?
In August 2025, the uBlock Origin listing on Edge Add-ons was briefly replaced by uBlock Origin Lite by mistake, not by design. On August 25, 2025, users found two listings named uBlock Origin Lite in the store, and Edge installations of uBlock Origin 1.65.0 updated to uBOL 2025.824.1755.
The developer acknowledged the error in GitHub issue 458. He re-uploaded uBlock Origin 1.65.0 under the store version 2025.825.0, because the store dashboard would not accept a lower version number than the previous upload, and said he would revise his publishing scripts. Some users reported lost settings and custom filters after the accidental switch.
That incident is history now. The current move to uBlock Origin Lite is driven by Microsoft's Manifest V2 phase-out, not by an upload error.
Alternatives if uBlock Origin Lite is not enough
If you depend on dynamic filtering, per-site script blocking or the full logger, the full uBlock Origin is still available on Firefox, which continues to support it. That is the main option for users who want the classic extension without compromises.
- Firefox: install uBlock Origin from Mozilla's add-ons site and keep every advanced feature. Our list of essential Firefox add-ons helps with the rest of the setup.
- Safari: uBlock Origin Lite is also available on Apple platforms; we covered uBlock Origin Lite for Safari on iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Stay on Edge: uBOL in Optimal or Complete mode blocks most ads and trackers for most people.
If you are reconsidering Edge altogether, read why Microsoft's uninstall Edge page offers no removal instructions before trying to remove it from Windows.
FAQ
Is uBlock Origin Lite safe to install in Edge?
Yes, when you install it from the official Edge Add-ons listing. It is published by the uBlock Origin project, and its source code and permission justifications are public on GitHub.
Can I keep using the old uBlock Origin in Edge?
Only until the Manifest V2 phase-out reaches your browser. Microsoft is turning MV2 extensions off by default for consumers during the rollout, which it plans to finish by the end of 2026.
Does uBlock Origin Lite block YouTube ads in Edge?
Results on YouTube change often because the site changes its ad delivery. If ads appear, raise the filtering mode for youtube.com to Complete and report the issue with the chat icon in the uBOL popup.
Are work or school Edge installations affected right away?
No. Microsoft says managed devices are not affected during the consumer rollout, and enterprise deprecation of Manifest V2 extensions follows in early 2027.
Related: Microsoft Edge support on Windows 10, best Chrome extensions
It looks like he’s making preparations in anticipation of Microsoft potentially discontinuing support for Manifest v2. The time has come to transition from Chromium-based browsers and switch to Firefox.
uBlock Origin 1.65 is still installed on “Edge” for me; working fine.
It’s free. It’s great. Let’s not get too upset when a dev donating his time and skills makes a mistake.
Gorhill error:
https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uBOL-home/issues/458
That is hilarious!
I did check that thread earlier, but he hadn’t posted. Oh, well!
Nice, my custom settings and filters are now gone thanks to this
Uh, oh. That’s not good.
Have you tried downloading the extension from GitHub?
https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases
Not sure this is the proper way to end support for an extension to just replace it with another?
Maybe this was forced in a way, otherwise it would allow people to run the older, more effective extension. I think this might be initiated by either Google or Microsoft and not the extension developer and he is just being forced and pressured.
That’s my personal opinion. This is probably how big corporations are trying to fight adblocking and it’s being effective. I think the uBlock Origin developer needs to make the extension into a program for desktop (Linux, Mac, Windows) and an app for Android/iOS so people can sideload it and use it even if the browser is not supporting it.
Something like what AdGuard has, but on every platform. Or maybe to release instructions how to add uBlock to the router settings to block ads on that level, but then again that’s only effective in your home, if you are on a phone or laptop and and leave your home Wi-Fi, every other network will not block ads so you need it individual for each machine, on a level you can control – your OS, not the browser, which is something we obviously can’t control anymore.