The plugins in chrome are one of the first functionalities that were integrated in the browser of Google in order to improve its performance. Among other things, thanks to them, Flash games, Java scripts and other elements can work correctly.
We could define plugins as those software elements that are needed for the browser to work properly. Watch out: plugins should not be confused with chrome extensions, an error that happens quite often. The main difference that can be pointed out to distinguish one from the other is that the extensions are optional, while the plugins are essential for the proper functioning of Chrome.
For this reason, naturally, these plugins are installed by default. However, it is possible to manage and configure them according to our preferences. Especially when one of them starts to fail.
Chrome: from plugins to extensions
Since the status and use of plugins are basic issues for the browser to work as expected, it is necessary to consider that they are part of Chrome. For the same reason, it is essential to know how to access and act on them when necessary.
In the origins of Chrome it was possible to access Chrome plugins through the command chrome: // plugins. Unfortunately, this was no longer feasible after the latest browser updates. Now, to configure and manage all these options you have to do it from chrome://settings/content/.
But it should be noted that, since the last changes, plugins have been gradually disappearing from Chrome. Many of them questioned the security and performance of the browser. Thus, some were eliminated and others became part of the browser's own functions. Now, to add or remove any functionality, we must resort to extensions.
The only way to access an old plugin is Download an old version of Chrome. However, this is not highly recommended, since using an outdated browser means exposing yourself to serious security flaws.
Install and activate Chrome extensions
To customize Chrome to your tastes and needs, you need to download and activate the extensions you need. These are the steps to follow:
Go to the Chrome Web Store
Bridging the gap, the Chrome Web Store It is the equivalent to the Play Store where you can download applications for Smartphones. Once in it, you have to look in the section "Extensions", which contains all available plugins.
Find the extension
To find the extension you are looking for, we have several options:browse the different sections of the catalog or make use of the search bar, where you can write the name of the plugin you want to install. Once located, you just have to click on it to see all the details.
Install the extension
Inside the extension screen, you have to click on the blue button that says "Add to Chrome" (as shown in the image above), after which the installation process is launched in our browser. In some cases, although it is not usual, it will be necessary to restart the device to complete the process.
Disable Chrome plugins
As stated in the previous paragraphs, plugins and extensions are very useful, although it is also true that having too many installed in the browser can be counterproductive: Chrome works more slowly and there may be problems loading certain pages. For this reason, it is perhaps better have only the necessary plugins/extensions and get rid of the rest. The steps to disable them are these:
Open the Chrome settings panel
To access the settings page of our Google Chrome browser, click on the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Doing so will display numerous options. The one we are interested in choosing is "Settings", which will give us access to a new tab with multiple options.
Go to Extensions
In the next step, in the left column, click on the option "Extensions". By clicking on it, a new screen will appear with all the plugins or extensions installed.
Disable extensions
In this last step, we must act on the already installed extensions that we want to activate or deactivate. If we have many, we can always use the search bar to find the one we want. Each of them is shown inside a box next to its corresponding icon and a brief description. There's also a blue button In the bottom right. Moving it to the right activates the plugin, while moving it to the left deactivates it. That easy.
