Browsers like Google Chrome have many extensions that we can install. They are used to add some functions, such as ordering tabs, optimizing the loading of websites or even improving security. But of course, sometimes this does not compensate and we can even have problems. In this article we are going to talk about what steps to take to start Chrome without extensions. So we can choose when to use them and when not, as we are interested.
Why start Chrome without extensions
You may be wondering what are the reasons for wanting to start Chrome without the extensions. The truth is that each of the add-ons you install will act as if it were a program that you install on your computer or mobile. Think of starting Windows, for example, and having 20 programs open. Surely it will start to go slow and take longer to load. The same goes for Google Chrome.
Therefore, the main reason to start the browser without the extensions is to optimize resources and make it work as well as possible. If you’re experiencing speed issues and see it loading slower than it should, think of plugins as one of the main causes. Especially it may happen that one in particular is causing a problem.
But it can also be interesting for privacy and security . Some extensions may collect personal and browsing data. They may even contain malware, which could affect system security and cause major problems if we don’t take action.
In short, starting Chrome without extensions is interesting in certain circumstances. Both for security and performance, it is an alternative that we have available and we can take it into account in a simple way. In addition, you will not have to do without the normal use of the program.
How to do it
Although Google Chrome does not have a visible setting to launch it without extensions, there is a method to do so. Plus, it’s simple. You just have to follow a series of steps that we are going to show. The first thing is to create a shortcut. You can go to the Desktop, for example, right-click, click New and create a Shortcut .
That shortcut is going to be the key to everything and we need to configure it correctly. When creating it, a dialog box will appear where we will see a bar to put the location or click Browse and select it. The latter is what we have to click.
When we click Browse, what we will do is navigate until we find the Google Chrome icon. We have to go to the folder where it is installed and select the file. We will have something like we see in the image below.
But you don’t have to leave it as it is, because if we do that what we will be creating a direct access without further ado, to enter Chrome normally. What we are going to do is add “ –disable-extensions ”. In this way, it would be as we can see in the image.
Once that is done, the only thing left to do is click Next . A new window will appear to put any name to that icon. For example Chrome without extensions or the one we want. Here it doesn’t really matter what name we put, since it is only to know how to identify that shortcut and differentiate it from the normal one.
When you have finished all this process, all that remains is to open that new shortcut that you have created. You will see that Google Chrome starts normally, but it will start without any plugins being opened. You’ll still keep them installed, but every time you launch it from that shortcut you’ll prevent them from opening automatically. You can always open the program also from the normal icon that you already had.
Tips for using plugins in the browser
Whenever you install extensions in the browser, whether in Chrome or any other, you should keep in mind some essential tips to avoid problems. In this way you will keep your security and privacy safe, but you will also ensure that the program’s performance is not affected and that it works correctly.
Download them from official sources
The first thing is to always download them from official sources . In this case we have to go to the official Chrome store and download and install the extensions that interest us from there. The process is simple and this will help us to do it with guarantees and not have problems that may affect us.
The problem with downloading plugins from unofficial sites is that we have no real guarantee that they are safe. They may have been modified by an attacker to run malware, steal data, or cause browser crashes. Therefore, as with any other software you install, the ideal is to always download them from the browser’s official store.
not have many assets
Although we have seen how to start Chrome without extensions, it is important to know that the more you have active, the worse the program will be. It is basically as if you try to open many applications at once on your mobile. You will see that it starts to malfunction, consumes more resources and crashes.
So while having some browser add-ons can be a good thing, it’s best not to have more than you really need . You can always have them disabled and use them only when you need them. This will improve security and also performance when opening web pages.
keep everything up to date
Of course, another essential factor is to always have your browser and extensions up to date . This will prevent vulnerabilities that could compromise security. Sometimes flaws arise that can be exploited by hackers to exploit them and launch their attacks.
To update Chrome you have to go to the top right menu, click on Help and go to Google Chrome Information. The version you have installed will appear there and you will be able to add updates in case there is something pending.
Check operation
Periodically it is a good idea to review the extension information and see if anything has changed. It is not uncommon to see some plugin change and after an update have different functions or features. You can change owners and stop working as before.
This is not always positive, as it could even seriously affect our privacy and security. For this reason, we recommend having a periodic review to see to what extent the add-ons continue to work the same and will not affect our privacy. You can go to the menu, enter More tools and go to Extensions. All the information will appear there.
All in all, by following these steps you can make Google Chrome start without the extensions. As you have seen, there are some advantages of it and you can take it into account. However, whenever you use add-ons you must do so safely and avoid problems that could compromise proper functioning.