Microsoft Edge removes the 'allow other stores' switch for extensions

Microsoft has tweaked the Edge browser: the familiar “Allow extensions from other stores” toggle has disappeared from settings. Previously, users had to enable that slider manually to install add-ons from the Chrome Web Store, and it also served as a clear acknowledgment that third‑party extensions were permitted.

The switch is gone in both Edge Canary and the stable release, across all profiles—local and those signed in with a Microsoft account. Even so, installing extensions from the Chrome Web Store still works without restrictions: such add-ons appear in the installed list as “from other sources,” and the browser no longer shows prompts or warnings. The link to Google’s store remains on the Extensions page.

In effect, Edge now treats compatibility with Chrome extensions as a built-in capability rather than an opt-in setting. That streamlines setup for people who rely on add-ons, yet it also removes a small layer of control and explicit consent. Microsoft has not commented on the change or mentioned it in changelogs, making the quiet rollout noticeable—and many users may only spot the difference the next time they visit Settings.