uBlock Origin ad blocker for Microsoft Edge updated with more improvements

By John Callaham
published

The unofficial Microsoft Edge port of the uBlock ad blocker has received several updates since it first launched in July, with many new improvements and changes.

Just a reminder: uBlock Origin is a lightweight ad blocker that consumes fewer system resources compared to other extensions like Adblock Plus. The current 1.9.5rc0-edge version of the Microsoft Edge uBlock Origin extension, developed by Nik Rolls, is now available for download as a .zip file. Here's what's been improved and changed since the initial release:

  • Fix for the 1MB storage limit in Edge; almost all third party sources should be working now.
  • Fixed: websocket blocked when easylist match
  • When uBO encounters the filter option other, it will internally add the filter option websocket to the filter. This is to keep compatibility with filter lists which are meant to be compatible with ABP, which categorizes websocket requests as other
  • Empty ad boxes via adchoices showing up on msn.com
  • Filter option other should not trigger strict blocking

Here's how you sideload the extension on Edge:

  1. Download the .zip file and extract it to a folder.
  2. Enter about:flags in Edge's address bar, and toggle Enable extension developer features.
  3. From the Extensions menu, click on the Load extension button and select the folder where you extracted the .zip file.

Edge will disable sideloaded extensions when you exit the browser, so you'll have to re-enable uBlock Origin manually each time you open the browser again. The uBlock Origin extension is still labeled as a "pre-release" version, so be aware you will likely see some bugs pop up.

Download from GitHub

John Callaham
John Callaham
15 Comments
  • Great! Greetings from Portugal
  • has Microsoft announced their intentions for when they will unlock extension submissions?
  • Nothing as of yet. I've applied for early access but haven't heard back yet.
  • Thanks Nik. Great work btw.
  • Wonder if Windows Central put some effort into it asking for that. 
  • I miss PrivacyChoice TPL man...
  • I will definitely give this a try. Thanks. 
  • "Edge will disable sideloaded extensions when you exit the browser, so you'll have to re-enable uBlock Origin manually each time you open the browser again." This is quite annoying. I wish there was a way to disable it.
  • Not yet. I guess...
  • Good
  • When is available in the Windows Store I might download it.
  • I'm not a side loading type of guy, so I'll have to wait until uBlock Origin hits the Store. Definately will give it a try then.
  • Question - sometimes to you have to reload those extensions for whatever reasons. Where in the system does the edge store the default store downloads for those? just in the local app folder or somewhere in the edge folder? And can you get it to the store some day? Booting edge up asking for that stupid "enable extension" is a little annoying. Well would love it on my xbox and mobile though.. damn you microsoft! 
  • Having to re-enable side-loaded extesnsions every time you start the browser makes Edge even less appealing compared to the competition.
  • "you'll have to re-enable uBlock Origin manually each time you open the browser again" That's a deal-breaker to me.