Google’s new Chrome for Android test brings extension support to Chromebooks—is mobile next?

For many Android users, Google’s Chrome browser is the default choice: it's fast, preinstalled on most devices, and packed with useful features. Yet, one frequently requested feature—support for browser extensions—has remained absent.

Extensions, especially for ad-blocking and productivity, would give users more control over their mobile browsing experience. While Chrome does offer basic ad-control settings, users report that these settings don’t fully curb the influx of ads, prompting many to seek out other browsers with extension support.

Currently, Google is testing a new version of Chrome for Android, called “Desktop Android,” which includes support for extensions. However, this version is intended primarily for Chromebooks, as Google works to align Chrome for Android with Chrome OS capabilities. This shift also coincides with Google’s recent announcement that Chrome OS will begin incorporating Android’s tech stack, including the Android Linux kernel, creating a more unified experience across platforms.

Historically, Google has avoided enabling extensions in mobile Chrome, likely to limit ad-blocking use that could impact its advertising revenue on mobile devices, where it reaches a massive 3.9 billion Android users globally.

This decision has driven many Android users, to other browsers like Kiwi and Firefox, which offer extension support for ad-blocking and customization that Chrome lacks. The high demand for ad-blocking on Android is also evident in the popularity of dedicated ad-blocking apps, as users look for more effective ways to manage ads on mobile.

While the “Desktop Android” build isn’t yet optimized for mobile, some users have experimented with it on Android phones, although extension functionality isn’t fully operational. This suggests that Google’s foundational work on Chromebooks may eventually pave the way for extension support on mobile Chrome, a long-requested feature that could bring greater customization options to Android users.

For now, Chromebook users benefit most from this update, enjoying a more desktop-like Chrome experience with extensions. But as Chromebooks increasingly adopt Android technology, there’s hope this progress will eventually extend to mobile, fulfilling a long-standing demand for a richer, more flexible Chrome experience on Android.