This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable extension developer mode in Microsoft Edge for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Extensions, or add-ons, are simple tools that customize your browser experience and offer you more control in Microsoft Edge.
Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge allows developers to load and test extensions without publishing them to the Edge Add-ons store. It enables features like loading unpacked extensions, debugging, and updating extensions during development.
Microsoft strongly recommends turning off developer mode in Microsoft Edge when not needed for the following reasons:
- Extensions not verified or certified by Microsoft can be side loaded through developer mode and hence can have serious security and privacy implications
- Developer mode is meant for developers to test their extensions before submitting them to Microsoft and could be exploited by bad actors to load unsafe, unverified extensions if not used with caution.
Sideload an extension to install and test it locally - Microsoft Edge Developer documentation
Test an extension locally by sideloading it, so that it's locally installed in your instance of Microsoft Edge.
learn.microsoft.com
Developer mode extension notification - Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com
Microsoft Edge extensions documentation - Microsoft Edge Developer documentation
Develop an extension (add-on) for Microsoft Edge.
learn.microsoft.com
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Extension Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Extension Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Perform either action below: (see screenshot below)
- Click/tap on the Extensions button on the toolbar.
- Click/tap on the Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 dots button, and click/tap on Extensions.
3 Click/tap on Manage extensions. (see screenshot below)
4 Turn on or off (default) Developer mode for what you want in the left pane. (see screenshots below)
Enable or Disable Extension Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option uses the ExtensionDeveloperModeSettings policy for Microsoft Edge.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want.
2 Disable Extension Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_extension_developer_mode_in_Edge_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ExtensionDeveloperModeSettings"=dword:000000013 Enable Extension Developer Mode in Microsoft Edge
This is the default setting to allow using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_extension_developer_mode_in_Edge.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ExtensionDeveloperModeSettings"=-4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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