Google Chrome Extension Management (Windows)
Description
Chrome extensions can be managed with FileWave on multiple device types.
If Chrome is already managed in Google Admin Console, keep that management there unless you have a reason to use FileWave. FileWave can also deploy Chrome extension policy to macOS and Windows devices.
Ingredients
- Chrome installation
- Google Translate Chrome extension ID from the Chrome Web Store, or another target extension ID
Windows
Use a Fileset with a PowerShell activation script to force-install a managed Chrome extension and optionally block other extensions. This example uses the Google Translate extension ID, aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb. Replace it with another target extension ID if needed, associate the Fileset to test devices, test it, then deploy it to production devices.
The script creates the required Chrome policy registry settings.
Script contents:
if ( -Not (Test-Path -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\*") ) {
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\" -Name "*" -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\*\' -Name "installation_mode" -Value "blocked"
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\" -Name "aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb" -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb\" -Name "comment" -Value "Google Translate"
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb\" -Name "installation_mode" -Value "force_installed"
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings\aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb\" -Name "update_url" -Value "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
}
If another policy already manages Chrome extensions, this example's if block can skip the Google Translate extension settings. Adjust the script conditions before deployment if extension policy already exists.
Notes
This example also creates a wildcard ExtensionSettings key that blocks all other Chrome extensions. Remove or change that key if you only want to force-install Google Translate without blocking others.
Restart Chrome before testing. Chrome does not apply these policy settings to an already-running browser session.