What are Chrome extensions?
Chrome extensions are small programs which let you add features to your browser. They are usually free but can have premium versions.
How do I install them?
- In Chrome, click the three dots in the top right corner.
- Click More tools/Extensions. Here you will see any extensions you already have (can be switched on or off here).
- Click the three lines in the top left.
- At the bottom, click Open Chrome Web Store.
- Search for the extension you want.
- Click it, then Add to Chrome.
- If you create and log into a Chrome account, you can sync your extensions across your devices.
A word of warning
Some extensions are malicious. They can track what you are doing and even steal your data, so do your research before installing them. Read How to Make Sure a Chrome Extension is Safe Before Installing It.
Some useful extensions
Reading and research
Headings Map
headingsMap - generates an index of a webpage based on its headings (good for an overview).
Just Read
Just Read - removes distractions from online articles and can delete unwanted sections. Lets you change font and background colour.
Evernote Web Clipper
Evernote Web Clipper - saves bookmarks and websites to your Evernote folders. Watch the Evernote video.
Selection Reader
Selection Reader - reads aloud online text.
Mercury Reader
Mercury Reader - declutters the page when reading online. Lets you change font, font size and switch between light and dark themes.
Copyfish
Copyfish - copies, pastes and translates text from images and image pdfs into editable text.
Google Keep
Google Keep - similar to Evernote, but simpler.
Grammar and spelling
Grammarly
Grammarly - checks your spelling and grammar whenever you write on the web. Watch the Grammarly video.
Dictionary
Google Dictionary - defines words online.
Changing the format
Open Dyslexic
Open Dyslexic - changes the font to a more dyslexia-friendly one. Watch the Open Dyslexic video.
Visor
Visor - allows you to customise your background colour and keep your place when reading on.
Concentration and planning
Stay Focused
StayFocusd - lets you limit the time you spend on distracting sites (or block them altogether). Forest is similar, but with trees which die if you visit your blacklisted sites.
Strict Workflow - a timer which encourages you to work in 25-minute sessions with five-minute breaks. Can also blacklist distracting sites.
Noteboard Sticky Notes
Note Board - Sticky Notes - an online noticeboard with 'sticky notes' you can customise and rearrange. Good for planning.
Dayboard
Dayboard - gets you to write down your five most important tasks. These will appear whenever you open a new tab to remind you. Can also restrict access to distracting sites. Watch the Dayboard video.
Security
Avast
Avast - lets you check whether or not a website has been rated as safe.
HTTPS Everywhere
HTTPS Everywhere - protects you online by switching you to a secure 'https' site whenever possible.
Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger - stops websites tracking you against your wishes and blocks pop-up ads.
Other
OneTab
OneTab - if you have lots of tabs open, this will convert them into a list on one page, freeing up memory. Click them again to reopen or save and export.
Unpaywall
Unpaywall - finds legally-available free copies of journal articles.
Wayback Machine
Wayback Machine - if a webpage is not available, it will check to see if there is an archived version which you can open.
Extensity
Extensity - if you have too many extensions open, they will slow down your computer. This extension helps you easily manage all the others by enabling and disabling them.