Cant re-install Chrome extension through registry after uninstall in manually

Question

If I install and then uninstall our extension through the registry everything works fine. But if I install it through the registry and then uninstall it through the browser extensions page the browser remembers it and i can't reinstall it through the registry even if I remove it and then try to reinstall it through the registry. The only way I can have the extension reinstalled is to add it manually to the extensions page. But, I don't want my users to have to do it manually. Is there a way to force install it again?

Thanks, Ben

Nicoline

Is there a reason for installing it through registry? – Cuttlebone

Hi Ben, I have exactly the same problem. I guess you've already read this code.google.com/chrome/extensions/external_extensions.html . The reason why you can't reinstall from the registry when user manually uninstall your extension is because chrome puts a 'blacklist' flag on your extension. The only way to turn this flag off, is that user manually install/uninstall the extension. BUT if your registry is still there, as soon as the 'blacklist' flag is off, it will auto-install your extension. – Voussoir

I'm trying to be able to install again even if a 'blacklist' flag is ON (because user manually uninstalled the 'external-extension'). I discussed my problem there #5888444 Hope we can help each other. Good luck! – Voussoir

This is what they say on the google FAQ If the user uninstalls the extension through the UI, it will no longer be installed or updated on each startup. In other words, the external extension is blacklisted. – Voussoir

I still didn't find a solution to the problem. I think we will go as a known issue as this is really good feature of chrome. (that we don't like but as end users we can appreciate ). – Nicoline

Answer 1

I found a solution to the problem. But, I decided not to use it because I decided it is a good idea not to force installation after the user removed the extension. Just thought that you will want to know the solution: Turn off your Google Chrome browser go to the 'Preferences' file under: c:\users\\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default there find your extension under "{Guid}" then delete everything from "{guid}" (included) to the close '}' and then save and start your browser. this hack will force chrome to check again for extensions and your extension will be on again.

Nicoline

It works ! But the problem is that you have to ask user to close (or do it with a script) the browser. I guess there is no way around since chrome will overwrite the preferences files on browser close with the on saved when it opened. – Voussoir

What's the solution for this in MacOS? – Barragan

Answer 2

I respect the Chrome policy to make the extension blacklisted in this case until the user manually adds it back through Chrome Extensions page UI. However there is another tweak available:

If you are using windows, open the 'Preferences' file in: "C:\users\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default".

This is a JSON file. Look for your extension id (Guid) key with object value section. Changing the value of 'state' property from 2 to 1 in your extension Guid values section will force chrome to bring back your extension once you start chrome browser.

Note: The chrome browser must be closed completely before modifying this file.

Fiord