Many users of modern browsers have repeatedly had to deal with the so-called plug-ins (add-ons), which are integrated into the corresponding web browser to expand the capabilities of working on the Internet. Many browsers can access their settings through the about: plugins command, which is entered in the address bar. How to make settings or fix problems that arise in the work of a particular add-on will now be considered.
About: plugins. Settings Access Options
For the most part, this command is used in "chrome-like" browsers, that is, in programs created on the basis of Google Chrome. A vivid example is the use of the about: plugins command for the Yandex browser, Chromium application, etc.
However, the extension settings are also accessed in the same way in the popular Mozilla Firefox browser . As for the "Chrome" itself, here in the address bar two types of commands can be entered, depending on the version of the program.
So, in different versions the about: plugins or chrome: // plugins commands can be used. The second command is used in newer versions. In any case, the user enters a menu where all installed extensions (active and inactive) are shown.
About: plugins. Plugins
All the modules presented in the list can be conditionally divided into two large groups: those built into the installed version of the browser and downloaded by the user.
An example of built-in extensions in the same Google Chrome web browser can be Adobe Plash Player and PDF Viewer, which are present in the program initially and are in an activated state.
In some browsers, you can find a plugin called AdBlock or something else like that. Such extensions allow you to block pop-up menus, pop-ups, ads, banners, and sometimes even dubious content. In this regard, the Chinese browser 360 Safety Browser was the most distinguished, since the blocking module in the settings is activated by default. This creates a lot of problems, the solution of which will be proposed below.
Disabling unnecessary or idle add-ons
So, to access the list of extensions we use the about: plugins command (Yandex Browser or Chrome, it doesn't matter). In this case, we are interested in the issue of deactivating plugins.
After entering the about: plugins command, you can disable the plugin in two ways. In some browsers, in front of the line with the name and description of the plugin, there is a special box in which a check mark is selected to activate it. There is nothing easier than simply removing it and restarting the program so that the changes take effect.
Other applications use a blue hyperlink to disable. As a rule, it is called “Disable”. To enable it again, the hyperlink changes to “Enable”.
Key Health Issues
With access options to the list of extensions and questions of their activation (deactivation), everything is clear. Here, no one should have problems. But there are situations when the plug-in seems to be included, but its correct operation remains in doubt (it may not work at all). Often, the browser itself starts to display messages that some add-on is not supported, has an outdated version, etc. Solving such problems can be very simple.
Plugin and Browser Updates
Let's start with the situation when the extension of a specific browser or its version is not supported. The easiest solution is to find a plugin for this particular browser and its modifications.
On the other hand, often the problem can be solved by updating the extension itself. In most cases, this applies to Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Shockwave Player. Usually, with an independent installation or as a built-in extension in a browser, they integrate a special update program into the system, which works in the background and, if there is a constant Internet connection, monitors the appearance of new updates.
In the simplest case, you need to accept the update offer, download the latest version from the official resource, and then install it using the installation file and run as administrator. Before installing, you need to close all browsers. Plugins of this type are integrated into all Internet browsers installed in the system, regardless of their developer.
As for the other extensions, after entering the access to the about: plugins list command, opposite the plugins for which there are updates, buttons or hyperlinks will be shown, clicking on which will update them automatically.
Finally, if the extension cannot function correctly for some reason, the problem may lie in the fact that the outdated version has a web browser, which is why installing a plug-in designed for a more recent modification does not lead to the desired result. In this case, you can do two things: either find the update item in the program’s settings menu, or simply download the installation distribution kit of the latest version, and then install it, or set the automatic update option.
Please note: for some browsers, it is not recommended to install a new modification on top of the old one, since there may be a conflict between them, and the system will begin to rush around in search of a solution to the preferences for one of them. Therefore, before installing, you must first uninstall the old version from at least the standard section of programs and components (add or remove programs), or use third-party utilities.
For these purposes, the most powerful uninstaller iOBit Uninstaller is best suited, which removes not only the main application files, but also the registry keys. Not to mention the residual components.
Another situation with the inoperability of plugins can only be due to the fact that a certain resource simply does not support its functioning. But this is a purely technical issue, depending solely on the site owner.
Webpage Content Blocking Issues
We should also dwell on the AdBlock module, which in some browsers is built-in and activated by default. The extension is undoubtedly useful, but its false positives often cause complaints.
Of course, when you go to the list of extensions using the about: plugins command, you can completely disable it. But this will only mean that the plugin will not block a single page, which will invariably lead to discomfort from intrusive advertising and the appearance of a huge number of self-opening windows.
To avoid this situation, you need to go to the extension settings. It has two types of disabled data: blocking pop-up (pop-up) windows and disabling questionable page elements. It is better to activate only the first parameter.
In addition, just below the slide on / off sliders, there is a special button Exception websites, which is responsible for accessing the list of exclusions according to the type available in antivirus programs. Here you just need to register the full page addresses using the http: // www prefix, which are not subject to blocking, and save the changes.
Instead of an afterword
As you can see, regardless of the browser, you can configure plug-ins at your discretion without any problems. As for eliminating possible problems, you should first find out the root cause of the failure. Most often (and this is confirmed by many users), problems are fixed by updating the software, without involving any system settings or parameters of web browsers. The same option applies to the problem of compatibility of extensions with installed browsers.