A browser extension is a type of software that is added to a browser to extend its capabilities. Sticky Notes, for example, is a Google Chrome browser extension that makes it easy to takes notes inside Chrome as you read articles or watch videos. There are also extensions that capture and edit screenshots in your browser, check your spelling, display the lyrics for YouTube music videos, and much more.

Chrome WebStore directly installs (dot)crx extensions without letting you first download them on your computer. This is a convenient way, saving you extra exercise of separate plugin installation. How to Install Older version of Chrome Extensions. April 1, 2017. So I’ve decided this guide into these segments to help you downgrade a chrome extension of your choice. Rename.zip with.crx as it’s chrome supported file type and sites should not host.crx (installable) files on their servers. If the extension is a “.crx” file, this is a format for Chrome extensions which contains all of its data – no need to extract anything. Give the extension files a permanent home. Chrome will need continual access to these files for the extension to work, so the file path cannot change.

Browser extensions are only available for desktop versions of Chrome. Extensions do not work with the Chrome mobile apps.

How to Download Extensions in the Chrome Web Store

Google Chrome extensions can be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store and from unofficial sites that offer CRX files. Google Chrome also uses web apps, but these apps are not the same as extensions.

How to Install Official Chrome Extensions

To download Google Chrome extensions from the official location of approved extensions:

1. Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for the extension you want to install.

2. Select the extension to open its Details page for more information.

3. You may be prompted to sign in to your Google account if you're not logged in.

4. The button changes to Checking and then Added to Chrome when the installation is complete.

How to Download Chrome Extensions Without Installing Them

If you want to download a CRX file from the Chrome Web Store without installing it to Chrome automatically, do the following:

1. In the Chrome Web Store, go to the page for the extension you want.

2. In the address bar, copy the extension's URL.

3. Open the Chrome Extension Downloader in your browser by visiting https://chrome-extension-downloader.com/.

4. Paste the URL into the text box and select Download extension.

5. If prompted, select Keep when Chrome attempts to download the CRX file.

6. You'll find the CRX file in your Downloads folder. Open it when you want to begin installation process.

A file with the CRX file extension is a Chrome Extension file used to extend the functionality of the Google Chrome web browser through little programs that add additional features to the default browsing experience.

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Most CRX files are downloaded through the Chrome Web Store, but since you can make your own Chrome extensions and install them offline, others may originate elsewhere or be loaded locally.

Some CRX files might instead be Links Games Course files or program files used by Autodesk's DWG TrueView program.

How to Open a CRX File

CRX files that are extension files are used by the Google Chrome web browser. Usually, CRX files are downloaded through Google's website and, therefore, installed to Chrome automatically and stored here by default:

However, this won't be the case for CRX files that you download outside of the Chrome Web Store.

You can install third-party, unofficial CRX files by accessing the chrome://extensions/ address in the URL bar in Chrome and enabling the Developer mode option at the top. Then, just drag and drop the CRX file into the Extensions window and confirm any prompts.

Learn how to add Chrome extensions to your browser if you need more help.

The Opera web browser can use CRX files, too, with the extension called Install Chrome Extension. The Vivaldi browser natively supports CRX based extensions as well.

Since a CRX file is actually just a renamed ZIP file, any archive/compression program, like PeaZip or 7-Zip (both free), should be able to open the file for expansion. However, doing this will only let you see the data that makes up the extension, not actually run the program.

Autodesk DWG TrueView uses CRX files, too, but the purpose for these files is unclear. The program most likely can not open CRX files, so they're probably just used by certain components of the software automatically and aren't intended to be opened manually.

If you find that an application on your PC does try to open the CRX file but it's the wrong application or if you would rather have another installed program open CRX files, see our How to Change File Associations in Windows guide for making that change in Windows.

How to Convert a CRX File

XPI (Firefox), EXE (Internet Explorer), and SAFARIEXTZ (Safari) files are similar to CRX files in that they're extension files used in those respective browsers. These formats, however, no matter their same intent (to extend functionality), can't be easily converted to or from each other's different formats.

However, one exception is that Chrome's CRX files can be installed in the Opera browser with the Download Chrome Extension mentioned earlier. This means you can install CRX files from the Chrome Web Store from right within the Opera browser.

You can also convert Opera extensions to Chrome extensions by renaming Opera's .NEX file to Chrome's .CRX file. This new CRX file must be installed to Chrome manually using the drag and drop technique explained above.

Keep in mind that CRX files are really just ZIP files, so you can actually rename the file to a .ZIP file to open it with a file zip/unzip program.

If you're looking to convert your CRX file to EXE for some kind of automatic install, your best bet is to try compiling it with an installer like Inno Setup.

Still Can't Open the File?

Be careful to read the file extension correctly. Some file formats append a suffix to the end of the file that looks a lot like it reads '.CRX' when it's really a letter or two off.

For example, CRX files are spelled very much like CXR files but are not the same format. CXR files are FMAT Plate Results files used with the FMAT 8100 HTS System. Another example can be seen with CXX files that are C++ Source Code files used with Microsoft Visual Studio.

The point here is to check the file extension and then research accordingly, looking for any information you can on the format the file is in, which will help you find the right program that can open it.