Error messages · Chrome extension

'browser_action' requires manifest version of 2 or lower

What you see

'browser_action' requires manifest version of 2 or lower.

Why it happens

The manifest says version 3 but still uses keys that only exist in version 2. Chrome prints the same message for browser_action, page_action, background.scripts, background.page and background.persistent. ChatGPT often changes the version number and leaves the rest as it was.

The fix

• rightsocket does this browser_action and page_action become "action", and the chrome.browserAction and chrome.pageAction calls become chrome.action.
• rightsocket does this background.scripts or background.page becomes one service worker; with several scripts it writes a small loader that imports them. background.persistent is removed.

What changed, and when

• 24 July 2025, Chrome: Chrome 138: Manifest V2 extensions disabled for all users on all channels, with no option to turn them back on. Chrome 139 then removed the enterprise policy that kept them working.

Sources

• Chromium source: manifest keys limited to version 2 (_manifest_features.json)
• Chrome for Developers: Update your code (Manifest V3 API changes)

Other chrome extension errors

• Manifest version 2 is deprecated
• Service worker registration failed. Status code: 15
• Manifest is not valid JSON
• Could not load icon specified in the manifest
• Refused to execute inline script (Content Security Policy)
• chrome.browserAction is undefined (Manifest V3)
• 'webRequestBlocking' requires manifest version of 2 or lower
• Permission is unknown or URL pattern is malformed
• Invalid value for 'web_accessible_resources[0]'
• Invalid value for 'content_security_policy'
• Insecure CSP value in directive 'script-src'