This tutorial will use officially created Google Windows security templates and official Windows tools. These tools were designed for network deployments of Windows. Other than the complexity of the workaround, the process is not a hack or a patch or anything ultra-scary.
These instructions were designed using Windows 10. Depending on your version of Windows, your experience may differ slightly. We also have a macOS version of this tutorial.
If you need help with any of the following concepts, please consult a nerdy friend or your favorite search engine:
- Creating new folders
- Downloading and unzipping files
- Finding Windows applications not located in the Start menu
- Giving Windows permission to write in the C:\Windows\ directory
- Running Windows applications with the Administrator privilege
- Running Windows Task Manager
The steps
- Download and unzip the Chrome Policy Templates. It was found here.
- Quit ALL running versions of Chrome. Make sure to look in the Windows System Tray for any lingering processes. You may need to kill them from the Task Manager.
- Open the "policy_templates\windows\admx\" folder that you unzipped.
- Copy the "chrome.admx" file from this directory into your Windows PolicyDefinitions folder, ie: C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\.
- Open the "policy_templates\windows\admx\[your language code here]\" folder that you unzipped. For example: "policy_templates\windows\admx\en-US\"
- Copy the "chrome.adml" file from this directory into your Windows PolicyDefinitions [your language code here] folder, ie: C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US\.
- Open the Windows "Group Policy Editor" (gpedit.msc) as Administrator.
- In the tree on the left, go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Google Chrome > Extensions.
- Open Configure extension installation whitelist.
- Select the Enabled radio button, then select the Show... button.
- Create a new entry for Options: ojmgeoecaejeajjegjmijbcifhkbmgjd. Select all the OK and Save buttons necessary to close all the Group Policy Editor windows.
- You can now start your version(s) of Chrome and install Options (Full Version). A reboot probably couldn’t hurt.