Manifest file format
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Every extension requires a JSON-formatted file, named manifest.json, that provides important information. This file must be located in the extension's root directory.
Field summary
The following code shows the supported manifest keys. For additional usage information and code samples, visit the link of each key.
{
// Required
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "My Extension",
"version": "1.0.1",
// Recommended
"action": {...},
"default_locale": "en",
"description": "A plain text description",
"icons": {...},
// Optional
"author": "developer@example.com",
"automation": {...},
"background": {...},
"chrome_settings_overrides": {...},
"chrome_url_overrides": {...},
"commands": {...},
"content_scripts": [{...}],
"content_security_policy": {...},
"cross_origin_embedder_policy": {...},
"cross_origin_opener_policy": {...},
"declarative_net_request": {...},
"devtools_page": "devtools.html",
"event_rules": [{...}],
"export": {...},
"externally_connectable": {...},
"file_browser_handlers": [...],
"file_system_provider_capabilities": {...},
"homepage_url": "https://path/to/homepage",
"host_permissions": [...],
"import": [{...}],
"incognito": "spanning, split, or not_allowed",
"input_components": [{...}],
"key": "publicKey",
"minimum_chrome_version": "107",
"oauth2": {...},
"omnibox": {...},
"optional_host_permissions": ["..."],
"optional_permissions": ["..."],
"options_page": "options.html",
"options_ui": {...},
"permissions": ["..."],
"requirements": {...},
"sandbox": {...},
"short_name": "Short Name",
"storage": {...},
"tts_engine": {...},
"update_url": "https://path/to/updateInfo.xml",
"version_name": "1.0 beta",
"web_accessible_resources": [...]
}Manifest examples
The following are three examples of manifest files taken from the Getting Started tutorials:
{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "Reading Time",
"description": "Add the reading time to Chrome Extension documentation articles",
"version": "1.0",
"icons": {
"16": "images/icon-16.png",
"32": "images/icon-32.png",
"48": "images/icon-48.png",
"128": "images/icon-128.png"
},
"content_scripts": [
{
"js": [
"scripts/content.js"
],
"matches": [
"https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/*",
"https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore/*"
]
}
]
}{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "Focus Mode",
"description": "Enable reading mode on Chrome's official Extensions and Chrome Web Store documentation.",
"version": "1.0",
"icons": {
"16": "images/icon-16.png",
"32": "images/icon-32.png",
"48": "images/icon-48.png",
"128": "images/icon-128.png"
},
"background": {
"service_worker": "background.js"
},
"action": {
"default_icon": {
"16": "images/icon-16.png",
"32": "images/icon-32.png",
"48": "images/icon-48.png",
"128": "images/icon-128.png"
}
},
"permissions": ["scripting", "activeTab"],
"commands": {
"_execute_action": {
"suggested_key": {
"default": "Ctrl+U",
"mac": "Command+U"
}
}
}
}{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "Tab Manager for Chrome Extension Docs",
"description": "Organizes your Chrome extension and Chrome Web store documentation tabs.",
"version": "1.0",
"icons": {
"16": "images/icon-16.png",
"32": "images/icon-32.png",
"48": "images/icon-48.png",
"128": "images/icon-128.png"
},
"action": {
"default_popup": "popup.html"
},
"host_permissions": [
"https://developer.chrome.com/*"
],
"permissions": [
"tabGroups"
]
}Updated on • Improve article