How To Use Crx File In Chrome

If y'all use the highly pop Chrome browser, and so the odds are good that at some bespeak you lot've installed a Chrome extension to meliorate the functionality of your browser. Ever wonder how extensions operate? Well, today in this simple tutorial I'one thousand going to show yous how to install .crx files in Windows. But commencement, you lot're probably going to want a plain English explanation of just what we're going to be doing hither. Note – if you lot're non using Chrome, and so this tutorial isn't going to teach you anything you can utilise.

How To Install Chrome Extension (CRX) Files In Windows

What'due south a .crx File?

A .crx file is known as a Chrome Extension File. Basically, these are the additional extensions that run inside the Chrome web browser.

Some examples of .crx files are Angry Birds, Flixster, Beatlab…y'all get the idea. Normally, these files are installed directly through Chrome; by accessing the developer's website or the Chrome web store and clicking the 'install' key.

Why would I want to know how to do this?

There'due south a few reasons it might be useful to know how to open up and install .crx files manually. For one, not every extension out in that location will allow an installation straight through Chrome. At some betoken, you may be required to download and install an extension on your own, through culling means. Further, you might occasionally want to scan an extension for viruses and malware. That's something you tin can't exactly practise if y'all install it right off the bat; so it might behoove you to download it first. And if you download it beginning, you'll demand to know how to install it once you're sure it won't make your computer implode.

Anyway, here's what you're going to have to do.

1. Make Sure Y'all Tin View Hidden Files and Folders

You lot'll need to run into the .crx file- both to scan it and to install information technology. The process for setting hidden files and folders is going to vary based on your operating organization.

For Windows 7 and Windows Vista, you tin get to My Computer-> Control Panel-> Appearance and Personalization->Folder Options->View, and then scroll down until you meet "testify subconscious files and folders." Click the button, click apply, and you're done.

For Windows x, just click in the search bar and type "hidden files" and the same dialog will pop right up.

For XP, the process is pretty much the same, except instead of accessing Advent and Personalization (the selection won't exist) you lot'll merely access Folder Options right abroad upon opening the command panel. Once you've made sure you lot can view the hidden stuff, we can motility to the next step.

2. Locate and access the .crx file.

If you downloaded information technology using Chrome, it should exist in your Chrome downloads bar. Otherwise, information technology'll be in whatever folder you saved it to – probably the Downloads folder.

three. Click "Select A Program From A List Of Installed Programs" On The Prompt

Since Windows is tacitly unfamiliar with the file format, y'all'll get a popup screen like to the one pictured in a higher place. Yous'll demand to assist Windows out a bit- instruct it on what to do should yous open a file like this in the future.Click on "Select the program from a list of installed programs" and so click "okay."

4. Locate Chrome

This 1 could potentially get a bit complicated, as Chrome may or may not be in your list of installed programs already. If it is, you can move on to pace five. Otherwise, you're going to need to practise a scrap of digging in club to locate Chrome in its installation folder. Chances are, the path is going to be something like C:UsersYour User NameAppdataLocalGoogleChromeChrome.exe if you're on Vista or 7, and C:Documents and SettingsYour User NameLocal SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeApplication

Don't worry, this isn't equally complicated equally information technology sounds- yous can either locate and access each folder individually, or simply type the provided path into your address bar (replacing "Your User Proper noun" with your bodily Windows Login proper noun. If you lot're the simply business relationship on the estimator, there's a chance the proper noun might also but be "Admin.")

Anyway, once you've figured out where Chrome'south situated, nosotros tin move on to step 5.

v. Ready Chrome As The Default For .crx Files

Select Chrome from the list of installed programs, check the "always use this program to open this type of file" box, and so click "ok."

six. Select "Continue" When You Come across The Installation Prompt

Either Chrome volition launch, or this box will just popular upwardly at the bottom of the screen. Either way, click 'continue' to movement to the next step.

7. Install The Extension

Next, Chrome will pop up with a brief description of the extension, and what data it'll demand to access. Click "install" one time you're satisfied yous won't sod up your organisation by doing so.

eight. That's it! You're done!

Next time yous admission a .crx file from inside Windows Explorer, Chrome will automatically open and enquire if y'all want to install the file. That wasn't so bad, was it?