I have created a small google chrome extension (just a simple html popup)
that itself is a part of desktop app. Now i want to give users ability to install
this extension, but i don't want to publish it to chrome store, as it is not standalone app but only small plugin, that will not work without desktop app installed.
I read here https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/hosting
that i can create .crx file and host in on my own server.
But in same time this page said: "Warning: As of Chrome 33, Windows users can only download extensions hosted in the Chrome Web store, except for installs via enterprise policy or developer mode "
So i am confusing, am i able to create .crx file, host it on my server, and allow windows users install it on their browsers?
Thanks.
Yes with the limitations stated in "Warning: As of Chrome 33, Windows users can only download extensions hosted in the Chrome Web store, except for installs via enterprise policy or developer mode "
Which means that the user cannot download it from any private sever and install it. It has to be installed trough the company GPO and the system need to be joined to an Active Directory domain (A/D).You can download an ADM or ADMX from
https://enterprise.google.com/chrome/chrome-browser
Related
I made a chrome extension and want its installation to be done as a part of software installation setup using windows registry. It installs the extension for chrome, but in disabled state. Extension is listed in the list of installed extension in chrome://extensions. How can I enable the extension using code(without end-user intervention). I don't want my user to enable it manually.
You can't directly enable chrome extension because of chrome security police(After Chrome 25).
Extensions installed by third party programs using external extension deployment options will be disabled by default. When a third party program installs an extension, the Chrome menu will be badged, and users can click through the Chrome menu to see a dialog containing an option to enable the extension or to remove it from their computer.
In addition, all extensions previously installed using external deployment options will be automatically disabled. Chrome will show a one-time prompt to allow the re-enabling of any of the extensions.
But you can use inline installation but you need to upload your extension in Chrome Web Store and ask to user directly like this.
For More information check below links :
No more silent extension installs
Protecting Windows users from malicious extensions
I am currently developing a kiosk application and have been trying to use the "Manage kiosk applications..." option in the Chrome://extensions page when developer mode is on.
Whenever I choose an application in the manage kiosk applications popup it just saying invalid application. I've tried local IDs, Chrome Web Store IDs and still nothing works.
In the manifest I've allowed kiosk mode and have another version with kiosk only enabled but that still doesn't work.
This is not a hosted app, all the assets are local and the Chromebook is not managed.
I've tried other solutions such as logging out and pressing ctrl+alt+k at login. I've wiped the chromebook and restarted fresh.
Any help would be appreciated.
If you're not hosting the app in the Chrome Web Store, Managing Kiosk Applications should be done by entering the app ID and the URL of the third-party web server in the Specify a Custom App dialog and click Add.
You may check Create a Chrome Kiosk App to know more details on how to create, publish and add the app as kiosk app.
Kiosk apps can only be installed from the "Manage kiosk applications..." menu if they are published in the Chrome Web Store as either "Public" or "Unlisted". If the app is published as "Private" it will fail to load.
As I know you can install an extension outside the market without expected limitations, for example, autoupdate. You need to be in develop mode.
You can read this thread to understand the problem:
Install chrome extension as external extensions
The think is, anyone know another way to install an extension in your chrome (internal use in a company o class). I like to think that I can sign the extension with a shared certificate or something like that. And send the extension to the users.
Google no longer allows it.
Protecting Chrome users from malicious extensions
Continuing to protect Chrome users from malicious extensions
There are 4 types of extension install still available:
Direct installation from Webstore or inline install from a website, but hosted on Web Store.
Indirect installation through registry manipulation (e.g. companion extension for a native app), but it still must be hosted in the Webstore.
Local development installs; will nag on every Chrome restart and no autoupdate mechanism.
For Enterprise only, policy-based installs. Note that on Windows that requires computers joined to a domain. In this case there are no restrictions on where the extension is hosted.
Our district is starting to use Chrome as a secondary browser. We currently customize a users experience with chrome via the GPO ADM files. However one thing we would like to do is have pre-installed webapps in the Chrome app page. These are simple apps that link to intranet applications and utilities that we use throughout the district.
I know you can force install apps from the chrome web store via the GPO ADM settings, but I don't know if I can apply this process to files hosted in our network.
According to Google's docs it doesn't have to be on the store, but it does have to be hosted somewhere accessible to the box:
Pre-installing via group policy
Using policy to deploy an extension or Chrome web app is the easiest
and most scalable method. This is the recommended method for pushing
extensions,as it does not require the CRX file to be on the machine. It must simply be available at a given URL.
To use this method, set the policy to "force install" the extension,
as described here.
How do I go about creating and distributing a custom Chromium web browser? It should be identical to the Google version except that some extensions are pre-installed. It should still get updates off the chrome stable channel.
If you are a system administrator and want to do some custom Chrome[ium] deployments for all employees you should read this document.
There is a guide for pre-installing extensions and web apps as well.
Chrome doesn't have provisions to do this.
Extensions are installed per-user in their User Data directory.
If you have the liberty to do so, you could create a fresh user directory, install the desired extensions, then package up and ship that user directory as the default one.