Can't find Developer mode in Chrome? The switch lives on the Extensions page, and you can reach it directly from the address bar. Here’s how to enable it on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS, plus what to do about a blocked toggle or a user-script permission request.
Enable Developer mode from the address bar
This enables Developer mode for Chrome extensions.
Type chrome://extensions in Chrome’s address bar.
Press Enter to open the Extensions page.
Turn on Developer mode at the top right.
These routes all open the same browser-level control for extensions. On a managed desktop installation, administrator policy determines whether you can enable it.
Other ways to reach the same toggle
Prefer using menus? Select More, the three-dot button, then Extensions > Manage extensions. Turn on Developer mode on the page that opens.
If your toolbar has the Extensions puzzle-piece button, select it and choose Manage extensions at the bottom. Turn on Developer mode. Some platform menus use the label Manage Extensions.
You can also reach the page through Chrome’s settings. Open More, then Settings.
Select Extensions in the sidebar to open chrome://extensions. This route applies when the Extensions sidebar link is available.
If you already have an installed extension with a toolbar icon, right-click its icon to open its context menu.
Select Manage extension to reach the Extensions page. Some menus use Manage Extension. This route requires an extension that exposes the standard context menu.
On macOS, activate a regular Chrome browser window.
Select Window, then Extensions in the macOS menu bar. This menu entry is excluded from standalone web-app windows.
Whichever available route you use, turn on Developer mode on the Extensions page.
The older More Tools > Extensions route belongs to previous menu layouts. In current Chrome, use More > Extensions > Manage extensions.
Load a local extension after enabling it
With Developer mode on, select Load unpacked on the Extensions page.
Select the directory containing your extension.
Tip: You do not need to restart Chrome for this procedure.
If an extension asks you to allow user scripts
Older user-script instructions point to Developer mode because Chrome 120–137 required it before an extension could use the User Scripts API.
Chrome 138 and later use a separate per-extension Allow User Scripts toggle for extensions that already request the userScripts permission.
Open chrome://extensions.
Select Details on the relevant extension.
Enable Allow User Scripts.
This enables the User Scripts API for an extension that already has the required permission. It does not turn on Developer mode.
When a work or school browser blocks the toggle
In managed Chrome, your organization controls whether extension Developer mode is allowed. A different menu route still leads to the same toggle.
Ask your administrator to allow extension Developer mode. That permission makes the toggle available but does not switch it on for you.
After the restriction is lifted, open chrome://extensions.
Turn on Developer mode.
If the toggle remains blocked, ask your administrator to review the Extensions page developer mode policy. An explicit setting there takes precedence over Developer tools availability.
In the Google Admin console, the administrator can select Allow use of developer tools on extensions page under Extensions page developer mode.
The administrator must select Save to save that policy choice. Once the policy applies, you still need to enable the browser’s Developer mode toggle yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable extension Developer mode on an Android phone, iPhone, or iPad?
Google provides no general procedure for enabling extension Developer mode locally in Chrome on these devices. Its phone instructions describe Add to Desktop, which sends the extension to desktop Chrome.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for extension Developer mode?
Use the address-bar shortcut: press Ctrl+L on Windows or Linux, or Command+L on macOS. Type chrome://extensions. Press Enter or Return. Then enable Developer mode. This is address-bar navigation, not a dedicated Developer mode shortcut. On Windows and Linux, F12 opens Developer Tools; on macOS, use Command+Option+I. Neither enables extension Developer mode.
Do I need to enable Chromebook Developer Mode first?
No. Chromebook boot-time Developer Mode is a separate feature involving a device wipe. Chrome’s extension Developer mode toggle does not require it.
Do I need to download anything to enable Developer mode?
No. Once Chrome is installed, enabling extension Developer mode requires no additional download.