# Basic JSON Formatter

> Adds a page action to pretty-print JSON. Unlike similar extensions, this simply pretty-prints it. It doesn't add any kind of viewer, colors, or collapsing. If you want this to work as expected, disable devtools.jsonview.enabled in about:config.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/basic-json-formatter](https://chrome-stats.com/d/basic-json-formatter)

## Overview

- **ID:** `basic-json-formatter`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Dr. McKay
- **Category:** web-development,appearance
- **Daily users:** 2,039
- **Weekly downloads:** 3
- **Rating:** 4.64 / 5 (14 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.1.0
- **Last updated:** 2019-05-14
- **First published:** 2017-08-22
- **Size:** 11 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-15
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/basic-json-formatter/)

## Description

**Basic JSON Formatter** is a lightweight Chrome extension that adds a simple button to the address bar, allowing users to pretty-print JSON content with ease. Unlike other JSON viewers, this extension focuses solely on formatting JSON data without adding colors, collapsible sections, or advanced viewing options. This minimal approach ensures a clutter-free experience for users who need to quickly and clearly view JSON responses.

The extension activates only when the current page's content type is `application/json` or contains valid JSON. For optimal functionality, users should disable `devtools.jsonview.enabled` in `about:config` to prevent conflicts with Chrome's native JSON viewer. Basic JSON Formatter is perfect for developers and users who prefer a straightforward and clean JSON display without distractions.

## Rankings

- #2,151 — Overall
- #232 — Web Development
- #348 — Appearance
- #4 — json
- #14 — format
- #80 — form

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `storage`
- `webRequest`
- `<all_urls>`

### Content script matches

- `*`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Reviewers consistently praise Basic JSON Formatter for its simplicity, ease of use, and speed. Multiple users report it handles large files reliably and requires no extra setup. No issues were repeatedly reported across the reviews.

### Pros

- Simple and user-friendly — easy to use and effective
- Fast and reliable, handles large JSON files well
- Works out-of-the-box with no extra configuration

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/basic-json-formatter)