Browser Extension Permissions Usage

This page shows how often each browser extension permission is requested across major extension stores, helping you understand usage patterns and potential risks at a glance.

  • What the table shows: it lists every extension permission along with the number of extensions that use each permission in every supported browser.
  • How the data is collected: Chrome-Stats collects data daily from the Chrome Web Store, Edge add-ons and Firefox add-ons, then aggregates those datasets to calculate how widely each permission is used and to evaluate the associated risk level on a day-by-day basis.
  • How you can use it: these statistics help you quickly spot which powerful permissions are commonly requested, compare patterns across browsers, and decide whether an extension's requested access matches your expectations.

Permissions List

Permission Risk impact Chrome Edge Firefox
storage
Allows the extension to store and retrieve its own data on your computer.
Very low risk impact202,23620,14739,967
activeTab
Grants temporary access to the currently active tab when the user interacts with the extension. This is a safer permission as it only works for the tab you are on and only when you use the extension.
Low risk impact105,05110,19824,274
tabs
Allows the extension to create, query, and modify your browser tabs. For example, a tab manager extension would need this.
Moderate risk impact81,8559,89123,521
scripting
Allows the extension to execute scripts and insert CSS into web pages. This is a very powerful permission that allows the extension to modify the content and behavior of websites you visit.
Very high risk impact76,6427,8367,570
alarms
Allows the extension to schedule tasks to run at a specific time or periodically. For example, a to-do list extension could use this to show you a reminder.
Very low risk impact34,7323,4905,098
contextMenus
Allows the extension to add new options to the right-click context menu. For example, an extension could add a "Search for this image on..." option.
Very low risk impact34,3385,1328,394
notifications
Allows the extension to show desktop notifications. For example, a chat application could notify you of new messages.
Low risk impact28,3112,8626,269
sidePanel
Allows the extension to display its own user interface in the browser's side panel.
Very low risk impact23,9461,998133
downloads
Allows the extension to manage your downloads. It can start, monitor, cancel, and search for downloaded files.
Moderate risk impact17,0082,1903,578
identity
Allows the extension to get an OAuth2 access token to authenticate you with services like Google or Facebook.
Very high risk impact16,9611,1601,169
unlimitedStorage
Allows the extension to exceed the normal storage quota. This is for extensions that need to store large amounts of data.
Low risk impact16,9172,1262,213
cookies
Allows the extension to access and modify cookies for websites. This can be used for managing logins or tracking user sessions.
Very high risk impact15,1042,3763,559
clipboardWrite
Allows the extension to write content to your clipboard. For example, you could click a button to copy a link or a piece of text.
Moderate risk impact13,0131,2663,360
webRequest
Allows the extension to observe and analyze network traffic. This permission is powerful and can see the data being sent and received by websites. (Manifest V2 only)
Very high risk impact11,2142,1077,652
offscreen
Allows an extension with a background service worker to use DOM APIs in a hidden document, for tasks that require it.
Low risk impact10,8991,10782
webNavigation
Allows the extension to receive notifications about the status of web page navigation (e.g., when a page starts loading or has completed).
High risk impact10,8351,6133,285
declarativeNetRequest
Allows the extension to block or modify network requests without intercepting them and viewing their content. This is often used by content blockers.
Low risk impact9,5831,8131,079
search
Allows the extension to override the default search provider in your browser.
High risk impact5,454247282
bookmarks
Allows the extension to read, create, and organize your bookmarks. A bookmark manager extension would need this permission.
Moderate risk impact4,2151,0691,273
clipboardRead
Allows the extension to read content from your clipboard. For example, a dictionary extension could use this to look up a word you have copied.
High risk impact4,073458911
nativeMessaging
Allows the extension to communicate with a native application installed on your computer. This is for extensions that need more capabilities than a browser can provide.
Low risk impact3,3778911,132
background
Allows the extension to run in the background, even when you are not directly interacting with it. This is necessary for extensions that need to be always active, like a notifier for new emails.
Very low risk impact3,064443177
debugger
Allows the extension to inspect and debug web pages, similar to the browser's developer tools. This is a powerful permission and should be granted with caution.
Very high risk impact2,93426044
tabGroups
Allows the extension to organize your tabs into groups.
Low risk impact2,852310197
tabCapture
Allows the extension to capture the audio and video content of a tab.
High risk impact2,72927338
system.display
Allows the extension to get information about the connected displays.
Low risk impact2,44520819
proxy
Allows the extension to configure and manage the browser's proxy settings. This can be used to route your traffic through another server.
Very high risk impact2,436301717
history
Allows the extension to read and modify your browsing history. Be cautious with this permission, as it gives access to sensitive information.
Very high risk impact2,345713788
idle
Allows the extension to detect when your computer is idle (not in use).
Low risk impact2,217292492
geolocation
Allows the extension to access your physical location. A map or weather extension would need this to provide location-specific information.
Moderate risk impact2,210146274
webRequestBlocking
Allows the extension to block or modify network requests in real-time. This is used by advanced ad blockers but is being phased out in favor of `declarativeNetRequest`. (Manifest V2 only)
Very high risk impact2,1824715,161
management
Allows the extension to manage other installed extensions and themes. It can enable, disable, or uninstall them.
High risk impact2,161358674
desktopCapture
Allows the extension to capture the content of your screen, a specific window, or a browser tab. This is used by screen recording or screenshot extensions.
High risk impact2,15310331
declarativeContent
Allows the extension to show or hide its icon in the address bar depending on the content of the page. For example, an RSS reader extension could show its icon only on pages that have an RSS feed.
Very low risk impact2,150186117
browsingData
Allows the extension to clear your browsing data, such as cookies, history, and cached files. A privacy-focused extension might use this to help you clean up your digital footprint.
High risk impact1,537276473
power
Allows the extension to prevent the system from entering power-saving modes (e.g., turning off the screen or sleeping).
Low risk impact1,5243911
accessibilityFeatures.read
Allows the extension to read accessibility features, which can be a user to understand how the user is interacting with the browser and web content.
Low risk impact1,31800
topSites
Allows the extension to access the list of your most frequently visited websites.
Moderate risk impact1,305367224
declarativeNetRequestFeedback
Provides feedback on how `declarativeNetRequest` rules are being applied. Useful for debugging content blocking extensions.
Low risk impact1,28724497
accessibilityFeatures.modify
Allows the extension to modify accessibility features in the browser, such as making web content easier to read for visually impaired users.
Low risk impact88600
tts
Stands for Text-to-Speech. Allows the extension to use the browser's text-to-speech engine to speak text aloud.
Low risk impact84713825
gcm
Stands for Google Cloud Messaging. Allows the extension to send and receive messages from a server, enabling push notifications.
Low risk impact6973810
sessions
Allows the extension to access and restore your recently closed tabs and browsing sessions.
Moderate risk impact641106395
privacy
Allows the extension to control privacy-related settings in the browser, such as whether to enable or disable certain web features.
High risk impact538164360
system.memory
Allows the extension to get information about the system's memory.
Low risk impact527616
contentSettings
Allows the extension to control website settings, such as whether a site can use cookies, JavaScript, or show pop-ups.
Very high risk impact4738226
system.cpu
Allows the extension to get information about the CPU of the system.
Low risk impact429534
system.network
Allows the extension to get information about network interfaces.
Moderate risk impact29200
downloads.open
Allows the extension to open files that it has downloaded.
Very high risk impact26168161
enterprise.deviceAttributes
Allows an extension to read device attributes in an enterprise setting. This is for managed devices in a company or school.
Very low risk impact24692
pageCapture
Allows the extension to save a web page as a single MHTML file.
High risk impact2074729
system.storage
Allows the extension to get information about storage devices.
Low risk impact191204
fontSettings
Allows the extension to change the browser's font settings.
Low risk impact1485016
printerProvider
Allows the extension to act as a print service, making printers available to the browser.
Moderate risk impact10242
downloads.ui
Allows the extension to show or hide the browser's downloads shelf.
Low risk impact98193
readingList
Allows the extension to read and change items in your reading list.
Moderate risk impact7420
audio
Allows the extension to control audio devices, such as adjusting volume or muting your speakers.
Low risk impact5511
enterprise.networkingAttributes
Allows an extension to read network attributes in an enterprise setting.
Very low risk impact5551
enterprise.hardwarePlatform
Allows an extension to read hardware platform information in an enterprise setting.
Very low risk impact3931
ttsEngine
Allows the extension to implement its own text-to-speech engine, providing different voices or languages.
Moderate risk impact39113
wallpaper
Allows the extension to change the wallpaper on ChromeOS.
Low risk impact3731
enterprise.platformKeys
Allows an extension to access client certificates managed by the enterprise.
Very low risk impact3301
processes
Allows the extension to view information about the browser's internal processes.
Low risk impact2832
fileSystemProvider
Allows the extension to create virtual file systems that can be accessed from the ChromeOS file browser.
High risk impact2501
fileBrowserHandler
Allows the extension to extend the ChromeOS file browser. For example, to add support for a new cloud storage service.
Low risk impact2232
webAuthenticationProxy
Allows the extension to proxy Web Authentication API requests, enabling features like using a phone as a security key.
Very low risk impact2251
printing
Allows the extension to submit print jobs to the browser's print dialog.
Moderate risk impact1604
platformKeys
Allows the extension to access hardware-backed client certificates for secure authentication.
Very high risk impact1501
certificateProvider
Allows the extension to provide digital certificates for authentication, which can be used to log in to certain websites or services.
Very high risk impact1001
loginState
Allows the extension to access the login state (e.g., whether the user is logged in) on ChromeOS.
Very low risk impact900
dns
Allows the extension to resolve domain names. This could be used by extensions that want to provide custom DNS services for privacy or security.
Low risk impact8182
documentScan
Access attached document scanners (ChromeOS)
Moderate risk impact701
login
Allows the extension to access user login information on ChromeOS.
Very low risk impact500
vpnProvider
Allows the extension to implement a VPN client. This is specific to ChromeOS.
Very high risk impact501
printingMetrics
Allows the extension to read data about printing usage.
Very low risk impact112