How do I directly modify a Google Chrome Extension File? (.CRX)

Question

I\'m not sure in which languages those extensions are, I think the are written in Html, Javascript or JSON. As far as I know they are \"compressed\" in a .CRX file.

Answer 1

Now Chrome is multi-user so Extensions should be nested under the OS user profile then the Chrome user profile, My first Chrome user was called Profile 1, my Extensions path was C:\Users\ username \AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\ Profile 1 \Extensions\.

To find yours Navigate to chrome://version/ (I use about: out of laziness).

Notice the Profile Path and just append \Extensions\ and you have yours.

Hope this brings this info on this question up to date more.

Answer 2

It's possible to modify the code of .CRX extension, because it's a simple .zip archive. You can download extension, extract it's source code, modify it (test and debug it as it's on your side), and package back into .CRX file.

I googled out this tool to simply download .CRX extension and extract the source code and it worked for me: http://crxextractor.com

Everything it does is parses .CRX file format and extracts actual .zip containing the source code.

Answer 3

I have read the other answers and found it important to note a few other things:

1.) For Mac users: When you click "Load unpacked extension...", the Library folder is by default hidden and (even if the Show Hidden files option is toggled on your Mac) it might not show up in Chrome's finder window.

2.) The sub folder containing the extension is a random alpha-numeric string named after the extension's ID, which can be found on Chrome's extension page if Developer flag is set to true. (Upper right hand checkbox on the extensions page)

Answer 4

(Already said) I found this out while making some Chrome themes (which are long gone now... :-P)

Chrome themes, extensions, etc. are just compressed files. Get 7-zip or WinRar to unzip it. Each extension/theme has a manifest.json file. Open the manifest.json file in notepad. Then, if you know the coding, modify the code. There will be some other files. If you look in the manifest file you might be able to figure out what the are for. Then, you can change everything...