Apps, Extensions and scripts cannot be added from this website

Question

I'm trying to add the Rapid Interface Builder extension to chrome using the rib.crx file I downloaded from https://01.org/rapid-interface-builder/downloads/2012/rib-preview-1-chrome-extension

Unfortunately, every time I open the crx file with chrome I get the following error:

Apps, Extensions and scripts cannot be added from this website.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Answer 1

Instead of opening the file, you have to: extract it (crx are zip files), then visit chrome://extensions, enable developer mode, and load unpacked extension.

The reason for this is: lots of people try to abuse chrome apps/extensions to install nasty applications to your browser. So Chrome tries to make it impossible to automatically side-load these apps without you making sure that is really what you want to do.

So.. typical caveats of installing software apply when using this approach.

Answer 2

You can now also just drag-and-drop the .crx file onto the chrome://extensions page and it will install, too.

Edit 2019-01-10: Make sure to enable Developer mode for extensions. If this was not enabled, refresh the chrome://extensions page after enabling it.

Edit 2018-08-24: This works on Windows, too.

Edit: This doesn't work on Windows. Verified on OSX and ChromeOS. From what I've read, this will work on Linux, too.~

Answer 3

(I initially experienced the same problem you described.*) This solution worked for me in Windows 10 (build th1511) x64:

1. Open Chrome as you normally would.
2. Go to the "Extensions" page (chrome://extensions; or click Menu button at top right corner → From 'More tools' drop down menu select 'Extensions').
3. Drag and drop the .crx file onto the extensions page in Chrome -onto the list of extensions. You should see a dialog stating "Drop here to install". This must be present. (If you do NOT see this, reposition your mouse - it may be too far to the side of the page.)

It should load successfully and you should see the extension in the list immediately afterward.

*I received the same error you described when attempting to load the .crx file (packed extension) by right-clicking/double-clicking it and selecting "Open With" "Chrome", and by dragging/dropping the file onto a regular webpage in Chrome.

Answer 4

In the Extensions page, just enable Developer mode. From there you can drag and drop any .crx file there and installation prompt will follow suit.

Answer 5

Open Chrome with this parameter --enable-easy-off-store-extension-install, then go to extensions and enable Developer mode. Now you can install .crx files without any problem.

Answer 6

go on extension, and your first step is on developer mode, 2 step update extensions, and last drop IDM extension file on google chrome.