Browser Compatibility
Videochat Extension works in Website Mode on all modern Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc.).
For Browser Mode, the situation had been great until August 2025, when Google nerfed what extensions can do in Chrome.
On a positive note, this change is specific to Google Chrome, and there are alternative browsers that still work.
We recognize that this might require changes in your usual process, and we truly appreciate your understanding.
Which browsers support Browser Mode?
We have always recommended using a separate browser for Browser Mode, and we will continue to do so.
- Brave Browser gives the best Chrome-like experience with Videochat Extension.
- Microsoft Edge is preinstalled on all Windows PCs and works great (for now).
- Chrome for Testing is a special version of Google Chrome where Browser Mode still works.
Compatibility Table (work-in-progress)
| Browser | Recommended | Website Mode | Browser Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Browser | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full support, privacy-focused |
| Microsoft Edge | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full support, recommended browser |
| Google Chrome | 🟡 | ✅ | ❌ | Website Mode only, Browser Mode not supported |
| Chrome for Testing | 🟡 | ✅ | ✅ | Basically same as Chrome, but no auto-updates |
| Ecosia Browser | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full support, privacy-focused with tree-planting |
| Opera | 🟡 | 🟡 | ❌ | Limited support, some interface modes not available |
| Vivaldi | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Not supported due to popup bug |
| Arc | ❌ | 🟡 | ✅ | Not recommended, dead browser |
Browser Details
Brave Browser
Brave Browser provides the best Chrome-like experience with Videochat Extension. It's based on Chromium but provides robust patching on top to enable adblock and other features. First-class support for Browser Mode.
If you want to hide all (non-intrusive) bloat, you can use Brave Debloatinator.
Download: https://brave.com/download/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | ✅ | Fully recommended for all features. Best Chrome-like experience with enhanced privacy. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is preinstalled on all Windows PCs and works great with Videochat Extension. It's based on Chromium and currently supports all extension features, though it is possible that it will lose Browser Mode support in the future.
The days when Edge was considered a bad browser are long gone. It is on par with Chrome; the only downside is that the side panel can't be repositioned to the left (unlike in other browsers, where you can move it where it belongs).
Download: https://www.microsoft.com/edge (preinstalled on Windows PCs)
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | ✅ | Fully recommended for all features. Preinstalled on Windows PCs. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |
Google Chrome
Google Chrome removed support for Browser Mode in August 2025 due to Chrome 139 changes that restricted extension capabilities. It still works in a special version of Chrome called Chrome for Testing, but we recommend using Brave Browser or Microsoft Edge instead. Chrome for Testing does not automatically update, which can become a problem over time.
Google decided to restrict extension capabilities as a part of an ongoing covert war against malicious actors who attempt to steal search revenue through large-scale malware campaigns. Google stopped supporting extension developers in monetizing their work, which created a void that malicious actors quickly filled—they buy legitimate extensions and use them to hijack search traffic, resulting in lost revenue for Google and user frustration. As the Chrome extension ecosystem grows and becomes more secure each year, malicious actors are forced to find new ways to exploit it. Abusing the thing that powered Browser Mode is the easiest way to do it. Ultimately, it is much easier for Google to limit the potential harm from malicious extensions than to guarantee that every extension in the Chrome Web Store is safe.
The campaigns in question typically involve malware on computers that have already been compromised. These malware programs forcibly install malicious extensions from the Chrome Web Store and launch Chrome with the --extensions-on-chrome-urls flag. This allows actions such as blocking the uninstallation of the extension in the interface, changing the start page, and more. Enabling --extensions-on-chrome-urls by itself does not grant access to 99% of extensions. It is difficult for us to understand why Google can't simply be more careful with extensions that explicitly declare access to internal pages—perhaps they lack the resources to do so—this is an awful band-aid, but it is what it is.
This might not be entirely accurate, but this is how it appears to us. The setting that Browser Mode relies on was originally intended for developers. We were hesitant to promote this feature beyond a few thousand users due to concerns about potential risks, but it turned out that the primary attack vector is malware already present on the computer, not the Chrome Web Store itself. If you have this flag enabled in a separate browser with no other extensions installed, you will be completely fine. If you have malware on your PC, search engine hijacking should be the least of your worries.
Download: https://www.google.com/chrome/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | 🟡 | Partially recommended. Website Mode works, but Browser Mode is nerfed by Google. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ❌ | Completely disabled by Google's August 2025 changes. Extension capabilities restricted. |
Chrome for Testing
Chrome for Testing is the only Google browser that supports Browser Mode, but it is not recommended for daily use.
It is a portable version of Chrome which never updates automatically, which can become a problem over time.
Functionaly Chrome for Testing is the same as Chrome, but it shows 'Chrome for Testing' notification.
If you REALLY want to hide it, you can add --disable-infobars flag to the startup arguments (guide).
Download: https://googlechromelabs.github.io/chrome-for-testing/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | 🟡 | Partially recommended for people who get the risks of not-auto-updating browsers. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |
Ecosia Browser
Ecosia Browser is a simple Chromium-based browser by the Ecosia search engine, which plants trees with its search revenue. It supports all Videochat Extension features. However, it might drop support for Browser Mode in the future.
Download: https://www.ecosia.org/browser
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | ✅ | Fully recommended for all features. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |
Chromium
Chromium is the open-source base for Chrome and other browsers. While it fully supports Videochat Extension, it lacks proprietary codecs and does not automatically update (unless you have a custom solution).
Download: https://chromium.woolyss.com/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | 🟡 | Partially recommended. No auto-updates and no proprietary codecs. |
| Website Mode | ✅ | Full compatibility with all interface modes (sidepanel, pip, etc.). |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |
Opera
Opera has partial support for Videochat Extension features. While it works in Website Mode, some interface modes (like sidepanel and pip) are not available. It is also the only Chromium-based browser that did not support Browser Mode before August 2025.
Opera, like other heavily modified Chromium-based browsers, often has unpredictable issues with extensions due to internal bloat that can cause conflicts. While most extensions work fine, we are pushing the limits of what is possible and require the latest features, while these custom browsers are often stuck on old versions of Chromium.
Download: https://www.opera.com/download
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | 🟡 | Partially recommended. Limited interface mode support. |
| Website Mode | 🟡 | Partial support. Some interface modes (sidepanel, pip) not available. |
| Browser Mode | ❌ | Not supported. Never supported Browser Mode. |
Vivaldi
Vivaldi is currently broken and cannot be used with Videochat Extension due to a browser bug that prevents our popup from opening. We've reported it months ago, but it is still not fixed. We might come up with a workaround on our side soon.
Vivaldi, like other heavily modified Chromium-based browsers, often has unpredictable issues with extensions due to internal bloat that can cause conflicts. While most extensions work fine, we are pushing the limits of what is possible and require the latest features, while these custom browsers are often stuck on old versions of Chromium.
Download: https://vivaldi.com/download/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | ❌ | Not recommended. Popup bug prevents extension from working properly. |
| Website Mode | ❌ | Not supported. Extension popup cannot be opened due to browser bug. |
| Browser Mode | ❌ | Not supported. Extension popup cannot be opened due to browser bug. |
Arc
Arc is a very werid browser, it does support Browser Mode and you can open the interface in a window. But it reports both sidepanel and pip modes as implemented, and... does nothing with them. Please do not use Videochat Extension with Arc.
Compatibility is unlikely to improve anytime soon, as the company behind Arc has moved on to a new product.
Download: https://arc.net/
| Feature | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | ❌ | Not recommended, weird browser. |
| Website Mode | 🟡 | Only new window interface mode is supported. |
| Browser Mode | ✅ | Complete Browser Mode support. No restrictions on extension capabilities. |