Have you become that your Google Chrome opens Disable developer mode extension pop-up in the top-right of your browser window? It is a sign that you have an installed extension that running in developer mode. If you are not developer, then you should disable or remove all extensions running in developer mode to stay safe online. Most often these “developer mode extensions” are adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) or malware.
The ad supported software is a part of malicious software that created to display a huge number of unwanted popup ads or hijack your browser’s settings. The ad supported software is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, changes browser settings and blocks them from changing. Also the adware can install additional web browser extensions, addons and modules that will inject ads within the FF, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Edge’s screen. Moreover, the ad supported software may install web browser hijacker that once started, will alter the web browser’s homepage and search engine. And finally, the adware can collect a wide variety of personal information such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This information, in the future, may be transferred to third parties.
How to remove Disable developer mode extension pop-up
Reset Chrome settings is a simple way to remove “Disable developer mode extension” popup as well as get rid of any malicious and ad-supported extensions and restore the web browser’s homepage and search engine by default that have been modified by ‘ad supported’ software.
- Open the Google Chrome, then click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three horizontal stripes).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press the “Show advanced settings” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- Further, click the “Reset settings” button, which located at the bottom of the Advanced settings page.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset settings dialog box as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, look the blog post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
How to remove adware and malware from your computer
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, that will allow you delete adware and malware from your computer for free.
- Uninstall suspicious and unknown applications by using Windows Control Panel
- Scan computer with Malwarebytes
- Scan computer with AdwCleaner
- Block annoying and malicious web-sites
- Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
- Delete unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Uninstall suspicious and unknown applications by using Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of unwanted ads and web-browser redirect to unwanted pages, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
Press Windows key
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as on the image below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ under Programs category as shown in the figure below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of installed software. Most likely, one or more is adware which cause the “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up in Chrome. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious applications by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and press ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown on the screen below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown on the image below.
You will see a list of programs installed on your system. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of unwanted advertisements and internet browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program, you need to uninstall, is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown in the figure below.
Scan computer with Malwarebytes
You can get rid of adware and malware that installs “developer mode extension” onto your PC with a help of Malwarebytes Free. We recommend this free malware removal utility because it can easily delete ‘ad supported’ software, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted software and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Download Malwarebytes Free on your machine by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Desktop.
326381 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is done, close all windows on your system. Further, run the file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown on the screen below, click the Yes button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on the machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
When the install is finished successfully, click Finish button. Then Malwarebytes will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown below.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button . This will start scanning the whole system to find out malware and adware which cause the “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up in Google Chrome. When a threat is found, the number of the detected objects will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is complete. Please be patient.
When it has finished scanning, you can check all threats detected on your PC. Make sure all entries have “checkmark” and press “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes will start removing malware and adware . When the disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot your computer. I recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the Malwarebytes to remove adware and other malicious applications.
Scan computer with AdwCleaner
If MalwareBytes cannot delete malicious software which cause the “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up in Google Chrome, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars.
Download AdwCleaner from the link below.
225257 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
When the download is finished, open the file location. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this tool is opened, you will see a screen like below.
Now, press the “Scan” button . This will begin scanning the whole computer to find out malicious extensions and adware. When it has finished scanning your PC system, it will display a scan report as shown below.
Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will open a prompt. Click “OK”. When the cleaning procedure is finished, AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your computer.
Look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the AdwCleaner to get rid of adware, browser hijackers and other dangerous software.
Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
When the ‘ad supported’ software is started, it can also modify the web browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument similar “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you run the internet browser, it will be rerouted to an annoying advertisements.
To clear the web browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text that starts with “http://” that has been added here. You need to remove it.
When the argument is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your web browsers, as they may be infected too.
Delete unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Once installed, the ad-supported software can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you run your personal computer, it will show unwanted ad web page or install a browser extension that cause the “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up in Chrome. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and get rid of all tasks that have been created by malicious applications.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. It will display a prompt which titled as Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and press OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, as shown on the image below.
Task scheduler, list of tasks
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be open just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need remove this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it is a component of the malicious application, then this task also should be removed.
Further click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete like below.
Task scheduler, delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by ‘ad-supported’ programs. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.
Block annoying and malicious web-sites
To increase your security and protect your PC system against new annoying advertisements and malicious web-sites, you need to use AdBlocker software that stops access to malicious ads and pages. Moreover, the program can block the display of intrusive advertising, which also leads to faster loading of web pages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Download AdGuard program from the following link.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once the downloading process is finished, start the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the figure below.
Follow the prompts. When the install is finished, you will see a window like below.
You can click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you run your personal computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop pop-up ads, annoying pop-ups, as well as other malicious or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your Windows desktop.
Finish words
Now your Google Chrome should be free of the “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-ups and unwanted harmful web-pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and ad supported software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious software and ‘ad supported’ software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up in your Google Chrome, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
That was very helpful steps. The instructions seems to have removed this “Disable developer mode extension” pop-up virus. Back to normal.
Will this work for a chromebook? I will still run the malware program, etc.