Is Your Chrome Extension SHADOW BANNED?
Hello fellow developers! I recently discovered something shocking about the Chrome Web Store (CWS) that might explain why your extension isn’t gaining traction: shadow banning.
Why the Chrome Web Store Might Be Hiding Your Extension
Some extensions are hidden from CWS search results despite having active users, functional store pages, and reviews. This invisibility cripples discovery, especially for new extensions that won’t appear in Google search results for relevant keywords.
The CWS team hasn’t clarified why this happens—it could be a bug or a policy decision. Over 2,000 extensions are currently affected.
How to Check if Your Extension Is Shadow Banned
1. Search Directly in the Chrome Web Store
Look for your extension using exact keywords or its full name. If it doesn’t appear in results despite having active users, it’s likely shadow banned.
2. Check for the Shadow Ban in CWS Database
Visit list of shadow banned extensions to check if your extension is shadow banned.
List of all shadow banned extensions
Real-World Example: The LeadLeaper Case
The popular extension LeadLeaper (100,000+ users) is shadow banned. Its store page is active, but it’s completely missing from search results:
LeadLeaper’s active store page
Empty search results for “LeadLeaper” in the web store
Unexpected Opportunity: Leverage Shadow Banned Extensions to Your Advantage 🚀
While frustrating for affected developers, shadow banning creates untapped opportunities:
- Identify gaps: Use the list of shadow banned extensions to find popular shadow-banned extensions in your niche. If users can’t discover them, there’s demand waiting to be captured.
- Revive abandoned ideas: Build improved versions of hidden extensions with active user bases.
- Track competitors: Monitor if rival tools are shadow banned to refine your SEO and marketing strategy.