What is Managed by your organization

Recently, Google Chrome users have noticed that sometimes removing certain extensions is not possible because they are “Managed by your organization” although you are not affiliated with any organization. This article explains in detail what the message “Your browser is managed by your organization” means, whether it can be a sign of malware on the computer, and how to fix the situation.

Why Chrome is “Managed by your organization”?

The message that “Your browser is managed by your organization” in the latest versions of Chrome appears if the registry contains policies or rules (specific settings) for the browser. They are usually used by system administrators to set restrictions and necessary parameters in Google Chrome, but they can also be used on home devices. In most cases, this is not something that somehow harms your computer and does not mean that someone else can actually control your browser, but only indicates the presence of additional enabled settings for the Google Chrome browser.

By default, after installing the Chrome browser, there are no policies in the registry, so the message “managed by your organization” should not appear, but they may appear in the following scenarios:

• You performed some special Chrome settings using the registry editor, such as disabling browser updates.
• Some utility was used to configure the system, which, among other things, “optimizes” some Chrome parameters.
• Third-party antivirus protection, third-party firewalls. One example is “Web protection” in AVAST. These tools can configure Chrome policies in their own way, which causes the message in question to appear.
• Other third-party software that installs its modules in Chrome are VPN and password management services (for example, LastPass).
• You really have a computer or laptop of the organization and the settings were created by the system administrator.
• Malware was or is running on your computer. For example, browser hijackers change settings to force the installation of unwanted extensions without the ability to delete them.

For the latter case, I recommend going to the list of extensions and paying attention to those that have the “organizations” icon next to them without the ability to delete them. If they are questionable, delete them after completing the steps described below.

How to remove “Managed by your organization” on Chrome browser?

The easiest and most modern way of removing unwanted browser extensions, browser hijackers, adware is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

Also, you can try to get rid of Managed by your organization on Google Chrome manually.

Fix Managed by your organization on Windows:

Step 1: Resetting Chrome settings

It will help you quickly get rid of a variety of unwanted changes, such as changing the search engine, and occasional redirects to sites you don’t need. Moreover, this operation is not dangerous for your personal data, that is, resetting settings will not delete saved bookmarks and passwords.

1. Go to “C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local” folder and delete the “Google” folder.

Step 2: Remove unwanted and left over registry keys:

1. Type regedit in Windows search bar
2. Find Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\ and delete Chromium
3. Find Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google and delete Chrome

Stop Your browser is managed by your organization on Mac:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Profiles.
3. Click on unsigned and suspicious profiles on the left panel.
4. Click the minus button below to delete rogue settings.

After completing these steps, you can proceed directly to removing the unwanted extension

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Click on 3-dots icon in the upper right corner and select Tools.
3. Choose Extensions.
4. Find unwanted extension.
5. Click the trash can icon to remove it.
6. Click on 3-dots icon in the upper right corner.
7. Select Settings.
8. Type notifications into the search bar.
9. Select Content settings.
10. Select Notifications.
11. Find unwanted extension in the Allow list.
12. Click on three dots next to unwanted extension and select Remove.

Learn more about removing extensions from Chrome.

Safari:

1. Open Safari
2. Click Safari menu.
3. Choose Extensions.
4. Find unwanted extension.
5. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Safari.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
3. Choose unwanted extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Learn more about removing extensions from Firefox.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Press Settings and more button
2. Choose and Click on Extensions
3. Find unwanted application and click settings
4. Press Uninstall button
5. Start Edge again

Learn more about removing extensions from Edge.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open IE.
2. Push Alt + T.
3. Click Manage Add-ons.
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Click Disable unwanted extension.
6. Click More information link in the left-bottom corner.
7. Click Remove button.
8. If this button is grayed out – perform alternative steps.

Learn more about removing extensions from IE.