How to install Chromium Edge extensions from enterprise server (outside Microsoft Store)?

Question

I have an extension for internal use, so I need to:

1. host the .crx file on my enterprise server instead of Microsoft Store
2. Install the extension on user browser silently

According to the best answer here:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/enterprise/how-do-i-deploy-custom-in-house-chromium-edge-extensions-to-my/m-p/1199345

I have tried the extensionInstallForceList and extensioninstallsources policies but not able to install the extension. I might need example to illustrate how to setup correctly.

1. if I have already hosted the .crx file on https://abc.com/resources/app.crx (Extension ID: abcabcabc), what would be the exact configuration/url to put in the extensionInstallForceList and extensioninstallsources respectively?
2. Is there any other configuration I might be missing?
3. Once I have the setup completed, how long does it take for the extension to install on browser? so that I can verify whether my setup is working

Thanks.

Answer 1

@Robin L ,
I try to refer to the steps mentioned in the referenced thread and I am able to install the extension successfully.

Below are the answers to your questions.

1) If I have already hosted the .crx file on https://abc.com/resources/app.crx (Extension ID: abcabcabc), what would be the exact configuration/url to put in the extensionInstallForceList and extensioninstallsources respectively?

• For Configure extension and user script install sources policy, you need to set the domain address and then you can add * after it. For example: https://abc.com/*
• For Control which extensions are installed silently policy, you need to set the 2 parameters. [extensionID];[updateURL]
  • extensionID - the 32-letter string found on edge://extensions when in developer mode.
  • updateURL (optional) is the address of the Update Manifest XML document for the app or extension.

2) Is there any other configuration I might be missing?

You can try to check the following points that may help to fix the issue.

• check whether .crx file is hosted properly and you can download it if you add the URL in the address bar of the browser.
• Check the hosted .crx file is not corrupted.
• Make sure both policies are set properly as I described in the previous point.
• Make sure that you are passing the correct [extensionID].
• For testing purposes, try to only set the [extensionID] for Control which extensions are installed silently policy. If it works then you can try to add the [updateURL]. Note that these 2 parameters are separated by a semicolon.
• After applying the group policy, try to run the gpupdate command in the command prompt window to make sure that the latest changes are applied.

3) Once I have the setup completed, how long does it take for the extension to install on browser? so that I can verify whether my setup is working
The extension will get load immediately after you restart the browser.

I hope the above answers will help you to install the extension. If you have any further questions let us know about it. We will try to provide suggestions for it.

Thanks for your understanding.

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