Develop

1. Move your dev actions to Github

This is the prerequisites, we’ll use the raw file serve and release feature of github later.

2. Setup update_url

Add updates.xml to your codebase.

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<gupdate xmlns='http://www.google.com/update2/response' protocol='2.0'>
<app appid='<extension id>'>
<updatecheck codebase='https://github.com/<username>/<reponame>/releases/download/v1.0.0/<extension name>.crx' version='1.0.0' />
</app>
</gupdate>

Use your extension id and other info replace the requirement fields.

Now, update update_url in manifest.json to https://raw.githubusercontent.com/<username>/<reponame>/main/updates.xml.

3. Commit and Push your release

Before you really release extension, you should modify the version number in the manifest.json .

4. Release on Github

1. open chrome://extensions/
2. click package the extension button to generate extension.crx
3. go to https://github.com/<username>/<reponame>/releases/new page
4. make a new tag and upload your crx file
5. publish

5. Notify updates

After you release the new version, the last step is notify old extension to upgrade.

Update the version info in updates.xml, commit and push to github.

Distribute

Initial Install

1. enable flag chrome://flags/#extensions-on-chrome-urls
2. enable developer mode chrome://extensions/
3. drag crx file to chrome://extensions/ page
4. [optional]disable flag chrome://flags/#extensions-on-chrome-urls
5. [optional]disable developer mode chrome://extensions/

Upgrade

Chrome will auto upgrade your extension, you can manually do check in developer mode chrome://extensions/

Policy Notes

If Chrome limit or warning user to run your extension, you should update chrome://policy/ to add extension to ExtensionInstallAllowlist.

More policy please check official documents.