Swif now provides visibility into browser extensions installed on each managed device. This enhancement makes it easier for IT teams to verify that critical extensions (e.g., password managers) are installed and compliant with company policies, as well as to deploy or remove extensions when needed. You no longer need to manually check individual machines—Swif aggregates this information automatically in a centralized view and offers policy-based management options.
Why Is This Helpful?
Verify Compliance: Ensure password managers, ad blockers, or security-related extensions are installed as required by your organization’s policies.
Streamline Management: Deploy or remove problematic or unauthorized extensions remotely, without having to access each device individually.
Stay Informed: Monitor usage and proactively address upcoming changes, such as the phase-out of certain desktop apps.
How It Works
Data Collection: Swif’s agent runs periodic checks on your managed devices.
Extension Inventory: The agent reports back a list of installed browser extensions.
Centralized Display: Under each device’s Applications section, Swif presents an “Extensions” list for that specific machine.
Policy Enforcement: Admins can configure or remove extensions using browser-specific extension policies (currently available for Chrome, with more browsers coming soon).
Where to Find Browser Extensions in Swif
Log in to Swif: Access your Swif dashboard using your assigned credentials.
Navigate to the Device List: From the main menu, click on Devices.
Select a Device: Locate and select the device whose browser extensions you want to view.
Open Device Details: Click on Device Details to open the details page for that endpoint.
Go to Applications: In the Device Details menu, select the Applications tab.
View Extensions: Scroll down (or switch to the “Extensions” subsection, if displayed) to see a categorized list of installed browser extensions.
Extension Name: The name of the extension as reported by the browser.
Version: The version number of the extension.
Browser: Which browser(s) the extension is installed on.
Last Updated: (If available) the date/time the extension was last updated.
Supported Browsers
Swif supports all kinds of browser extensions, giving you broad coverage across multiple browsers. Whether you rely on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or other popular browsers, you can monitor installed extensions in one convenient location. Deployment policies for Chrome are already available; additional browsers will have their own policy support rolled out in the near future.
Managing Extensions Remotely
Deploying Extensions
If you need to install a specific extension (for example, a newly approved password manager) on all your devices, you can use Swif’s Chrome extension policy to push it out remotely. Follow the steps in our article Deploy Chrome Browser Extension to Devices for more details.
Uninstalling or Removing Extensions
Uninstalling or removing unauthorized or outdated extensions can also be done through the Chrome extension policy. Configure your policy to remove extensions by listing them in the exclusion or block list. Once deployed, Swif will remove the undesired extension from users’ browsers. Support for other browsers’ extension removal is coming soon.
Use Case: Verifying Password Manager Compliance
Given that some password managers (like NordPass) may be phasing out desktop support by the end of 2025, you may need to ensure the browser extension version is installed across your organization. Here’s how you can use Swif for that:
Search/Filter by Extension: In the Applications tab, you can use the search bar or filter to look for “NordPass” or “Password Manager.”
Review Installation Status: Check which devices have the required extension installed and which do not.
Take Action:
If an essential extension is missing, follow up with the device’s user or deploy the extension remotely.
If you find legacy desktop apps still running, plan a transition strategy to ensure the browser extension is installed before the desktop app is discontinued.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which browsers does Swif currently support for extension visibility?
Swif supports all kinds of browser extensions. You can see extension names, versions, and more for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other major browsers.
2. How often does Swif update the list of installed extensions?
By default, the Swif agent refreshes this information daily. However, administrators can manually trigger a refresh or configure custom intervals if needed.
3. Can I uninstall or remotely remove an extension from within Swif?
Yes. If you’re looking to block or remove an extension across your devices, you can use Swif’s Chrome Extension Policy. Support for other browsers’ policies is under development.
4. What about privacy concerns?
Swif only collects extension names, versions, and browsers to assist IT in ensuring compliance. We do not track browsing history or personal data related to the user’s extension usage.
5. Will this feature work if the device is offline?
You can still see the most recently reported information if a device is offline, but it may not reflect the newest changes until the device reconnects and the agent performs its next update.
Best Practices
Establish a Policy: Define which extensions are required, optional, or disallowed.
Schedule Regular Reviews: Periodically check each device’s Extensions list to spot unauthorized or outdated extensions.
Automate Deployment: Use Swif’s Chrome extension policy feature to push out or block extensions, saving time and reducing manual effort.
Need More Help?
If you have additional questions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@swif.ai or consult our full documentation in the Swif Knowledge Base.
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This guide will help you take advantage of Swif’s ability to view and manage installed browser extensions. By using this feature, you can ensure compliance, streamline troubleshooting, and stay ahead of important vendor changes—such as the discontinuation of certain desktop apps.