How to install the Sonomos browser extension (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc)

The Sonomos browser extension is available on the Chrome Web Store and Microsoft Edge Add-Ons. Installation takes about a minute.

You're installing a prototype

This extension is an early proof-of-concept release. It’s safe to use day-to-day, but expect occasional rough edges and a focused list of fully-covered AI platforms. The native, system-wide Sonomos Desktop app is in development and will be the recommended option once it ships.

Before you install

Make sure your environment meets the system requirements:

• Browser — any Chromium-based browser: Chrome 110+, Edge 110+, Brave, Arc, Vivaldi, or Opera. (Firefox is under evaluation.)
• OS — macOS, Windows, or Linux desktop. Mobile browsers are not supported.
• Hardware — modern CPU recommended; a GPU significantly improves on-device AI detection speed on long pages.
• Storage — roughly 50 MB of browser storage for the bundled detection models.
• Account — none required for the free Individual tier. A Sonomos account is needed for Professional and Teams features (compliance reports, team policies).

Install

Chrome

1. Open the Sonomos listing on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome.
3. Review the permissions prompt and click Add extension. The host permission is required so Sonomos can scan page content locally — see the Permissions Reference for what each permission does and does not allow.
4. The Sonomos shield icon will appear in your toolbar. If it’s hidden, click the puzzle-piece icon and pin Sonomos for easy access.
5. Open any webpage and look for the Sonomos widget in the bottom-right corner — that confirms it’s running.

Edge

1. Open the Sonomos listing on Microsoft Edge Add-Ons.
2. Click Get, then Add extension when prompted.
3. Edge will install Sonomos and add the shield icon to your toolbar (pin it via the puzzle-piece menu if you don’t see it).
4. Open any webpage and confirm the Sonomos widget appears in the bottom-right corner.

Brave / Arc / Vivaldi / Opera

1. These browsers can install directly from the Chrome Web Store listing — follow the Chrome instructions in the tab to the left.
2. If your browser asks you to allow Chrome Web Store extensions first, do so in Settings → Extensions.
3. Some privacy-focused browsers (Brave Shields, Arc Boost) can interfere with the Sonomos widget on certain sites. If the widget doesn’t appear, temporarily lower shields for that site to confirm Sonomos is the source of the issue.

Manual / unpacked

1. Contact info@sonomos.ai for a packaged build, or download from the Chrome Web Store and extract the CRX.
2. In your browser, go to the extensions page (e.g. chrome://extensions).
3. Toggle Developer mode on (top right).
4. Click Load unpacked and select the extracted extension folder.
5. The Sonomos shield should appear in the toolbar. If it doesn’t, check the extension card for a red error message.

Note

Manual / unpacked installs are intended for evaluation in restricted environments. For everyday use, install from the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-Ons so you receive automatic updates and signed builds.

Verify the install

You should see two things after a successful install:

1. A shield icon in your browser toolbar — click it to open the Sonomos popup. From here you can sign in, toggle Cloak, view recent detections, and send feedback.
2. A floating Sonomos widget in the bottom-right of any webpage — green, amber, or red depending on what Sonomos detects on that page.

If either is missing, see Troubleshooting → Widget not appearing.

Sign in (optional but recommended)

You can use the free Individual tier without signing in. Signing in unlocks:

• Settings sync across browser profiles
• Compliance reports (Professional)
• Team policies and admin analytics (Teams)
• Faster bug reports — feedback is automatically tagged with your account

To sign in, click the toolbar icon and choose Sign in. Authentication uses your existing Google or Microsoft account.

Permissions, in plain English

Sonomos requests broad host permissions so it can scan page content on the page, locally. This permission does not allow Sonomos to read your browsing history, modify pages beyond injecting the detection widget, or transmit page content externally.

We know broad host permissions are a big ask. We’ve been transparent about it in our Privacy Guides submission, and a future version will offer a configurable allowlist for users who prefer to limit scope.

For a complete, line-by-line breakdown of every permission, see the Permissions Reference.

Updating Sonomos

Updates are delivered automatically by the Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-Ons stores — typically within a few hours of release. To force a check:

1. Open your browser’s extensions page (chrome://extensions or edge://extensions).
2. Toggle Developer mode on.
3. Click Update.

Major changes are announced in the changelog.

Uninstalling

Right-click the Sonomos shield in your toolbar and choose Remove from Chrome / Edge. Local settings and detection history are removed with the extension. If you have a paid plan, your subscription continues independently — manage it at my.sonomos.ai.

What’s next?

Quickstart Run your first PII scan, enable Cloak, and confirm masking works on a live AI platform.

Sonomos Desktop preview See what's coming in the native, system-wide app — and why it'll go far beyond what an extension can do.