Classroom - Installing the Securly Classroom Chrome Extension

Note

ChromeOS 109 is the minimum required version in order for the Classroom extension to load. 

Overview

Here is a quick video detailing the process from start to finish. 

Migrating from an existing Chrome extension requires the following general steps.

1. Find your installation URL
2. Remove the old extension policy
3. Add a new extension policy
4. Configure the update URL

Find Your ID and Installation URL

This URL can be found by logging into your Classroom account and browsing to

Settings > Deployment > Google tab

Remove the old extension policy

To avoid any conflicts or confusion, you will want to ensure that you have removed extension policies that previously were installing the Securly Classroom extension.

Old Extension ID: jfbecfmiegcjddenjhlbhlikcbfmnafd

DO NOT Remove any other extensions. This is for Securly Classroom only. 

Add a New Extension Policy

1. In Google Admin Console, navigate to Devices > Chrome > Apps and extensions > Users & browsers
2. Select the OU you want to deploy the extension to and click the "+" button in the bottom right and select "Add Chrome app or extension by ID" 
3. Paste in your extension ID and change the dropdown to “From a custom URL”
4. Paste in your Installation URL.
   
   
5. The installation policy for our extension should be set to "Force install" or Force install + pin" (this will allow you to see the extension in your browser's toolbar.
6. Set "Permissions and URL Access" to "Allow all permissions
   
7. Click on "Save" in the top right corner.
8. Important - Configure the update URL: Scroll down in the right-hand pane. At the bottom, in "Deployment settings > Update URL", select “Installation URL”.
   

Configure the Update URL 

It is important to note that each of the above sets of instructions included one more step than is typically required of Securly extensions. This final step in each case is to configure the Update URL to point to match the Installation URL. Failing to do so will result in losing flexibility in the ways bug fixes and features can be targeted to your district, as well as lead to less predictability on rollout schedules for your school.

Ensure Extension Syncing is enabled

In ChromeOS 140 and higher, Google has changed the way it enforces the Chrome Sync policy, resulting in the Securly extension lacking the necessary permissions to function properly. If extension syncing is not enabled from the Google Admin Console and a student disables sync for extensions from their browser settings, the extension doesn't function properly. To ensure extension syncing is active, follow the below steps: 

1. In Google admin console, navigate to Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Other settings > Chrome Sync (ChromeOS).
   
2. Ensure the ‘Allow Chrome Sync’ configuration is selected.
   
3. Uncheck ‘Extensions’ from the section for excluded sync types to ensure extensions are included in sync, and save your changes.

Test

Make sure to test a few Chromebooks to ensure they have the new extension. You can see the extension ID by visiting chrome://system and expanding the "extensions" section.