violentmonkey.github.io

Violentmonkey itself is an open source userscript manager that, according to its official site, "does not contain any ads and does not modify web pages automatically." That means the extension by itself is not what changes a page — any change comes from the userscripts you choose to install. So the practical answer is: the extension is designed to stay out of the way, but the safety of your setup depends mainly on which scripts you install and trust. The site's own guidance is direct: "please install only scripts that you trust."

What Violentmonkey does and does not do

The distinction matters for judging risk:

• It does not modify pages on its own. The site states the extension "does not modify web pages automatically." Without scripts, it does not rewrite or inject content into sites.
• It does not contain ads. No ad injection is built in.
• It runs the scripts you add. "Any changes and modifications on the sites are done by installed scripts." The extension is the execution environment; the scripts are the instructions.
• It is open source. Code is available on GitHub, so the extension's behavior can be inspected rather than taken on faith.

This split is the core of the safety question. Installing Violentmonkey is not the same as trusting every script in a userscript repository.

Where the real risk sits: the scripts

A userscript can read and change page content, and depending on how it is written and how your manager grants permissions, it may reach further. The extension's own note frames the user's responsibility clearly: because changes come from installed scripts, "please install only scripts that you trust."

Before installing a script, check:

• Source and author. Is the script hosted somewhere with a visible author, version history, and issue tracker?
• What it requests. Does a small cosmetic tweak ask for broad access across all sites?
• Readability. Can you skim the code, or is it obfuscated/minified with no source?
• Reviews and recency. Has it been updated recently, and do other users report problems?
• Necessity. Do you actually need this script, or does a built-in browser feature cover it?

If a script fails these checks, the safe move is not to install it — the extension cannot make an untrusted script trustworthy.

Browser and installation context

Violentmonkey is built with web extension APIs and supports many browsers. The site lists installation via the Chrome Web Store, Firefox AMO, Microsoft Edge Addons, and GitHub Releases, with all versions (including Beta and MV2) available on the releases page.

One current detail worth knowing: the site notes that "Violentmonkey in Chrome Web Store has been updated to ManifestV3." If you are comparing install sources or troubleshooting behavior differences, that is a relevant fact about the Chrome Web Store build.

Practical safety checklist

1. Install the extension from an official listing (Chrome Web Store, Firefox AMO, Edge Addons) or the project's GitHub Releases.
2. Treat each userscript as a separate trust decision — the extension's safety does not extend to scripts automatically.
3. Prefer scripts with visible source, an identifiable author, and recent activity.
4. Review what a script can access before enabling it, and remove scripts you no longer use.
5. Remember the site's own rule: install only scripts you trust.

Bottom line

Violentmonkey is an open source manager that does not inject ads or alter pages by itself; the modifications you see come entirely from installed scripts. That makes the extension a relatively neutral tool, but it also means your safety depends on script selection. If you stick to trusted, inspectable scripts from reputable sources, the setup is reasonable; if you install unknown scripts with broad permissions, the extension offers no protection against them.

Violentmonkey is an open source userscript manager that runs userscripts in your browser to customize web pages and automate tasks. It fits you if you want to change how sites behave or look, and you are comfortable installing scripts you trust. It does not contain ads and does not modify web pages on its own — any change comes from the scripts you install.

What it does

Violentmonkey provides userscripts support for browsers. Its documented capabilities include:

• Customize web pages — scripts can alter how pages appear or behave.
• Automate your work — scripts can handle repetitive tasks in the browser.
• Cloud data sync — sync to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or a WebDAV service, and sync between different browsers.
• User-friendly by design — kept simple, with no need to make choices.
• External editor communication — you can work with external editors.

What it does not do

Two points from the project's own notes matter before you install:

• It contains no ads.
• It does not modify web pages automatically. All changes and modifications on sites are done by installed scripts.

That means the extension is a runner, not a source of behavior. If a page changes in an unexpected way, the cause is a script you installed, not Violentmonkey itself. The project's guidance is therefore to install only scripts that you trust.

Installation and browser support

Violentmonkey is built with web extension APIs, so it supports many browsers. Documented install routes:

The project notes that Violentmonkey in the Chrome Web Store has been updated to ManifestV3. If you need a Manifest V2 build or a beta version, the GitHub Releases page is the documented place to find all versions.

How to decide

Choose Violentmonkey if you want an open source userscript manager with cloud sync across browsers and a deliberately simple interface. Be aware of the condition attached to it: the extension itself stays out of the way, so your results depend entirely on which scripts you install and trust. If you would rather not evaluate scripts yourself, this model will not suit you.

Contributing

The project welcomes contributions by contributing code on GitHub, helping with translation, improving the documentation, or writing articles about Violentmonkey.

Violentmonkey can keep your userscripts and settings consistent across browsers and devices by syncing them to a cloud service you choose: Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or a WebDAV service. You set up the connection once per browser, point each installation at the same account, and the extension keeps the data aligned. This works for moving scripts and settings between devices, and for keeping two browsers on the same machine in step. It is not automatic out of the box — you have to enable and configure sync yourself.

What actually gets synced

Violentmonkey describes its sync feature as keeping "data on the cloud" and syncing "between different browsers." In practice, that covers the things you accumulate while using the extension:

• Installed userscripts — the scripts themselves, so a script added on one browser appears on the others.
• Script settings and stored values — the per-script options and data that scripts save.
• Extension-level preferences — your Violentmonkey configuration, so a new install doesn't start from defaults.

The point of syncing is consistency: you install or edit a script once, and the other browsers pick up the same state instead of you repeating the work on each one.

Supported sync targets

Violentmonkey lists four options, and you pick one as your sync backend:

Because all four are supported, the choice is mostly about which account you already have and whether you prefer a hosted service or your own WebDAV endpoint. The sync mechanism is the same regardless of which one you choose.

How to set it up

The exact menu labels depend on your Violentmonkey version, but the flow is consistent:

1. Open Violentmonkey's settings in the browser where your scripts already live. This is the source you want to push from.
2. Find the sync section and choose your service — Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or WebDAV.
3. Authorize the connection. For the cloud services this means signing in and granting access; for WebDAV you enter the server address and credentials.
4. Let the first sync complete. Your existing scripts and settings upload to the chosen service.
5. Repeat on every other browser. Install Violentmonkey, open sync settings, select the same service, and authorize with the same account.
6. Verify. Check that the scripts from the first browser now appear in the second, and that a small change (adding or editing a script) shows up on the other side after syncing.

The critical condition is step 5: every browser must point at the same account or WebDAV endpoint. Different accounts mean separate, unrelated data sets.

Where sync goes wrong

• Different accounts or endpoints. The most common cause of "my scripts didn't show up" is authorizing a different account on the second browser. Confirm the account identity, not just the service.
• Assuming it's on by default. Violentmonkey's own note stresses that it "does not modify web pages automatically" and that changes come only from scripts you install. Sync is likewise something you configure — don't expect cross-device consistency until you've connected a service.
• Expecting instant propagation. Sync depends on the service and on when the browser runs the sync. If a change hasn't appeared, trigger a sync or reload rather than assuming it failed.
• Trusting scripts blindly. Since synced scripts run on your other browsers too, a script you sync is a script you're choosing to run everywhere. Violentmonkey's own guidance is to "install only scripts that you trust" — that applies doubly when sync spreads them across devices.

When this is the right approach

Use cloud sync if you work across multiple browsers or machines and want one set of scripts and settings everywhere, and you're comfortable connecting Violentmonkey to a Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or WebDAV account. If you only ever use one browser on one device, sync adds a connection you don't need. If you want to avoid third-party cloud storage entirely, WebDAV against your own server is the option that keeps the data under your control.

Violentmonkey is an open source userscript manager that lets you run userscripts to customize web pages and automate work. You can install it from the Chrome Web Store, Firefox AMO, or Microsoft Edge Addons, or get other versions (including Beta and MV2) from GitHub Releases. Because it is built with web extension APIs, it supports many browsers.

Before You Install

• Violentmonkey itself does not contain ads and does not modify web pages automatically. Any changes on sites come from the scripts you install, so only install scripts you trust.
• The Chrome Web Store version has been updated to ManifestV3. If you need an MV2 version, use GitHub Releases.
• No pricing or login requirements are stated on the site, so treat availability and account needs as browser-store dependent.

Install from a Browser Store

1. Open your browser's extension store:
   • Chrome Web Store (for Chrome and Chromium-based browsers)
   • Firefox AMO (for Firefox)
   • Microsoft Edge Addons (for Edge)
2. Search for "Violentmonkey" and open its listing.
3. Select the install/add button and confirm the permission prompt.
4. Expected result: the Violentmonkey icon appears in your browser toolbar, and the extension is listed as installed.

Install Other Versions from GitHub Releases

1. Go to the Violentmonkey GitHub Releases page.
2. Find the release you want. The page notes that all versions, including Beta and MV2, are available there.
3. Download the package for your browser or use the provided install link.
4. Follow your browser's prompt to add the extension.
5. Expected result: the chosen version is installed, which is useful if you specifically need a Beta or MV2 build.

Verify the Installation

• Check that the Violentmonkey icon is visible in the toolbar.
• Open the extension's dashboard or menu to confirm it loads.
• Install a userscript you trust and confirm it runs on the matching site.

Common Issues

• The store version may differ from GitHub Releases, especially regarding ManifestV3 versus MV2. If a script requires MV2, install from GitHub Releases instead of the store.
• If the extension does not appear after install, check that it is enabled in your browser's extension settings.
• If a page does not change, remember that Violentmonkey does not modify pages by itself; the behavior depends on the installed script.

Optional: Sync Your Data

Violentmonkey supports syncing to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or a WebDAV service, and can sync between different browsers. This is optional and can be set up after installation if you want your scripts and settings available across browsers.

You can contribute to Violentmonkey in four ways listed on the project site: contributing code on GitHub, helping with translation, improving the documentation, and writing articles about Violentmonkey. These are open, non-monetary contribution paths, so you can pick the one that matches your skills without needing any special account beyond the platform each task runs on.

The four contribution paths

The official site groups contribution into these areas:

• Code — contribute to the project on GitHub.
• Translation — help translate the extension.
• Documentation — improve the docs.
• Writing — write articles about Violentmonkey.

Contributing code via GitHub

Code contributions go through the project's GitHub repository. If you want to work on the extension itself, this is the path to take. The site links to GitHub as the place to contribute code, and also hosts release downloads there.

Before writing code, it helps to know what the extension actually does: Violentmonkey is an open source userscript manager that provides userscript support for browsers. It lets you customize web pages and automate work, and it can sync data to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or a WebDAV service, including syncing between different browsers.

One detail worth keeping in mind if you touch anything browser-related: the note on the site says Violentmonkey in the Chrome Web Store has been updated to ManifestV3. If your change interacts with extension APIs, that context matters.

Helping with translation

Translation is listed as a separate contribution path. If you're fluent in a language the extension doesn't fully cover, this is a way to contribute without writing code. The site doesn't spell out the exact translation workflow, so the practical first step is to look at the project's GitHub presence, where translation work for open source projects of this kind is typically coordinated.

Improving the documentation

Documentation improvements are explicitly welcomed. This can mean clarifying existing docs or filling gaps. Because the site itself is fairly short, docs contributions are a natural fit if you've used the extension and noticed something that was hard to understand.

Writing articles about Violentmonkey

The site also invites people to write articles about Violentmonkey. This is the lowest-barrier path: if you've used the extension and can explain it clearly, you can contribute by publishing a guide, tutorial, or review.

Choosing the right path for you

A safety note that applies to all contributors

The site includes a warning that's relevant whether you're contributing or just using the extension: Violentmonkey does not contain any ads and does not modify web pages automatically. Any changes and modifications on sites are done by installed scripts. Because of that, the site advises installing only scripts you trust. If you write articles or docs, passing this point along accurately is part of doing the job well.

Getting started

The site's own entry points are Get Started and GitHub. For contribution specifically, GitHub is the hub for code, and by extension the most likely place to find where translation and documentation work is coordinated. The site also links to GitHub Releases and a page for viewing all versions, including Beta and MV2, which is useful if you want to test a change against a specific build.

In short: pick the path that matches your skills, start from the project's GitHub, and keep the "install only scripts you trust" guidance in mind when you write about or document the extension.