How can I get Chrome multiple users to recognize symlinked extensions?

Question

I have multiple Chrome users.

To save time and space on extensions that are the same (state / prefs / etc) across all users, I've symlinked most extensions (e.g. Profile 4/Extensions/xyz -> Default/Extensions/xyz).

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be recognized by Chrome (e.g. logging in as user 4, it shows no extensions installed).

How can I get Chrome to obey those symlinks?

Answer 1

According to Google, extensions can't simply be copied from Profile to Profile. They must be deployed to new Profiles.

https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/external_extensions.html#registry

An extension that's installed automatically is known as an external extension. Google Chrome supports two ways of installing external extensions:

Using a preferences JSON file Using the Windows registry (Windows only)