How to Install the BidStaff Extension on Chrome, Edge or Firefox and Run Your First Upwork Job Check

You can install the BidStaff extension on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox in about two minutes. Download the file for your browser, load it from the extensions page, pin the icon and log in with your BidStaff account. After that, the proposal writer, the job check and your tracking sheet sit right next to every Upwork job you open.

This article walks through each browser step by step. It also covers logging in, updating, common errors and a few habits that save time. If you get stuck, the troubleshooting section lists the usual causes.

What do you need before you install the BidStaff extension?

You need three things. None of them takes long to set up.

• A BidStaff account. Any plan works, and so does an approved free trial. See plans and pricing if you do not have one yet.
• A desktop browser. Chrome, Edge and Firefox are supported. Brave and Opera usually work with the Chrome version.
• Your BidStaff login. Use your BidStaff username or email and password. The extension never asks for your Upwork password.

That last point matters. You stay logged in to Upwork the way you normally do. BidStaff only reads the job page you have open, and only when you use the panel.

How do you install the BidStaff extension on Google Chrome?

Chrome needs a few extra clicks because the extension is loaded from a folder. Follow these steps in order.

1. Go to the extension page and press Download for Chrome.
2. Unzip the file. You get a folder called bidstaff-extension.
3. Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
4. Turn on Developer mode in the top right corner.
5. Press Load unpacked and choose the bidstaff-extension folder. Pick the folder itself, not the zip.
6. Click the puzzle icon in the toolbar and pin BidStaff.

Keep the folder in a place you will not delete. Chrome reads the extension from that folder every time it starts. Once the extension is approved in the Chrome Web Store, the extension page shows an Add to Chrome button instead. Store installs update on their own.

How do you install the BidStaff extension on Microsoft Edge?

Edge is built on the same engine as Chrome, so the steps look almost the same.

1. Download the Edge version from the extension page and unzip it.
2. Open edge://extensions.
3. Turn on Developer mode. You find it on the left side or at the bottom of the page.
4. Press Load unpacked and pick the bidstaff-extension folder.
5. Pin BidStaff from the extensions button in the toolbar.

If you use both Chrome and Edge, install the extension in each browser. They do not share extensions with each other.

How do you install the BidStaff extension on Mozilla Firefox?

Firefox works differently. You load the .zip file as it is.

1. Download the Firefox version from the extension page. Do not unzip it.
2. Open about:debugging, choose This Firefox, then press Load Temporary Add-on.
3. Pick the downloaded .zip file.
4. Click the BidStaff icon. The panel opens in the sidebar.
5. The first time, press Allow so BidStaff can read the Upwork page you have open.

A temporary add-on stays until Firefox restarts. After a restart, load the .zip again. When BidStaff is approved on Firefox Add-ons, you can install it permanently with one click from the same page.

Which browser steps differ?

The table below puts the three installs side by side.

Step	Chrome	Edge	Firefox
File to download	Chrome version (zip)	Edge version (zip)	Firefox version (zip)
Unzip it?	Yes	Yes	No
Where to go	chrome://extensions	edge://extensions	about:debugging
Main button	Load unpacked	Load unpacked	Load Temporary Add-on
What you select	The folder	The folder	The .zip file
Stays after restart?	Yes	Yes	No, until Firefox restarts

How do you log in and run your first job check?

Once the icon is pinned, the rest takes under a minute.

1. Open any Upwork job and click the BidStaff icon. The panel opens next to the page.
2. Log in with your BidStaff username or email and password. Team members use their own login, so credits and tracking stay personal.
3. Pick the Upwork profile you want to apply from.
4. Press Check job (1 check). You see your match score and the client check.
5. If the job looks right, press Write proposal (1 credit). Review the draft, copy it and submit it on Upwork yourself.

The result of the check is easier to read once you know what the client numbers mean. Our article on how to check an Upwork client before you apply explains them. For a full walk-through of every button, read how the BidStaff extension works.

How do you update the extension?

When a new version is out, BidStaff emails you a link. What you do next depends on how you installed it.

• Store install: updates arrive by themselves.
• Chrome or Edge from a download: get the new file from the extension page. Replace the old bidstaff-extension folder with the new one. Then press the reload arrow on the BidStaff card in chrome://extensions or edge://extensions.
• Firefox: load the new .zip the same way as before.

Replace the folder rather than copying files over the old ones. That avoids leftover files from an older version.

Why use the extension instead of working by hand?

You can apply to Upwork jobs without any tool. It just costs more time per job. The extension removes the copying, switching tabs and note-keeping.

Task	Doing it manually	With the BidStaff extension
Reading job details	Copy the text into another tool	The panel reads the job page you have open
Judging the client	Check each number and divide by hand	One check shows the numbers side by side
Writing the proposal	Start from a blank page or an old draft	Draft in your tone, with the fitting sample
Recording the apply	Update a spreadsheet later	Saved to Tracking automatically
Avoiding double applies	Ask the team in chat	A warning shows if a teammate already wrote one

Even a small time saving adds up when you apply to several jobs a day. It also keeps your tracking sheet honest, because nothing depends on memory.

What if the installation does not work?

Most problems have a quick fix. Check these first.

• “Load unpacked” shows an error. You picked the zip or a file inside the folder. Pick the folder that contains manifest.json.
• Login says it cannot reach the site. Check your internet connection. Also confirm you use your BidStaff login, not your Upwork one.
• Nothing shows on a job. Scroll the job into view and press Re-read page. If you opened a preview from the feed, open the full job page instead.
• The icon is missing. Open the extensions button in the toolbar and pin BidStaff.
• Firefox lost the extension. A temporary add-on is removed on restart. Load the .zip again.

Still stuck? Contact support. A real person answers within one business day.

A quick safety check

Download the file only from the official extension page on bidstaff.io. Do not load extension files that someone sends you in a chat. Developer mode lets you load any folder, so only load what you trust.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to install the BidStaff extension?

The download is available on the extension page. To use it you need a BidStaff account, which can be on any plan or an approved free trial.

Does the extension need my Upwork password?

No. You log in with your BidStaff username or email and password only.

Can I use it on Brave or Opera?

Brave and Opera usually work with the Chrome version. The supported browsers are Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

Why does Chrome ask me to turn on Developer mode?

Loading an extension from a folder is a developer feature in Chrome and Edge. Once the extension is approved in the store, you can use Add to Chrome instead.

Why did the extension disappear from Firefox?

Firefox removes temporary add-ons when it restarts. Load the .zip again from about:debugging.

Can my team members use the same login?

Each person should use their own login. Credits and tracking are kept per person.

Will the extension apply to jobs for me?

No. It never submits, clicks or sends messages on Upwork. You copy the proposal and submit it yourself.

How do I know a new version is available?

BidStaff emails you a link when a new version is out. Store installs update by themselves.

Conclusion

To install the BidStaff extension, download your browser’s file, load it from the extensions page, pin the icon and log in. Chrome and Edge load a folder. Firefox loads the zip and needs a reload after each restart.

Your next steps:

1. Install it in the browser you use for Upwork.
2. Run one job check on a real job.
3. Add your profiles, samples and winning proposals so drafts sound like you.
4. Check your email for update links and reload when asked.

Other related articles

• How the BidStaff extension works from job page to tracked proposal
• How to check an Upwork client before you apply
• Add Upwork profiles, samples and winning proposals automatically
• Using the BidStaff extension with your agency team
• How to write an Upwork proposal that gets a reply

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.