diff --git a/.github/workflows/ui-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/ui-tests.yml
index 1a486575d..068c76898 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ui-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ui-tests.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         python-version: [3.8]
-        node-version: [16.x]
+        node-version: [18.x]
       fail-fast: false
 
     steps:
diff --git a/packages/voila/src/main.ts b/packages/voila/src/main.ts
index bcf1089e3..625378d1f 100644
--- a/packages/voila/src/main.ts
+++ b/packages/voila/src/main.ts
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ import {
 
 //Inspired by: https://github.com/jupyterlab/jupyterlab/blob/master/dev_mode/index.js
 
-const disabled = [
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:plugin',
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:saveWidgetState'
-];
-
 /**
  * The main function
  */
@@ -44,6 +39,9 @@ async function main() {
     require('@jupyterlab/rendermime-extension'),
     require('@jupyterlab/theme-light-extension'),
     require('@jupyterlab/theme-dark-extension'),
+    require('@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager/lib/plugin').default.filter(
+      (p: any) => p.id !== '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:plugin'
+    ),
     plugins
   ];
 
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ async function main() {
   );
   federatedExtensions.forEach((p) => {
     if (p.status === 'fulfilled') {
-      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, disabled)) {
+      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, [])) {
         mods.push(plugin);
       }
     } else {
@@ -115,7 +113,7 @@ async function main() {
   );
   federatedMimeExtensions.forEach((p) => {
     if (p.status === 'fulfilled') {
-      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, disabled)) {
+      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, [])) {
         mimeExtensions.push(plugin);
       }
     } else {
diff --git a/packages/voila/src/tree.ts b/packages/voila/src/tree.ts
index 53cbc4cf1..5435802f4 100644
--- a/packages/voila/src/tree.ts
+++ b/packages/voila/src/tree.ts
@@ -26,14 +26,6 @@ import {
   widgetManager
 } from './voilaplugins';
 
-export const TREE_DISABLED_EXTENSIONS = [
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:plugin',
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:saveWidgetState',
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:base-2.0.0',
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:controls-2.0.0',
-  '@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager:output-1.0.0'
-];
-
 /**
  * The main function
  */
@@ -100,7 +92,7 @@ async function main() {
   );
   federatedExtensions.forEach((p) => {
     if (p.status === 'fulfilled') {
-      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, TREE_DISABLED_EXTENSIONS)) {
+      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, [])) {
         mods.push(plugin);
       }
     } else {
@@ -114,7 +106,7 @@ async function main() {
   );
   federatedMimeExtensions.forEach((p) => {
     if (p.status === 'fulfilled') {
-      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, TREE_DISABLED_EXTENSIONS)) {
+      for (const plugin of activePlugins(p.value, [])) {
         mimeExtensions.push(plugin);
       }
     } else {
diff --git a/voila/utils.py b/voila/utils.py
index 2473bd8e1..8ae7f006b 100644
--- a/voila/utils.py
+++ b/voila/utils.py
@@ -118,9 +118,10 @@ def get_page_config(base_url, settings, log, voila_configuration: VoilaConfigura
     disabled_extensions = [
         "@voila-dashboards/jupyterlab-preview",
         "@jupyter/collaboration-extension",
+        "@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager",
     ]
     disabled_extensions.extend(page_config.get("disabledExtensions", []))
-    required_extensions = ["@jupyter-widgets/jupyterlab-manager"]
+    required_extensions = []
     federated_extensions = deepcopy(page_config["federated_extensions"])
 
     page_config["federated_extensions"] = filter_extension(