Files
openclaw/docs/cli/plugins.md
Vincent Koc f392b81e95 Infra: require explicit opt-in for prerelease npm installs (#38117)
* Infra: tighten npm registry spec parsing

* Infra: block implicit prerelease npm installs

* Plugins: cover prerelease install policy

* Infra: add npm registry spec tests

* Hooks: cover prerelease install policy

* Docs: clarify plugin guide version policy

* Docs: clarify plugin install version policy

* Docs: clarify hooks install version policy

* Docs: clarify hook pack version policy
2026-03-06 11:13:30 -05:00

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---
summary: "CLI reference for `openclaw plugins` (list, install, uninstall, enable/disable, doctor)"
read_when:
- You want to install or manage in-process Gateway plugins
- You want to debug plugin load failures
title: "plugins"
---
# `openclaw plugins`
Manage Gateway plugins/extensions (loaded in-process).
Related:
- Plugin system: [Plugins](/tools/plugin)
- Plugin manifest + schema: [Plugin manifest](/plugins/manifest)
- Security hardening: [Security](/gateway/security)
## Commands
```bash
openclaw plugins list
openclaw plugins info <id>
openclaw plugins enable <id>
openclaw plugins disable <id>
openclaw plugins uninstall <id>
openclaw plugins doctor
openclaw plugins update <id>
openclaw plugins update --all
```
Bundled plugins ship with OpenClaw but start disabled. Use `plugins enable` to
activate them.
All plugins must ship a `openclaw.plugin.json` file with an inline JSON Schema
(`configSchema`, even if empty). Missing/invalid manifests or schemas prevent
the plugin from loading and fail config validation.
### Install
```bash
openclaw plugins install <path-or-spec>
openclaw plugins install <npm-spec> --pin
```
Security note: treat plugin installs like running code. Prefer pinned versions.
Npm specs are **registry-only** (package name + optional **exact version** or
**dist-tag**). Git/URL/file specs and semver ranges are rejected. Dependency
installs run with `--ignore-scripts` for safety.
Bare specs and `@latest` stay on the stable track. If npm resolves either of
those to a prerelease, OpenClaw stops and asks you to opt in explicitly with a
prerelease tag such as `@beta`/`@rc` or an exact prerelease version such as
`@1.2.3-beta.4`.
If a bare install spec matches a bundled plugin id (for example `diffs`), OpenClaw
installs the bundled plugin directly. To install an npm package with the same
name, use an explicit scoped spec (for example `@scope/diffs`).
Supported archives: `.zip`, `.tgz`, `.tar.gz`, `.tar`.
Use `--link` to avoid copying a local directory (adds to `plugins.load.paths`):
```bash
openclaw plugins install -l ./my-plugin
```
Use `--pin` on npm installs to save the resolved exact spec (`name@version`) in
`plugins.installs` while keeping the default behavior unpinned.
### Uninstall
```bash
openclaw plugins uninstall <id>
openclaw plugins uninstall <id> --dry-run
openclaw plugins uninstall <id> --keep-files
```
`uninstall` removes plugin records from `plugins.entries`, `plugins.installs`,
the plugin allowlist, and linked `plugins.load.paths` entries when applicable.
For active memory plugins, the memory slot resets to `memory-core`.
By default, uninstall also removes the plugin install directory under the active
state dir extensions root (`$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/extensions/<id>`). Use
`--keep-files` to keep files on disk.
`--keep-config` is supported as a deprecated alias for `--keep-files`.
### Update
```bash
openclaw plugins update <id>
openclaw plugins update --all
openclaw plugins update <id> --dry-run
```
Updates only apply to plugins installed from npm (tracked in `plugins.installs`).
When a stored integrity hash exists and the fetched artifact hash changes,
OpenClaw prints a warning and asks for confirmation before proceeding. Use
global `--yes` to bypass prompts in CI/non-interactive runs.