Add plugins to packages

Last updated on Aug 3, 2026

Learn how to extend Creative Cloud app functionality by adding plugins or extensions in your packages.

Note

Currently, we don’t support adding plugins to packages for Windows ARM desktop devices.

How plugin installation order works

Bundle plugins and extensions into Admin Console deployment packages to install applications and extensions in a single deployment. Plugins and extensions are installed in the targeted Adobe products.

  • The supporting products are always installed before you install any plugins. Any errors encountered while installing the plugins don’t affect the package installations.
  • Plugins aren’t installed if the targeted Adobe products aren’t previously installed or not installed as part of the current package.
  • If a plugin requires users to restart the targeted product, users must do that before the plugin or extension is available.

Choose plugins for a package

You can add plugins to a package when creating it in the Admin Console by selecting them from the Marketplace, rather than adding them manually.

Sign in to the Admin Console and create a managed package.

On the Choose plugins screen, search for the plugins you want and select each one's checkbox.

Select Next and then complete the package.

Note

This is only available for Named User Licensing packages. It allows you to add plugins while creating a managed package in the Admin Console.

Users can install plugins through the Creative Cloud desktop app, or administrators can package and deploy them directly to users' devices.

The following options are available to deploy and deliver plugins for Named User Licenses:

  Self-service Self-service packages Managed packages
Make plugins available to users Users can install plugins themselves using the Creative Cloud desktop app. Allow or disallow end users to install and update plugins from the Creative Cloud desktop app. If you disallow, package the required plugins and deploy them to the users' computers. 
Make updates available to users
Users can update plugins themselves using the Creative Cloud desktop app.
Create a package for the updated plugins from the Admin Console.
Sample use cases Fulfill the diverse and changing requirements of apps.
  • Have tighter control over the plugins that your team uses.
  • To standardize the plugin versions for the team.
Next steps for admins -
Create self-service packages

Create managed packages

End-user experience Use the Creative Cloud desktop app to install extensions and add-ons.
Install plugins and updates from a package, or the Creative Cloud desktop app if self-service plugin install is enabled.

Manually add plugins in a package

Use this method when the required plugin isn't available through the Marketplace or when you want to deploy plugins using package-based installation. 

Note

Plugins can be packaged separately from their supporting applications and deployed to devices where the applications are already installed.

On the Creative Cloud Desktop options dialog box, select Create a folder for extensions and include the UPIA command-line tool.

Create a package dialog box with the Create a folder for extensions and include the UPIA command-line tool option selected.
Select this option to bundle the UPIA tool with the deployment package.

Select Next and proceed to complete the package creation procedure. The following folder is created in the package folder:

  • macOS: <package name>/Build/<PackageName>_Install.pkg/Contents/Resources/Plugins
  • Windows: <package name>\Build\Plugins
  • macOS Universal: You may need to create the following folder if it isn't present.
    <package name>/Build/<PackageName>_Install.pkg/Contents/Resources/Plugins

Download and place the plugins and extensions to be installed as part of the deployment in the previous folder.

Deploy the package for the users.