Dalamud plugin source guide
Use the exact repository URL published by the plugin maintainer, check who controls that source, then add and enable it in Dalamud settings. A listing makes a plugin available to the in-game installer; it does not certify the publisher, plugin behavior, compatibility, or approval by Square Enix.
Start FFXIV through XIVLauncher and wait for Dalamud to load. In chat, enter /xlsettings, open the Experimental area, and locate Custom Plugin Repositories. Paste the exact manifest URL from the publisher's current documentation, use the add control, confirm that the source is enabled, and save. Then open /xlplugins, find the plugin by name, read its notes, and install it there.
If you cannot confirm who owns the URL or why the plugin needs a separate source, stop before adding it. Do not replace this in-game flow with a downloaded DLL or a URL copied from an unrelated comment.
Concept illustration
A repository is a publishing source that tells Dalamud which plugins and release information a publisher makes available. The source might be maintained by one plugin author or by a community project. It is separate from the default directory maintained by the Dalamud project, even when both sources appear in the same installer.
Treat the image as an editorial concept, not an official XIVLauncher screen. The practical check is the publisher identity and the exact URL shown in that publisher's current instructions. A familiar name, a polished page, or a plugin appearing in a list is not a security review.
Use the route that matches the author's instructions. Most players should first search the default plugin directory in /xlplugins. A custom repository is relevant when a specific maintainer documents an additional source. Experimental or testing builds are another path and are not the same thing as adding a repository. A local development build is intended for plugin development, not routine installation.
| Source | What it means | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Default plugin directory | The normal in-game listing maintained through the Dalamud project workflow. | Search /xlplugins and read the plugin's current notes. |
| Custom repository | An additional source maintained by a plugin author or community project. | Confirm the owner and exact manifest URL in current publisher documentation. |
| Experimental build | A test version or test channel for a plugin that may be incomplete or unstable. | Enable only the documented test option for a specific reason. |
| Downloaded plugin file | A file obtained outside the normal installer path. | Do not use an unknown DLL mirror as a shortcut for repository setup. |
A custom plugin repository URL is an input supplied by another party. Make the source check before opening settings, while you still have the publisher's documentation in front of you.
Use this short review to catch mismatches; it reduces avoidable mistakes but cannot prove that software is harmless.
Setup sequence
The useful sequence is publisher check, exact URL, enabled source, plugin review, and one installation. Each step answers a different question: who published the source, whether the address is the intended one, whether Dalamud can read it, and whether the plugin matches your need.
If the plugin is not listed after saving, do not add several guessed URLs. Confirm the source state and current instructions first, then check the troubleshooting cases below.
If you no longer want a repository, reopen /xlsettings and return to the custom-source list. Use the current controls to disable or remove that source, then save. Removing the source changes where Dalamud looks for listings; it may not uninstall a plugin that was already installed from it.
Open /xlplugins and review the installed plugin separately. If you no longer want it, use the installer's uninstall or disable control for that plugin. Follow the maintainer's current notes if the plugin stores configuration or asks for a restart. Do not delete folders by guesswork, and do not remove unrelated plugin data as a first step.
If you are only testing whether the source caused a problem, disable one source or plugin at a time and record the result. A small reversible change gives you clearer evidence than removing every plugin or resetting the whole launcher.
| What you see | Check first | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The URL is rejected | Compare it character by character with the publisher's current instructions. | Ask the maintainer for the current address; do not guess a replacement. |
| The source is listed but disabled | Review its enabled state in /xlsettings. | Enable only the source you verified, save, then reopen /xlplugins. |
| The source is enabled but empty | Check the source status, network access, and any current publisher notice. | Wait or contact the maintainer if its manifest or service is unavailable. |
| One plugin is missing | Search its exact name and compare with the author's current release notes. | Confirm that the plugin still uses this repository and supports your current setup. |
| The plugin will not load | Check compatibility, dependencies, and the first error reported by the plugin. | Disable that plugin and follow its maintained troubleshooting steps before reinstalling. |
Source boundary
The default directory and an independent repository can both feed entries into the in-game installer, but they do not necessarily share ownership, review, release practices, or support. Keep the publisher name attached to the source you are evaluating.
This illustration shows separate publishing branches converging on one installer. It is not a ranking, endorsement, or claim that either source has passed a security audit. The official Dalamud directory says plugins are installed through the game; do not manually download plugin files just because a repository exists.
Adding a source only makes its published entries discoverable. It does not prove that a plugin is safe, compatible with the current game, maintained, or approved by the game publisher. Review the project owner, source documentation, plugin behavior, permissions or data handling described by the author, and current compatibility notes before installing.
Use official project instructions for the supported installation flow and check current game and service rules for yourself. A repository page, open-source label, or successful install is not permission from Square Enix and is not a guarantee about account risk. Never share passwords, one-time codes, or unredacted logs to troubleshoot a third-party plugin.
It is an additional plugin source maintained by an author or community project. Dalamud can read its published entries alongside the default directory, but the source has its own maintainer and review practices.
Open /xlsettings in game, select the Experimental area, and use Custom Plugin Repositories. Paste the exact address from the publisher, add and enable it, save, then search for the plugin in /xlplugins.
No. Verify the project owner and current URL through the maintainer's own documentation. Do not paste unattributed links or guess a manifest address from a filename pattern.
No. Availability means the installer can show the entry from that source. It is not a security audit, compatibility guarantee, or endorsement by Dalamud or Square Enix.
Not necessarily. Remove or disable the source in /xlsettings, then review any already-installed plugin separately in /xlplugins and uninstall or disable it there if needed.
The URL may be outdated, the publisher's manifest may be offline, the source may be disabled, or the plugin may have moved. Recheck the current publisher instructions and status before changing the address.