Patch window
Many plugins vanish together right after a game update. Treat compatibility as the leading hypothesis and avoid mass reinstalls.
Dalamud plugin recovery
FFXIV Dalamud Plugins Missing? Find the Safe Fix
If FFXIV Dalamud plugins are missing, first separate a post-patch compatibility pause from an empty plugin window, a filter problem, or a local configuration issue. This guide gives you a reversible diagnostic order before you delete files or download an unsafe replacement.
Start with the symptom
A missing plugin is not always a broken install
A plugin can disappear because its author has not marked it compatible with the current FFXIV or Dalamud build. The same symptom can also come from the wrong repository, a search filter, a disabled plugin, or a plugin window that is off-screen.
Use the in-game Dalamud tools first. Treat the image on this page as an editorial concept illustration, not as an official status screen or a real plugin list.
Quick answer
After an FFXIV patch, it is normal for some Dalamud plugins to remain unavailable until their maintainers update compatibility data or publish a compatible build. If many plugins disappear at once, check the official project status and recent release notes before changing local files.
If only one plugin is missing, search for its exact name, confirm that the correct repository is enabled, and check whether it is disabled or filtered. Do not download a random DLL, use a copied plugin folder, or replace the whole launcher just because a plugin is not listed.
What kind of missing-plugin problem do you have?
| What you see | Likely boundary | Safe first move |
|---|---|---|
| Only one plugin is missing | The plugin may be unavailable, disabled, renamed, or filtered | Search the exact name, check the repository, and inspect its update state |
| Several plugins disappeared after a patch | Compatibility data or a maintained repository may be waiting on the new build | Check official status and wait for a compatible update before reinstalling |
| The plugin window is empty | Dalamud may not be ready, the repository may be disabled, or a filter may hide results | Open /xlplugins, verify settings, clear an accidental search, and test the repository connection |
| The plugin is listed but will not load | An outdated plugin, dependency, or saved configuration may be failing | Update or disable one plugin at a time and record the first visible error |
| The launcher or game will not start | The problem may be broader than Dalamud | Use the general troubleshooting or launch-crash guide before touching plugin files |
What does “Dalamud plugins missing” actually mean?
The phrase can describe several different states: a plugin is absent from the installer, a plugin is installed but disabled, a search result is hidden by a filter, or a window is open in a different place. These states need different fixes, so start by noting whether the plugin name appears anywhere in the Dalamud interface.
A post-patch outage can be broad without being permanent. If players are asking whether FFXIV mods are down, compare the timing and scope: many missing plugins immediately after a game update points toward compatibility, while one missing plugin points toward its repository, maintainer, or local state.
Restore plugin visibility in a safe order
- 1. Confirm the layer that failed. Launch through XIVLauncher, enter the game, and check whether Dalamud loaded. If the game or launcher never reaches that point, switch to the launcher troubleshooting path instead of treating the issue as a missing plugin.
- 2. Open the normal plugin window. Use /xlplugins in FFXIV chat or the documented Dalamud menu. If the command does nothing, check whether Dalamud finished loading and whether the window moved off-screen before deleting any folders.
- 3. Check search, filters, and repositories. Clear the search box, review enabled and disabled states, and confirm that the repository containing the plugin is still present. A custom repository copied from an old guide may no longer be maintained.
- 4. Compare the timing with the latest patch. If the problem began immediately after an FFXIV or Dalamud update, look for compatibility information from the maintained project sources. Do not force an old plugin build into a newer runtime.
- 5. Update or disable one plugin at a time. When a plugin is listed but fails, update it through the normal installer or disable it and test again. Changing several plugins at once removes the evidence needed to identify the first failure.
- 6. Re-test a clean session. Restart the game after a targeted change, note the plugin and build you tested, and re-enable plugins individually. Keep a backup of any configuration you plan to remove.
Check the interface before the files
Make sure you are looking at the right plugin layer
The plugin window, the Dalamud settings window, and local plugin files are not interchangeable. A correct-looking Windows folder does not prove that the active game profile loaded it, and an empty search result does not prove that the files are corrupt.
Use the interface to confirm the active state first. The launcher image below is a real interface reference from this site’s media library, not a live report of repository availability or a guarantee that a particular plugin is compatible.
Why plugins can stop updating after a patch
A plugin update depends on more than the launcher being installed. The plugin may need a new compatibility marker, a dependency update, a repository refresh, or a maintainer review after the game changes. That is why “plugins not updating XIVLauncher” can be a timing or repository problem rather than a damaged installer.
If an outdated Dalamud plugin is not working, forcing the old build back into the active profile can create a second problem. The useful question is often “when will Dalamud plugins work after this patch?” The answer depends on the specific plugin and its maintained source, not on a universal timer.
Three clues that narrow the cause
Repository or filter
One missing name, an empty search, or a disabled source usually points to the installer view rather than the whole launcher.
Local plugin state
A listed plugin that fails to load may need a targeted update, disable-and-test pass, or a backed-up configuration reset.
Use the least destructive path
The shortest recovery path is visible and reversible
Start with status, then the active Dalamud window, then repository and filter checks. Only after those checks should you isolate one plugin or inspect a backed-up local configuration. This order preserves useful evidence and makes it easier to explain the result in a support channel.
The second concept image shows the recovery sequence symbolically. It is not a screenshot of the Dalamud installer and does not claim that every plugin follows the same update schedule.
Avoid risky shortcuts
Do not download a plugin DLL from an unknown file host, replace a maintained repository with a copied URL, or run a script that promises to “unlock” all plugins. Those shortcuts can introduce malware, stale code, or a configuration you cannot reproduce.
Do not delete the entire game, launcher, or plugin directory as a first response. If a targeted cleanup is eventually needed, record the active path, back up settings, and confirm the step from a maintained source first.
XIVLauncher, Dalamud, and plugins are separate projects and third-party software. This guide is independent and cannot promise compatibility, service availability, or compliance with every player’s account and game rules.
Why did my Dalamud plugins disappear after an FFXIV patch?
The most common explanation is a compatibility pause while plugin maintainers update metadata, dependencies, or builds for the new game version. If many plugins changed at once, check maintained project status before changing local files.
Why is the Dalamud plugin list empty?
Dalamud may not have finished loading, a repository may be disabled, a search or filter may hide results, or the plugin window may be in a different position. Open /xlplugins, clear filters, and confirm the source before reinstalling anything.
Should I delete the plugin folder when one plugin will not load?
Not as a first step. Disable or update that one plugin, capture the visible error, and back up its configuration. Broad deletion removes evidence and can create new setup work.
How long does it take for Dalamud plugins to work after a patch?
There is no universal time. Each plugin depends on its maintainer, dependencies, repository, and the size of the game change. Use the maintained source for that plugin rather than forcing an old build.
Will reinstalling XIVLauncher restore missing plugins?
Usually not when the cause is post-patch compatibility, a repository setting, or a filter. Reinstalling can also hide the original evidence, so reserve it for a confirmed launcher installation problem.
Are FFXIV mods and Dalamud plugins the same thing?
They are related but not identical terms. Dalamud plugins are third-party addons loaded through the Dalamud framework, while “mods” can describe several kinds of client-side changes. Check the source, behavior, privacy implications, and game rules for each tool.