Disable or remove a Claude plugin safely

Removing a plugin you might want back is a different operation from removing it for good. Here is what each command actually changes - tested on Claude Code v2.1.296 (October 2026), with the Cowork side from Anthropic's current docs.

Disable vs uninstall

• Disable flips one flag: claude plugin disable my-plugin@marketplace-name. The plugin stays on disk and in your settings, but nothing from it loads. Re-enable with claude plugin enable. This is the safe move when you are debugging or pausing a plugin.
• Uninstall removes the entry from your settings: claude plugin uninstall my-plugin@marketplace-name. Reinstalling later is one command if the marketplace is still added, so this is also low-risk - but you lose any per-plugin state with it.

Which settings file changes depends on the scope the plugin was installed at: user scope writes your home settings, project scope writes .claude/settings.json (committed), local scope writes .claude/settings.local.json. The details are in user, project or local.

The special case: skills-directory plugins

Plugins created with claude plugin init live in ~/.claude/skills/ and have no uninstall command. Disable works the same (claude plugin disable name@skills-dir); to remove one entirely, delete its directory. Verified on v2.1.296.

In Cowork

Anthropic's docs put plugin management under Customize > Plugins in the app: installed plugins can be turned off or removed from the same page you installed them from. Plugins you added on the web or desktop are saved to your Claude account, not one computer, so removing one removes it everywhere you sign in.

One exception matters on work plans: on Team and Enterprise, an administrator can mark a plugin as required. Required plugins install automatically and show "This plugin is required by your organization" - you cannot remove those; ask your admin.

Before you remove anything

1. claude plugin list shows every plugin with its scope and status, so you know what you are touching.
2. If a plugin misbehaves, disable first and test. If the problem disappears, the plugin was the cause - no reinstall gamble needed.
3. Removing a marketplace does not remove the plugins installed from it; remove those first.

Sources

• Plugins reference - Claude Code Docs
• Use plugins in Claude - Claude Help Center
• Commands verified on Claude Code v2.1.296, October 11, 2026