Cowork plugins not loading? The documented causes
When a plugin does not show up or does nothing, the cause is on a short documented list. Check them in order.
A plugin that will not load has a short list of documented causes. Every cause below comes from Anthropic's current docs or a verified Claude Code run (October 2026) - no guessed symptoms. Check them in this order; the cheap ones are first.
1. Your plan
Plugins are available on paid Claude plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise). On a free plan the Plugins page does not appear at all - if you cannot find Customize > Plugins, this is the cause, not a bug.
2. Your app version
Cowork requires the latest Claude Desktop version (the Windows docs say this explicitly). An outdated desktop app is the quietest cause: everything looks normal except the plugin. Update, restart, check again.
3. The surface you are in
Not every component loads everywhere. Skills, commands and MCP servers are the portable core; hooks and sub-agents do not load in a plain chat session, and local MCP servers only run when the session runs on your computer. If the plugin is installed but one feature is missing, you are probably looking at the component matrix, not a failure - the full table is in which features carry over.
4. Scope and sync (Claude Code side)
In Code, a plugin installed at project scope only exists in that project; user scope is the one that follows you (details in plugin scopes). The Code-to-Cowork sync is one-way, needs v2.1.273+, and excludes API-key and Bedrock sign-ins (causes in plugin not syncing).
5. Admin rules on work plans
On Team and Enterprise, admins can restrict which plugins you install or disable local MCP servers entirely. Required plugins appear automatically; restricted ones never show up. If you are on a work plan and a plugin is invisible, ask the admin before debugging your machine.
6. The marketplace itself
A marketplace repo you cannot access, or one with an invalid manifest, fails at the add step - the plugins inside never become visible. The verified errors and fixes are in marketplace not found and plugin validation failed.
Sources
Read more
Claude Cowork plugin requirements: the checklist
Which Claude plans include plugins, which devices Cowork needs, and the access checks to run before you install anything.
Cowork vs Code: which plugin features carry over?
The same plugin folder installs in both, but each surface loads a different subset. The documented matrix and the one-way sync rule.