My plug-in isn’t showing up in FL Studio!
How to use this guide
If your plug-in isn’t showing up in FL Studio, it could be a number of things. In this article, we talk about how to find, scan, and check that the plug-ins are loading properly.
1. Plug-in download and installation
Plug-ins Aren’t Showing Up
There could be a number of reasons why your plug-ins aren’t showing up in FL Studio. It could be due to bad installation, the plug-in not being installed to the correct scan path, or it could simply be that it isn’t enabled within FL Studio.
Plug-in download and installation
The default installation location for plug-ins varies depending on the manufacturer. During the installation process, it will ask you where you’d like to install the files. Here are a few tips to help you when installing plug-ins.
- If your plug-in download was delivered in a compressed folder (has a zipper), you will need to first uncompress it. Installing from compressed folders is a bad idea and will often cause installation errors.
- During installation, you will be prompted to choose the folder where you’d like the plug-in to be installed to. Take note of this folder location, or create a dedicated folder for all of your plug-ins to be installed to.
Enable the plug-in
Before you can use a plug-in within FL Studio, you must enable it in the Plug-in Manager menu first. This is the most common reason why plug-ins won’t show up on a track after installation. Follow these steps to enable a plug-in.
1. Go to the Options menu and click Manage Plug-ins.
2. In the plug-in window, make sure that the folder you installed your plug-in is listed and also has a white checkmark. If it isn’t listed, click the folder with a plus sign icon, and add it. Lastly, click Scan All.
3. After scanning is complete, locate your plug-in on the list and enable it by clicking the checkmark.
Make sure it’s compatible!
In order to use a plug-in within FL Studio, you need to make sure the format is compatible. FL Studio supports 32 and 64 bit AU, VST2 and VST3 plug-ins. Plug-ins with other formats cannot be used.
Enabling a plug-in within Plug-in Manager.
Add it properly
FL Studio uses two different types of plug-ins. Effects such as reverb or compression, and virtual instruments like drums or synths. If you try and add it to the incorrect spot, the plug-in will not show up. Follow these steps to load it to the project correctly.
Virtual instruments
Click the ‘+’ button on the bottom of the channel rack, then select the virtual instrument you’d like to load.
Effects
1. Navigate to the Mixer window and select the track you want to add the effect on.
2. Click on an empty slot, then select the plug-in.
Adding an audio effect plug-in.
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