vilvona 1.0.0

package/docs/plugins/manage-plugins.md

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+---
+summary: "Quick examples for listing, installing, updating, inspecting, and uninstalling OpenClaw plugins"
+read_when:
+  - You want quick plugin list, install, update, inspect, or uninstall examples
+  - You want to choose a plugin install source
+  - You want the right reference for publishing plugin packages
+title: "Manage plugins"
+sidebarTitle: "Manage plugins"
+doc-schema-version: 1
+---
+
+Use this page for common plugin management commands. For the exhaustive command
+contract, flags, source-selection rules, and edge cases, see
+[`openclaw plugins`](/cli/plugins).
+
+Most install workflows are:
+
+1. find a package
+2. install it from ClawHub, npm, git, or a local path
+3. let the managed Gateway auto-restart, or restart it manually when unmanaged
+4. verify the plugin's runtime registrations
+
+## List and search plugins
+
+```bash
+openclaw plugins list
+openclaw plugins list --enabled
+openclaw plugins list --verbose
+openclaw plugins list --json
+openclaw plugins search "calendar"
+```
+
+Use `--json` for scripts:
+
+```bash
+openclaw plugins list --json \
+  | jq '.plugins[] | {id, enabled, format, source, dependencyStatus}'
+```
+
+`plugins list` is a cold inventory check. It shows what OpenClaw can discover
+from config, manifests, and the plugin registry; it does not prove that an
+already-running Gateway imported the plugin runtime. The JSON output includes
+registry diagnostics and each plugin's static `dependencyStatus` when the
+plugin package declares `dependencies` or `optionalDependencies`.
+
+`plugins search` queries ClawHub for installable plugin packages and prints
+install hints such as `openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>`.
+
+## Install plugins
+
+```bash
+# Search ClawHub for plugin packages.
+openclaw plugins search "calendar"
+
+# Install from ClawHub.
+openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>
+openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>@1.2.3
+openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>@beta
+
+# Install from npm.
+openclaw plugins install npm:<package>
+openclaw plugins install npm:@scope/openclaw-plugin@1.2.3
+openclaw plugins install npm:@openclaw/codex
+
+# Install from a local npm pack artifact.
+openclaw plugins install npm-pack:<path.tgz>
+
+# Install from git or a local development checkout.
+openclaw plugins install git:github.com/acme/openclaw-plugin@v1.0.0
+openclaw plugins install ./my-plugin
+openclaw plugins install --link ./my-plugin
+```
+
+Bare package specs install from npm during the launch cutover. Use `clawhub:`,
+`npm:`, `git:`, or `npm-pack:` when you need deterministic source selection.
+If the bare name matches an official plugin id, OpenClaw can install the
+catalog entry directly.
+
+Use `--force` only when you intentionally want to overwrite an existing install
+target. For routine upgrades of tracked npm, ClawHub, or hook-pack installs, use
+`openclaw plugins update`.
+
+## Restart and inspect
+
+After installing, updating, or uninstalling plugin code, a running managed
+Gateway with config reload enabled restarts automatically. If the Gateway is not
+managed or reload is disabled, restart it yourself before checking live runtime
+surfaces:
+
+```bash
+openclaw gateway restart
+openclaw plugins inspect <plugin-id> --runtime --json
+```
+
+Use `inspect --runtime` when you need proof that the plugin registered runtime
+surfaces such as tools, hooks, services, Gateway methods, HTTP routes, or
+plugin-owned CLI commands. Plain `inspect` and `list` are cold manifest,
+config, and registry checks.
+
+## Update plugins
+
+```bash
+openclaw plugins update <plugin-id>
+openclaw plugins update <npm-package-or-spec>
+openclaw plugins update --all
+openclaw plugins update <plugin-id> --dry-run
+```
+
+When you pass a plugin id, OpenClaw reuses the tracked install spec. Stored
+dist-tags such as `@beta` and exact pinned versions continue to be used on
+later `update <plugin-id>` runs.
+
+For npm installs, you can pass an explicit package spec to switch the tracked
+record:
+
+```bash
+openclaw plugins update @scope/openclaw-plugin@beta
+openclaw plugins update @scope/openclaw-plugin
+```
+
+The second command moves a plugin back to the registry's default release line
+when it was previously pinned to an exact version or tag.
+
+When `openclaw update` runs on the beta channel, plugin records can prefer
+matching `@beta` releases. For the exact fallback and pinning rules, see
+[`openclaw plugins`](/cli/plugins#update).
+
+## Uninstall plugins
+
+```bash
+openclaw plugins uninstall <plugin-id> --dry-run
+openclaw plugins uninstall <plugin-id>
+openclaw plugins uninstall <plugin-id> --keep-files
+```
+
+Uninstall removes the plugin's config entry, persisted plugin index record,
+allow/deny list entries, and linked load paths when applicable. Managed install
+directories are removed unless you pass `--keep-files`. A running managed
+Gateway restarts automatically when the uninstall changes plugin source.
+
+In Nix mode (`OPENCLAW_NIX_MODE=1`), plugin install, update, uninstall, enable,
+and disable commands are disabled. Manage those choices in the Nix source for
+the install instead.
+
+## Choose a source
+
+| Source      | Use when                                                                    | Example                                                        |
+| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| ClawHub     | You want OpenClaw-native discovery, scan summaries, versions, and hints     | `openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>`                   |
+| npmjs.com   | You already ship JavaScript packages or need npm dist-tags/private registry | `openclaw plugins install npm:@acme/openclaw-plugin`           |
+| git         | You want a branch, tag, or commit from a repository                         | `openclaw plugins install git:github.com/<owner>/<repo>@<ref>` |
+| local path  | You are developing or testing a plugin on the same machine                  | `openclaw plugins install --link ./my-plugin`                  |
+| npm pack    | You are proving a local package artifact through npm install semantics      | `openclaw plugins install npm-pack:<path.tgz>`                 |
+| marketplace | You are installing a Claude-compatible marketplace plugin                   | `openclaw plugins install <plugin> --marketplace <source>`     |
+
+Managed local path installs must be plugin directories or archives. Put
+standalone plugin files in `plugins.load.paths` instead of installing them with
+`plugins install`.
+
+## Publish plugins
+
+ClawHub is the primary public discovery surface for OpenClaw plugins. Publish
+there when you want users to find plugin metadata, version history, registry
+scan results, and install hints before they install.
+
+```bash
+npm i -g clawhub
+clawhub login
+clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin --dry-run
+clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin
+clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin@v1.0.0
+```
+
+Native npm plugins must include a plugin manifest and package metadata before
+publishing:
+
+```json package.json
+{
+  "name": "@acme/openclaw-plugin",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "type": "module",
+  "openclaw": {
+    "extensions": ["./dist/index.js"]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+```bash
+npm publish --access public
+openclaw plugins install npm:@acme/openclaw-plugin
+openclaw plugins install npm:@acme/openclaw-plugin@beta
+openclaw plugins install npm:@acme/openclaw-plugin@1.0.0
+```
+
+Use these pages for the full publishing contract instead of treating this page
+as the publishing reference:
+
+- [ClawHub publishing](/clawhub/publishing) explains owners, scopes, releases,
+  review, package validation, and package transfer.
+- [Building plugins](/plugins/building-plugins) shows the plugin package shape
+  and first publish workflow.
+- [Plugin manifest](/plugins/manifest) defines native plugin manifest fields.
+
+If the same package is available on both ClawHub and npm, use the explicit
+`clawhub:` or `npm:` prefix when you need to force one source.
+
+## Related
+
+- [Plugins](/tools/plugin) - install, configure, restart, and troubleshoot
+- [`openclaw plugins`](/cli/plugins) - full CLI reference
+- [Community plugins](/plugins/community) - public discovery and ClawHub publishing
+- [ClawHub](/clawhub/cli) - registry CLI operations
+- [Building plugins](/plugins/building-plugins) - create a plugin package
+- [Plugin manifest](/plugins/manifest) - manifest and package metadata