how to add plugins to pro tools

Overview

If you can't find your plug-ins or they seemingly disappeared in Pro Tools, you're in the right place! In this article, we will show you how to find your plug-ins so you can get back to recording. As long as you installed the AAX, RTAS, or TDM version of your plug-in, you be back up and running in no time. We broke this article down into the three steps below:

Find your plug-ins in Pro Tools
Check the plug-ins folder
Other Common Solutions

The first thing we need to do is to organize your plug-ins by manufacturer in Pro Tools. You can adjust this setting through the Preferences window. After doing that, create a mono and a stereo track and check to see if that fixed the issue. Follow the instructions below:

How to find your plug-ins in Pro Tools

Launch Pro Tools and go to the Preferences window.
- Windows: Setup > Preferences…
- Mac: Pro Tools > Preferences…
Set Organize Plug-In Menus By section to Category and Manufacturer and then press OK.
Create a mono and stereo audio track.
Click Insert A-E to view the plug-in menu.

I still don't see my plug-ins!

If you're still don't see your plug-ins, let's trytrashing Pro Tools preferences. This will force Pro Tools to rescan all the plug-ins in that folder. If that didn't do the trick, read through the next section to check the Pro Tools Plug-ins folder.

View the plug-ins on a stereo and audio track after resetting the plug-in menu.

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In this section, we are going to check your plug-ins folder and make sure the plug-ins are where they need to be. Follow the instructions below for Windows or Mac:

How to check Pro Tools plug-ins folder on Windows

Open File Explorer and select the C: drive.
Follow the file path below for your Pro Tools version to find your plug-ins.

Pro Tools 11 or 12 (AAX)

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plugins

Pro Tools 10 or earlier (RTAS)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Digidesign\DAE\Plug-ins

Pro Tools 10 (AAX)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plugins

How to check Pro Tools plug-ins folder on Mac

With Finder open, click on Go and choose Computer.
Follow the file path below for your Pro Tools version to find your plug-ins.

Pro Tools 11 or 12 (AAX)

Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Avid > Audio > Plug-ins

Pro Tools 10 or earlier

Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Digidesign > Plug-ins

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If you're still not seeing your plug-ins, this means that you need toreinstall your plug-ins. Luckily, we have created a guide that will walk you through how to activate, download, and install Avid plug-ins!

For more resources to optimize or troubleshoot Pro Tools, check out our Helpful Links below, including our Pro Tools Troubleshooting Guide! You can also take a look at Avid's Support and YouTube pages for more information!

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