How to install Sketchup plugins?

As you know SketchUp software letting you to use variety of additional functionalities by using dedicated extensions (or plugins). More about what are SketchUp extensions you can find in this article: what is SketchUp extension.

You can get an extension directly from Extension Warehouse or from other SketchUp developer site.

Depending on plugin source installing, updating and uninstalling process looks a little different.

If you have extension from:

1. Extension Warehouse
2. other source eg. SketchUp developer

Working with Extension Warehouse

Installing

1. Start SketchUp
2. Open Extension Warehouse
3. Log in (if you are not)
4. Find Extension you would like to use
5. Use Try or Purchase button
6. Done!

Update or Uninstall

1. Open Extension Manager
2. Choose Manage tab
3. Update or Uninstall
4. Done!

How to install rbz file in SketchUp

When you download a SketchUp plugin file in rbz file format directly to your working station, you need to install it manually.
To do that follow below steps.

Installing rbz file

1. Start SketchUp
2. Open Extension Manager
3. Use Install button to show extension ".rbz" file
4. Done!

Uninstalling

Uninstalling extension is same as described above in Extension Manager.

Update

It's a good practice to follow below steps during updating:

1. Uninstall old version
2. Restart SketchUp
3. Install new version
4. Restart SketchUp
5. Done!

Additional information

There are few more topics related to SketchUp plugin installation. Check below points to be familiar with those things.

Is the extension signed?

When you install plugin from Extension Warehouse it is always signed. But when you download and install SketchUp addon from different source it is not so obvious. To know more about extensions signing read this 👉 Are SketchUp extensions safe?

Extension compatibility

If you get an information during the installation: This extension is marked as being not compatible with your operating system or sketchup version. Proceed anyway? It does not mean that this extension will not work with your SketchUp version. In many cases extension created few years back will work with newer SketchUp without problem. However you need to check it by your own.

Finding plugin user interface

Not all extensions works the same. There are many different approaches how to find, open and use user interface.
Read this to check more about 👉 How to find extension in SketchUp

Extension not working

If your extension does not work after installation check this 👉 What to do when SketchUp extension does not work?