Notepad++ used to come with a pre-installed plugin called Plugin Manager to install, update and remove the plugin. This was removed starting from version 7.5. Now, Notepad++ comes with a built-in module called Plugin Admin.
Let’s discuss plugin admin and see how you can use it to install, update and remove the plugin.
Notepad++ Plugin Admin
Plugin Admin is a built-in plugin manager for Notepad++ which helps to install, update, remove the plugins. This makes the plugin management job super easy. You can install, update and remove any plugin with just a few clicks.
No need to download any plugin file, copying to Notepad++, plugin admin does it for you.
Plugin Admin refers to the plugin list, a central repository on Github which maintains a list of Notepad++ plugins and all supporting information like plugin name, version, repository, description, author, homepage.
Note:- There is no need to install plugin admin as it comes as a built-in module in Notepad++ starting from version 7.5. You should check your Notepad++ version and update if the Plugins Admin option not visible in the menu or missing.
Plugin admin dashboard
Start Notepad++ and go to Plugins->Plugin Admin… menu to start the admin dashboard as shown in the below image.
The dashboard interface is neat, clean and very easy to understand. There are 3 tabs viz Available, Updates and Installed along with Search Box and control buttons to install, update, remove and close.
- Available – This tab shows a list of the plugin available to install along with version and additional information just beneath it.
- Updates – This tab shows a list of the plugin available to Update.
- Installed – This tab shows a list of the plugin Installed.
There is a search box as well which you can use to search the plugin. Just enter some character and plugin displays matching plugin.
How to Use Plugin Admin
Now, let’s see how to use Plugin Admin. It is very easy. You just need to search and select the plugin and click install, update or remove button for the respective task.
Note:- You need admin access on the desktop as plugin files are copied/removed from the installation folder and also make sure to save work before proceeding as this process restarts notepad++ after install, update and removal of the plugin.
Install Plugin
Start Notepad++ and go to Plugins-> Plugin Admin… menu. This opens the main dashboard (discussed above). Go to available tab. Search and select the required plugin let’s say Json Viewer Plugin and click the Install Button.
Notepad++ gives the below the message. Click on the Yes Button to continue installation or the No button to exit.
Plugin admin downloads and installs the plugin and then restart the Notepad++. Everything happens in the background.
JSON Viewer Plugin should be available under the Plugins menu as shown below when Notepad++ restarts.
Update Plugin
Plugin admin does not check if there is any update available during the start-up and prompt to update the way the plugin manager does.
So, you can also use the below method to update the plugin.
Launch Notepad++ and go to plugins-> Plugin Admin… menu. Go to the Updates tab. Here, you will find a list of all the plugins where an update is available. The Search box works here as well. Just Search and Select the required plugin and hit the update button.
Click on the Yes Button for the below popup.
Plugin admin downloads the update for the plugin and update the plugin and restarts the NOtepoad++.
Removing Plugin
Removing a plugin is also a matter of a few clicks.
Go to Plugin Admin and search and select the plugin which you want to remove. You can use the search option here as well if you have many plugins installed. Click the remove button.
Click the Yes to continue on below popup.
Plugin admin uninstalls plugin and restarts Notepad++. Now you can see the respective plugin is uninstalled. It deletes all the files from the plugin installation folder.
Summary
Plugin Admin provides an easy to use way to install, update and remove the plugin. You can always install the old Plugin Manager using the method mentioned here in this article.
I hope you liked this article. Please share and subscribe.
Check the below discussion on Notepad++ forums for additional information
