Plugins

Written By AstroBob

Last updated 6 months ago

With LaunchBox 13.15, we introduced the Plugin Manager — a powerful way to manage official plugins directly within the app. While plugins have long extended LaunchBox’s functionality, this update provides a more streamlined and reliable system for managing supported integrations.

This guide breaks down the two types of plugins available in LaunchBox — Official Plugins and Community-Made Plugins — and explains how each is used and managed.

🛠️ Official Plugins

Official plugins are developed and maintained by the LaunchBox team. These are tightly integrated into the software and designed to help you manage emulator installations, updates, and configuration with ease. Some also extend LaunchBox’s built-in features — for example, adding support for curated discovery playlists from the LaunchBox Games Database.

What they do:

  • Manage emulator installation and configuration

  • Extend LaunchBox features like discovery playlists

  • Provide fast, targeted updates independent of a full LaunchBox release

You can manage these from Tools > Manage > Plugins. Here you can:

  • View all installed official plugins

  • Check for updates

  • Repair or uninstall plugins

Note: Updating a plugin does not update the emulator itself. To update an emulator:

  • Go to Tools > Manage > Emulators . Here you’ll see the version that is currently installed and whether any updates are available

  • Select the emulator and click Edit

  • Use the Update button to get the latest version

Official plugins will continue to grow to support more emulators and features in future updates.

🌍 Community-Made Plugins

Community plugins are created by LaunchBox users and offer additional functionality beyond what’s included officially. They’re often shared on the LaunchBox forums and can extend the app in creative ways.

How to install a community plugin:

  1. Visit the Community Plugins Forum

  2. Download and unzip the plugin

  3. Move the extracted folder into your LaunchBox\Plugins directory

  4. Restart LaunchBox if it’s already running

Community plugins are not currently supported by the Plugin Manager. They must be installed manually. We hope to support unified plugin management in the future.

These plugins can add anything from new metadata tools to alternative game launching options — they’re a great way to customize your setup further.

By understanding the difference between official and community plugins, you can take full advantage of what LaunchBox has to offer — whether you're managing emulators effortlessly or enhancing the app through community innovation.