QGIS plugins are installed from within QGIS itself — no external downloads needed. Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins.
Install a plugin
How to install QGIS plugins on Windows
- 1
Open Plugin Manager
In QGIS: Plugins menu → Manage and Install Plugins. The Plugin Manager opens and fetches the plugin repository.
- 2
Search for a plugin
Type the plugin name in the search box. Results appear in real time. Click a plugin to see its description, version and rating.
- 3
Click Install Plugin
Click Install Plugin. QGIS downloads and installs it automatically. Most plugins are available immediately without restarting QGIS.
Essential plugins
Must-have QGIS plugins for Windows
| Plugin | What it does | Category |
|---|---|---|
| QuickMapServices | Add basemaps (Google, OSM, Bing) as background layers | Basemaps |
| QGIS2Web | Export interactive maps to Leaflet or OpenLayers HTML | Web mapping |
| QuickOSM | Download OpenStreetMap data directly into QGIS | Data access |
| mmqgis | Geocoding, animation, geometry tools | Utilities |
| Profile Tool | Extract elevation profiles from DEM rasters | Terrain |
| Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin | Remote sensing and satellite image classification | Remote sensing |
| Freehand raster georeferencer | Manually georeference rasters by dragging | Georeferencing |
| QGIS Resource Sharing | Install symbol libraries and styles | Styling |
| Disconnected Editing | Work offline with PostGIS data | Database |
| Table Manager | Edit attribute table structure | Data management |
Plugin management
Update, disable and remove plugins
In Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins:
- Update: click the Upgradeable tab to see plugins with available updates, then click Upgrade All
- Disable: uncheck the checkbox next to a plugin name. The plugin stays installed but does not load at startup
- Remove: select the plugin → click Uninstall Plugin
- Plugin settings: stored in your QGIS profile at
%APPDATA%\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\
FAQ
Plugin questions
Plugin not showing after install
Check that the plugin is enabled: Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins → Installed tab → make sure the checkbox is checked. Some plugins add a toolbar or panel rather than a menu item — check View → Toolbars and View → Panels.
Plugin causes QGIS to crash on startup
Start QGIS with plugins disabled by holding Shift while launching. Then go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins and disable the problematic plugin. Check if the plugin is compatible with your QGIS version.
Cannot connect to plugin repository
Check your internet connection. If you are behind a proxy: Settings → Options → Network → configure proxy settings. You can also install plugins manually from ZIP: Plugins → Install from ZIP.