Find and install community plugins

Community plugins are optional add-ons created outside Phials. They can contribute file views, file handling, panels, commands, themes, and other behavior.

Phials includes its normal features without community plugins. Community plugins safe mode is on by default and prevents third-party code from loading, being installed, or being updated.

Decide whether to turn off safe mode

Community plugins run as trusted JavaScript in the same app environment as Phials. Permissions limit the official Phials functions a plugin can call, but they are not a complete sandbox. Plugin downloads also do not require a signature or checksum, and network permission does not prevent plugin code from attempting other direct network access.

Only turn safe mode off when you are willing to review and trust each plugin’s author, source repository, release, and requested access.

1. Open Settings.
2. Under Plugins, choose Community plugins.
3. Turn Community plugins safe mode off.
4. Read Turn off community plugins safe mode?, then choose I understand, turn off safe mode only if you accept the boundary above.

Find and install a plugin

1. Choose the Community tab.
2. Search by name, identifier, or author. Choose Refresh if the registry did not load or you want its latest entries.
3. Review the card’s name, author, and description.
4. Independently inspect the named project’s source and latest release before continuing. The current registry card does not show the repository link or requested permissions before installation.
5. Choose Install.

Installation downloads the latest compatible release but does not run it. The plugin moves to the Installed tab and normally remains disabled.

Enable the installed plugin

1. Choose the Installed tab.
2. Find the plugin. Its card shows the installed version and requested-permission count.
3. Choose Enable.
4. If Permission Request appears, compare every requested action with the plugin’s stated purpose. Choose Allow & Enable only when each request makes sense; choose Deny to leave the plugin disabled.

Permissions can include reading files, writing or deleting files, reading or writing the clipboard, and making network requests. A plugin with no requested permissions enables without that prompt.

After enabling succeeds, its additions become available immediately. If its card shows Activation failed, the plugin remains unavailable; see Manage community plugins safely before retrying.