KARO
Revit Troubleshooting Guide6 min read

How to uninstall Revit plugins completely, or disable one without uninstalling

Where Revit loads add-ins from, how to remove a plugin and its leftovers for every Revit version, and how to switch an add-in off temporarily when you are troubleshooting.

By(Architect & Revit API Developer)
Updated: October 2026Revit 2023 - 2027
Quick answer

Normal removal: close Revit, open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the plugin and click Uninstall. Most plugins installed with an .msi or .exe installer remove themselves this way.

If it still loads: Revit loads every .addin manifest it finds in its Addins folders. Delete the plugin’s .addin file and its folder from %AppData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year> and %ProgramData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year>, and check %AppData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins for a .bundle folder.

To disable without uninstalling: close Revit and move the plugin’s .addin file into a folder outside the Addins directories, for example C:\Temp\addins-disabled. Revit does not find it on startup, and the plugin’s settings are kept.

01Standard Uninstall

Uninstall from Windows Settings

Plugins distributed with an installer register themselves with Windows like any other program. Uninstalling there runs the vendor's own cleanup, which usually removes the manifests for all Revit versions at once.

Fix

Close every Revit session. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Control Panel > Programs and Features), search for the plugin or vendor name and click Uninstall. Start Revit and check that the plugin's ribbon tab is gone.

Quick Check

If the plugin is not in the list, it was installed by copying files or from a company deployment. Use the manual steps below.

02Leftover Manifests

Delete leftover .addin manifests

Revit decides what to load by reading .addin manifest files. Per-user plugins put them in %AppData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year>, plugins for all users in %ProgramData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year>. A manifest left behind after an incomplete uninstall keeps pointing at files that no longer exist.

Fix

Close Revit. Paste each path into the Windows Explorer address bar, replacing <year> with your Revit version, for example 2026. Delete the plugin's .addin file and the folder with the same name next to it. Repeat for every Revit version you have installed.

Quick Check

Each .addin file is plain XML. Open it in Notepad: the Assembly line shows which DLL it loads and the VendorId shows who made it.

03App Bundles

Remove plugins installed as .bundle folders

Plugins from the Autodesk App Store and some vendors install as a .bundle folder with a PackageContents.xml file instead of a loose manifest. Autodesk documents %AppData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins as the default per-user location for these bundles.

Fix

Check %AppData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins first. If it is not there, look in %ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins, where some installers place bundles. Delete the plugin's .bundle folder with Revit closed. If the plugin came from the Autodesk App Store, uninstall it from Windows Settings first, because the store installer may also register it there.

Quick Check

If a plugin's tab appears in several Revit versions after you deleted its .addin files, look for a .bundle folder.

04Troubleshooting

Disable an add-in without uninstalling it

When Revit crashes or starts slowly, the quickest test is to switch add-ins off one at a time. Uninstalling and reinstalling for every test is slow and can lose plugin settings.

Fix

Close Revit and move the plugin's .addin file into a folder outside the Addins folders entirely, for example C:\Temp\addins-disabled. Revit no longer loads it. Move the file back to enable the plugin again. Disable half of your add-ins at once to find a problem plugin faster.

Quick Check

If Revit starts normally with all third-party manifests moved out, one of them caused the problem.

05Startup Errors

Revit shows an add-in error at every startup

An error about a missing assembly or a failed external application at startup almost always means a manifest is still in an Addins folder while the plugin DLL was deleted or moved.

Fix

Note the add-in name or file path shown in the error, find the matching .addin file in the Addins folders and delete it. If the plugin is still needed, reinstall it with the latest installer for your Revit version instead of copying old files.

Quick Check

Search the Addins folders for the DLL name shown in the error. The .addin that references it is the one to remove.

06Company Deployment

The plugin comes back after you remove it

In many offices IT deploys add-ins through software management tools or login scripts that copy manifests to every workstation. Deleting the files locally works until the next deployment run.

Fix

Ask your BIM manager or IT whether the plugin is part of the standard deployment. They can remove it from the deployment package or exclude your machine.

Quick Check

If the plugin reappears after a restart or the next morning, it is being redeployed.

If you are removing add-ins because Revit freezes during save or central sync, see our troubleshooting guide on Revit sync with central failures and our 10 Revit model health rules for teams. For evaluating replacement tools, the Revit plugin comparisons detail what each tool needs, including offline use and data handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Revit add-ins installed?

Revit reads add-in manifests from %AppData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year> for the current user and %ProgramData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\<year> for all users. App Store plugins may also install as .bundle folders in %AppData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins.

How do I disable a Revit add-in temporarily?

Close Revit and move the add-in's .addin file out of the Addins folder. Revit will not load it until you move the file back.

Why does a removed plugin still show an error when Revit starts?

Its .addin manifest is still in an Addins folder and points to a DLL that no longer exists. Delete that manifest.

How do I uninstall a Karo plugin?

Close Revit, open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the Karo plugin and click Uninstall. The installer removes its manifests and files for every supported Revit version.

Related WhyHidden guides

Try a plugin that installs and uninstalls cleanly

Karo plugins ship as signed MSI installers for Revit 2023 - 2027, run fully on your workstation and remove their manifests and program files when uninstalled.

Download Karo.WhyHidden (Free)Read 10 Model Health Rules