Troubleshooting Missing VST and Audio Unit (AU) Plug-ins in Ableton Live

Troubleshooting Missing VST and Audio Unit (AU) Plug-ins in Ableton Live

If your VST or Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins are not appearing in Ableton Live, this guide will help you resolve the issue step by step. Follow each section carefully to ensure your plug-ins are properly integrated.

1. Check Plug-In Sources in Live’s Preferences

Open Ableton Live and go to Preferences.
Select the File/Folder tab, then look for the Plug-In Sources section.
If you use Audio Units on Mac, make sure Use Audio Units is enabled.
Enable Use VST Plug-in System Folder if you want Live to scan the default VST folder.
If you have a custom folder for plug-ins, enable it and select the correct path.

2. Rescan Plug-Ins

If you installed a plug-in while Ableton Live was open, click Rescan Plug-Ins to refresh the list.

To force a full rescan of all plug-ins, hold ALT (Windows) or Option (Mac) while clicking Rescan Plug-Ins.

3. Verify the Correct Plug-In Version

Check that your plug-in version matches your Ableton Live version.
32-bit plug-ins do not show up in 64-bit Ableton Live and vice versa.
Ableton Live 10 and newer are 64-bit only, so 32-bit plug-ins require a bridging tool like jBridge or 32Lives to work.
Some newer plug-ins only have 64-bit versions and will not appear in 32-bit Live.

4. Update Your Operating System

Make sure your OS is fully updated.
Windows users should have Visual C++ 2010 SP1 installed, which is required for running certain 64-bit applications, along with the latest .NET Framework.
Mac users should install the latest OS updates and patches.

5. Verify the Plug-In Installation Location

Confirm the plug-in is installed in the recommended folder for your platform.
Incorrect installation locations can prevent Live from detecting your plug-ins.

6. Avoid Moving Standalone or VST Files After Installation (Windows Only)
Do not move or rename standalone applications or VST DLL files after installation.
Moving these files can break the connection and cause the plug-in to stop working. Always install plug-ins directly to their intended folder.

7. Use Administrator Rights (Windows Only)

Some plug-ins require Ableton Live to run with administrator rights, especially those that allow dragging MIDI clips into the software.
Make sure Live has the necessary permissions to avoid issues.

If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.