# EXILED vs LabAPI: Fixing Plugins After an SCP:SL Update (/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/exiled-compatibility)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

SCP: Secret Laboratory has two plugin frameworks, and the difference matters most **right after a game update**:

* **LabAPI** — the **official** framework, built into the dedicated server. It always matches the current game version, so LabAPI plugins keep working across updates.
* **EXILED** — a **community** framework, updated **separately** from the game by its own team. When Northwood ships a game update, EXILED usually needs a few days (sometimes longer) to catch up. Until it does, **EXILED plugins won't load**.

This is the single most common "my plugins broke after the update" cause. It is expected and temporary — not a fault with your server.

How to Tell EXILED Is Behind [#how-to-tell-exiled-is-behind]

Any of these means the installed EXILED doesn't support your current game build:

* In the panel **Plugins** tab, the frameworks banner says something like *"EXILED doesn't support the current game version yet."*
* EXILED plugins in the registry show **"Needs EXILED"** and an **Unavailable** button instead of Install.
* The **Console** shows an EXILED plugin failing to load — often a `MissingMethodException` or a version-mismatch error at startup.

> 📝 **Note:** LabAPI plugins are unaffected — they install and run normally while EXILED is catching up.

What to Do Right Now [#what-to-do-right-now]

You have three options, in order of least to most effort:

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Use LabAPI plugins instead (recommended) [#1-use-labapi-plugins-instead-recommended]

    Most popular plugins have a **LabAPI** build. Open the **Plugins** tab, find a LabAPI equivalent of what you need, and install it — LabAPI always matches the current game version. See [Install Plugins](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/install-plugins).
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Disable EXILED to stop the errors [#2-disable-exiled-to-stop-the-errors]

    If a broken EXILED is spamming your console or interfering with startup, turn it off until it's updated.

    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open the Plugins tab [#open-the-plugins-tab]

        In the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), open your server's **Plugins** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Click "Disable EXILED" [#click-disable-exiled]

        In the **Plugin frameworks** card, click **Disable EXILED**. Your server switches to running LabAPI only. **Re-enable it later** with the same button once EXILED supports the new version.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart the server so the change takes effect, then check the **Console** for a clean startup.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Try an EXILED pre-release [#3-try-an-exiled-pre-release]

    The EXILED team often publishes a **pre-release** that supports a new game build **before** the stable release. You can opt into these from the **Startup** tab.

    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open the Startup tab [#open-the-startup-tab]

        Select your server and open the **Startup** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Enable pre-releases [#enable-pre-releases]

        Set **Exiled Pre-Releases** to `1`. Optionally set **Exiled Version** to `latest` (the default) to always pull the newest build, or pin a specific version.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Reinstall / restart [#reinstall--restart]

        Restart the server. EXILED re-downloads on boot; watch the **Console** to confirm it loads against your game version.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Callout type="warn">
      Pre-release EXILED builds can be unstable. Use them only to bridge the gap after an update, and switch back to `Exiled Pre-Releases = 0` once a stable release is out.
    </Callout>
  </div>
</div>

After EXILED Catches Up [#after-exiled-catches-up]

Once the EXILED team ships a compatible stable release:

1. Make sure **Exiled Version** is `latest` (Startup tab) so the newest build is pulled on boot — or update it to the specific compatible version.
2. If you disabled EXILED, **re-enable** it from the Plugins tab.
3. Restart the server, then reinstall or re-enable your EXILED plugins and confirm they load in the **Console**.

<Callout type="info">
  Rule of thumb: after **every** SCP:SL update, expect EXILED (and EXILED-only plugins) to pause until the EXILED team updates. LabAPI is the reliable path if you can't afford downtime. See [Update Your Server](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/update-your-server) and [Install Plugins](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/install-plugins).
</Callout>