# How To Install Plugins on Your SCP: Secret Laboratory Server (LabAPI & EXILED) (/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/install-plugins)





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

SCP: Secret Laboratory supports plugins that add game modes, admin tools and quality-of-life features. There are two frameworks:

* **LabAPI** — the **official** server-side plugin loader and framework, **included with the 14.1+ dedicated server** (nothing extra to install).
* **EXILED** — a long-standing **community** framework. Many popular plugins are still EXILED-based; on 14.1 EXILED runs on top of LabAPI.

Check which framework a plugin targets on its download page, then follow the matching section below.

The Easy Way: the Plugins Tab [#the-easy-way-the-plugins-tab]

Your server has a built-in **Plugins** tab in the panel that installs **LabAPI** plugins for you — no manual downloads, `.dll` uploads, or dependency hunting.

<img alt="The SCP:SL Plugins tab in the XGamingServer panel" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />

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

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

  <Step>
    Browse and install [#browse-and-install]

    Search the official SCP:SL plugin registry — each plugin shows its stars and downloads. Click **Install** and the panel downloads the plugin **and its dependencies** automatically into the correct LabAPI folders.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Manage installed plugins [#manage-installed-plugins]

    The **Installed** view lists what's on your server and flags when an **update** is available. Update or remove a plugin with one click.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start and configure [#start-and-configure]

    Start (or restart) the server so LabAPI loads the plugin and generates its config on first run. Adjust the config and restart to apply.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="info">
  The Plugins tab installs **LabAPI** plugins (the official framework). For **EXILED**-only plugins, use the manual steps further down.
</Callout>

Installing LabAPI plugins manually (official, 14.1+) [#installing-labapi-plugins-manually-official-141]

LabAPI ships with the server, so you just drop plugins into its folder.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Find the LabAPI folder [#find-the-labapi-folder]

    LabAPI stores everything in its main folder:

    * **Linux (our servers):** `~/.config/SCP Secret Laboratory/LabAPI`
    * **Windows:** `%appdata%\SCP Secret Laboratory\LabAPI`

    In the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) **File Manager**, open the `LabAPI` folder. Inside it you'll find two subfolders:

    * `plugins` — where plugin `.dll` files go
    * `dependencies` — where dependency `.dll` files go

    If the folders aren't there yet, **start the server once** to generate them, then stop it.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Add the plugin [#add-the-plugin]

    Stop the server, then upload the plugin's `.dll` into the **`plugins`** folder. If the download includes dependency `.dll` files, extract those into the **`dependencies`** folder.

    <Callout type="warn">
      If a plugin lists **another plugin** as a dependency, install that one as a **plugin** (in `plugins`) with its own dependencies — *not* in the `dependencies` folder.
    </Callout>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start and configure [#start-and-configure-1]

    Start the server. LabAPI loads the plugin and generates its config on first run. Adjust the plugin's config file (in the LabAPI configs folder) and restart to apply. Full config details are on the official [LabAPI wiki](https://github.com/northwood-studios/LabAPI/wiki).
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Verify [#verify]

    Open the **Console** tab and confirm the plugin loaded without errors.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Installing EXILED plugins (community framework) [#installing-exiled-plugins-community-framework]

Many plugins still target EXILED. If your server doesn't already have EXILED, install it first.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Check for / install EXILED [#check-for--install-exiled]

    In **Files**, look for an `EXILED` folder. If it's not there, download the latest release from the [EXILED GitHub](https://github.com/ExMod-Team/EXILED) (formerly Exiled-Team) and install it per its instructions, then start and stop the server once so EXILED generates its folders.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Add the plugin [#add-the-plugin-1]

    Upload the plugin `.dll` to the EXILED plugins directory (`.config/EXILED/Plugins/`). Start the server, then check `.config/EXILED/Configs/` for the plugin's generated config.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Removing a plugin [#removing-a-plugin]

Stop the server, delete the plugin's `.dll` from its `plugins` folder (LabAPI or EXILED), and restart.

<Callout type="warn">
  Only install plugins from trusted sources, and match the plugin to your **game version and framework** — a plugin for an old build can crash the server or fail to load. After each SCP:SL update, check for updated plugins (see [Update Your Server](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/update-your-server)).
</Callout>