Audio plugin install locations on Windows and macOS.
Use this reference to find the standard folders for VST3, VST2, Audio Units, and AAX plugins. Plugin binaries are only one part of a migration, so the guide also covers presets, libraries, license files, and why copying folders can fail.
Move the whole setup—not just the plugin file.
A dependable migration accounts for software, formats, versions, licenses, presets, supporting files, sample content, and the sessions that depend on them.
VST3 is standardized
VST3 has defined system and user installation locations, making it more predictable than older VST2 installations.
VST2 paths vary
VST2 plugins can be installed into several folders, especially on Windows. Your DAW’s custom scan paths matter.
Formats are not interchangeable
Logic uses Audio Units, Pro Tools uses AAX, and many other DAWs use VST3. Installing one format does not satisfy a project that expects another.
Standard audio plugin folders
| Format | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| VST3 system | C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 |
| VST3 user | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Common\VST3 or other standardized user location used by the installer | ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 |
| VST2 common | C:\Program Files\VstPluginsC:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPluginsor a custom folder | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST |
| Audio Units | Not applicable | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components |
| AAX | C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins | /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins |
~/Library is the Library folder inside your user account, while /Library is the system-level Library at the root of the startup disk.Windows plugin locations
VST3
The standard 64-bit VST3 system folder is C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3. Modern installers normally use the standard location automatically, and most DAWs scan it without requiring a custom path.
VST2
VST2 does not have one consistently enforced installation folder on Windows. Common paths include:
C:\Program Files\VstPluginsC:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPluginsC:\Program Files\Common Files\VST2- A vendor folder under
C:\Program Files - A custom folder chosen during installation
Open your DAW’s plugin preferences and record every VST2 scan path before moving computers. A plugin can be installed correctly but remain invisible when its folder is not included in the DAW’s scan list.
AAX
Current 64-bit AAX plugins for Pro Tools are normally installed at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins. Older Pro Tools versions and legacy RTAS/TDM formats used different locations, so avoid mixing old instructions into a current setup.
32-bit versus 64-bit folders
Do not assume that a plugin under Program Files (x86) will work in a modern 64-bit DAW. Most current DAWs require 64-bit plugins. Old 32-bit plugins may require a bridge, a legacy DAW, or replacement with a supported version.
macOS plugin locations
Audio Units
Apple documents system-wide Audio Units in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components and user-only Audio Units in ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components. Logic Pro and GarageBand primarily use Audio Units rather than VST.
VST3
System-wide VST3 plugins are normally in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3. User-specific VST3 plugins can be in ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3.
VST2
Common VST2 locations are /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST and ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST. Some vendors have stopped distributing VST2, and some DAWs no longer support it.
AAX
Pro Tools uses /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins for current AAX plugins. The similarly named Plug-Ins (Unused) folder can contain plugins that Pro Tools is not actively loading.
Plugin binaries are not the whole installation
Many plugins depend on additional files stored outside the plugin folder:
- Factory and user presets
- Sample libraries and impulse responses
- Standalone applications
- License managers and background services
- Support files under Application Support, ProgramData, AppData, or Documents
- Vendor databases and content indexes
- Custom MIDI maps, templates, and configuration files
This is why a copied .vst3, .component, or .aaxplugin file may appear in the DAW but fail to load, request missing content, or crash.
Can you copy plugin files to a new computer?
Sometimes a simple plugin can run after being copied, but it is not a reliable general migration method. Use the vendor’s installer whenever possible. Installers can place multiple formats, shared frameworks, copy-protection services, presets, and supporting files in their required locations.
Inventory before moving
Scan the old machine with FX Recall and record custom DAW scan paths.
Install from vendor sources
Use official product managers or installers rather than copying binaries.
Restore content and presets
Reconnect libraries and copy user-created files into the proper locations.
Activate licenses
Use the appropriate vendor portal, iLok, Waves Central, Native Access, or other license system.
Rescan and test
Open real sessions and verify the exact plugins and versions they require.
Plugin installed but not showing
Confirm the DAW supports the format
Logic Pro does not load VST plugins, and Pro Tools does not use VST or Audio Units for normal inserts. Install the correct format for the target DAW.
Check architecture and compatibility
A 32-bit plugin generally will not load in a current 64-bit DAW. On Apple Silicon, some older plugins or hosts may require Rosetta, while unsupported plugins may not work at all.
Force a rescan
Use the DAW’s plugin manager to clear caches, reset failed plugins, or run a full rescan. Fix the underlying installation or compatibility issue before repeatedly forcing a blocked plugin.
Check custom VST2 paths
VST2 is the most common format to disappear because the old computer may have used a custom folder not configured in the new DAW.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Where is the VST3 folder on Windows?
The standard system-wide location is C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3. Use official installers, because a plugin may also require files outside that folder.
Where are Audio Units installed on a Mac?
The standard locations are /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components for all users and ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components for the current user.
Where are Pro Tools AAX plugins installed?
Current AAX plugins are normally in /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins on macOS and C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins on Windows.
Why is my VST installed but not showing?
The DAW may not support that format, its scan path may not include the folder, the plugin may be incompatible or blocked, or it may be the wrong architecture.
Do not rebuild your plugin library from memory.
Scan your old computer with FX Recall, save a cloud-synced inventory, and track what still needs to be installed on the new machine.