{"id":4689,"date":"2021-06-14T10:58:19","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T09:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/?p=4689"},"modified":"2024-11-22T10:47:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T10:47:40","slug":"addons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/addons\/","title":{"rendered":"AddOns Folder Location"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69ef451a8699a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69ef451a8699a\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/addons\/#addons-folder\" >AddOns Folder<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/addons\/#install-add-on\" >Install Add-On<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/addons\/#custom-scripts-folder\" >Custom Scripts Folder<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Since c. version 2.50 when <b>addons<\/b> were introduced to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blender.org\/download\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Blender<\/a> ecosystem, &#8216;scripts&#8217; that &#8216;add on&#8217; functionality can be loaded directly as self-contained zip archives (*.zip) or python files (*.py), stored relative to the applications default installation directory and <b>addons<\/b> folder therein.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"addons-folder\"><\/span>AddOns Folder<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For newer versions of Blender all scripts and addons are typically stored in the same location that&#8217;s created during Blenders installation and initial set up, the <b>\\addons\\<\/b> folder within <b>\\scripts\\<\/b>. The default location for <b>\\scripts\\<\/b> is typically [1 &#038; 3];<\/p>\n<p><code>[drive]:\\[root folder]\\Blender Foundation\\[version]\\[number]\\<b>scripts<\/b>\\<\/code><\/p>\n<p>For example;<\/p>\n<p><code>C:\\Program Files\\Blender Foundation\\Blender 2.92\\2.92\\<b>scripts<\/b>\\<\/code><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: the full path to both \\scripts\\ and \\scripts\\addons\\ varies depending on where and what version of Blender is installed as this allows for &#8216;versioning&#8217;, each instance being able to use individualised scripts and addons as necessary, typically for compatibility.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Within this sits the <b>\\addons\\<\/b> folder [2 &#038; 4];<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"background-color: #fc0; color: #000;\"><p><b>Important<\/b>: for versions post 2.50 <b>addons<\/b> is where scripts that add functionality or modify Blenders behaviour are actually installed to and stored, &#8216;scripts&#8217; acts only as a containing parent folder (legacy directory structure carried over from Blender 2.49).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><code>[drive]:\\[root folder]\\Blender Foundation\\[version]\\[number]\\scripts\\<b>addons<\/b>\\<\/code><\/p>\n<p>For example;<\/p>\n<p><code>C:\\Program Files\\Blender Foundation\\Blender 2.92\\2.92\\scripts\\<b>addons<\/b>\\<\/code><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/scripts-addons-folder-windows.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/scripts-addons-folder-windows.jpg\" alt=\"Blenders Script folder location in Windows 10\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/scripts-folder-location-blender.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/scripts-folder-location-blender.jpg\" alt=\"Scripts folder location in Blender\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Blenders scripts and addons folder location shown in Windows (10) File Explore (top) [1 &#038; 2] and Blender File View (bottom) [3 &#038; 4].<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"install-add-on\"><\/span>Install Add-On<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Generally speaking all custom or third-party scripts and addons for Blender should be installed the same way, directly though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/user-preferences\/\">Blender Preferences<\/a>, loaded in as self-contained *.zip archives, *.py files, or other supported files or script types.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: load or install scripts and addons into Blender through <b>Preferences<\/b> to ensure directory structures remain intact &#8211; copy\/pasting or extracting files directly into \\scripts\\addons\\ may not do this.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>To install a script or addon, with Blender open, access <b>Preferences<\/b> from <b>Edit \u00bb Preferences<\/b>. In <b>Blender Preferences<\/b> click the <b>Add-ons<\/b> [5] menu item on the left then the <b>Install&#8230;<\/b> [6] button upper-right, opening the <b>Blender File View<\/b> area. Here browse to and select the *.zip archive or *.py python file to be installed [7] and click the <b>Install Add-on<\/b> [8] button bottom right. File View will close and Blender will install the script or add-on allowing Blender Preferences to also then be closed.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"background-color: #9d2600; color: #fff;\"><p><strong>Important<\/strong>: for <strong>Windows OS<\/strong> the <strong>AppData<\/strong> directory is <em>hidden by default<\/em> so it won&#8217;t be shown in the directory list of <strong>File Explorer<\/strong>. To view it and other hidden content; in <strong>File Explorer<\/strong> click on the <strong>View<\/strong> tab in the app ribbon and here, click the <strong>Hidden items<\/strong> checkbox. Any files, folders and locations previously hidden from view will now be visible and accessible.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote style=\"background-color: #fc0; color: #000;\"><p><b>Important<\/b>: Blender does not generally store custom, third-party scripts and addons in the installation directory described above but rather in <b>C:\\Users<\/b> as follows;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"codequote\">[drive]:\\Users\\[user]\\AppData\\Roaming\\Blender Foundation\\Blender\\[number]\\<b>scripts<\/b>\\<b>addons<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>For example; <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"codequote\">C:\\Users\\KatsBits\\AppData\\Roaming\\Blender Foundation\\Blender\\2.92\\<b>scripts<\/b>\\<b>addons<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While scripts and addons not part of the initial install can be moved to the default scripts\\addons folder it is not recommended this be done to avoid compatibility issue. Note also, once installed scripts and addons typically need to be activated &#8211; if the addon is shown in the addons list click the accompanying checkbox to active (or uncheck to deactivate).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/activate-addon.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/activate-addon.jpg\" alt=\"Activate Addon\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Addons and scripts are not generally enabled by default after install so make sure to activate by clicking the accompanying checkbox (ensure script or addon is compatible with the version of Blender being used).<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: once a script or add-on has been installed a preference file can be saved so Blender loads the now installed files at start-up. To to this click on the <b>Save &#038; Load<\/b> &#8216;hamburger&#8217; menu icon [a] bottom-left and select <b>Save Preferences<\/b> [b] from the options available.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/save-preferences.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/save-preferences.jpg\" alt=\"Save Preferences\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Once a script or add-on has been loaded a &#8216;preference&#8217; or start-up file can be saved to the newly installed files load when Blender is launched.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/addons-install.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/addons-install.jpg\" alt=\"Blender Preferences\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Scripts and add-ons should ideally be installed from <b>Blender Preferences<\/b>. Select <b>Add-ons<\/b> [5] then click the <b>Install&#8230;<\/b> button [6] to open the file browser&#8230;<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/install-addon.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/install-addon.jpg\" alt=\"Select and install Addon\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>&#8230; in File View browse to and select the script or addon [7] then click the <b>Install Add-on<\/b> button [8] to complete the process.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"custom-scripts-folder\"><\/span>Custom Scripts Folder<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Although as described above Blender sets up a default location for scripts inside the install directory it can be changed manually to use a custom location. To do this, in <b>Blender Preferences<\/b> &#8211; <b>Edit \u00bb Preferences<\/b> &#8211; click on the <b>File Paths<\/b> menu item on the left, then in the <b>Data<\/b> section click the folder icon accompanying the <b>Scripts<\/b> entry\/input box, browse to and select the folder to be used in File View then click the <b>Accept<\/b> button to complete.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: changes to the Scripts folder location implies the inclusion of &#8216;addons&#8217; (as a function or feature not a directory or folder &#8211; \\scripts\\addons\\ is not automatically generated as a result of this preference change). Scripts folder location changes will be saved with the active project, to make changes (semi) permanent so the modification is used by Blender on start up click the <b>Save &#038; Load<\/b> &#8216;hamburger&#8217; button bottom-left then <b>Save Preferences<\/b>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/custom-scripts-folder.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/scripts\/custom-scripts-folder.jpg\" alt=\"Custom Scripts folder in Blender\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Changing the location of Blenders Scripts and Add-ons folder in Preferences.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,230],"tags":[797,522,796,798,629,344],"class_list":["post-4689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blender","category-tutorials","tag-addons","tag-blender-preferences","tag-scripts","tag-scripts-folder","tag-startup-file","tag-user-preferences"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4689"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9509,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4689\/revisions\/9509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}