Bypass, remove, or rescan Audio Units plug-ins in Logic Pro or MainStage

Learn what to do if you're using third-party Audio Units plug-ins and Logic Pro or MainStage isn't working properly, or if you can't find a recently installed plug-in.

Try these recommendations depending on what you're experiencing:

  • If you can open Logic Pro or MainStage but you're having issues with your project or concert, try bypassing plug-ins.
  • If you can't open Logic Pro or MainStage, try removing plug-ins.
  • If you can't find a recently installed plug-in, restart your Mac, confirm the plug-in is installed, and rescan your plug-ins.

Bypass Audio Units plug-ins

If you're having an issue in a particular Logic Pro project or MainStage concert that uses third-party plug-ins, bypass each third-party plug-in in the project one-by-one, testing the project after you bypass each plug-in.

You can bypass plug-ins several different ways:

If bypassing a plug-in fixes your issue, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.

Remove Audio Units plug-ins

If you can't open Logic Pro or MainStage, remove the installer files for third-party Audio Units:

  1. Find the installed plug-in file on your Mac:
    • From the Finder menu bar, choose Go > Go to Folder, type "/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components" into the Go to Folder field, then click Go.
    • You can also check the Library in your Home folder. From the Finder menu bar, choose Go > Go to Folder, type "~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components" into the Go to Folder field, then click Go.
  2. If you suspect a particular plug-in might be causing the issue, locate the file for the plug-in in the folder, then drag the file to the Desktop.
  3. Try to reopen the app.

If you still can't open Logic Pro or MainStage:

  1. Create a new folder on the Desktop.
  2. Move all the plug-in files that appear in their installation locations to the new folder.
  3. Try to open Logic Pro or MainStage.
  4. If you can open the app, replace each plug-in file to its original location one-by-one. Quit and reopen the app after you replace each plug-in file.
  5. If you can't open the app after replacing a particular plug-in file, that plug-in might be corrupted or incompatible. Try reinstalling the disabled plug-in or check with the manufacturer for an update.

Find a recently installed plug-in for Logic Pro or MainStage

If you installed a third-party Audio Units plug-in but it's not available in Logic Pro or MainStage, try the steps in this section in order until your plug-in is available.

Restart your Mac

If your Mac is running macOS High Sierra or later and you recently installed a plug-in that isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, restart your Mac. Before you restart your Mac, confirm that the plug-in is 64-bit compatible. 32-bit plug-ins aren't compatible with Logic Pro or MainStage.

  1. Choose Apple menu  > Restart.
  2. Open Logic Pro or MainStage.
  3. Click an Audio Effect, Instrument, or MIDI Effect slot to see if the plug-in is available in the pop-up menu.

If the plug-in still isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, make sure that the plug-in is installed.

Make sure that the plug-in is installed

Use the Plug-in Manager to check if the plug-in is installed.

  1. Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Plug-in Manager, or MainStage > Preferences > Plug-in Manager.
  2. In the Plug-in Manager, locate the plug-in. To filter the list by manufacturer, click the manufacturer's name in the left column.
    If "not authorized" appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, make sure the plug-in is properly authorized as documented by the manufacturer.
  3. Reinstall the plug-in, then restart the computer.
  4. Open Logic Pro or MainStage, then check the Plug-in Manager to see if the plug-in appears there. If it does, open a project or concert and make sure the plug-in is available.
  5. If the plug-in appears in the Plug-in Manager, but is not available in a Logic Pro project or MainStage concert, rescan the plug-in.
  6. If you still can't find the plug-in in the Plug-in Manager, reset all Audio Units.

Rescan a plug-in

If the plug-in appears in the Plug-in Manager but still isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, rescan the plug-in.

  1. In the plug-in Manager, locate the plug-in you want to check. To filter by manufacturer, click manufacturer's name in the left column.
  2. If "failed validation" appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, select the plug-in in the list, then click Reset & Rescan Selection.
    If "not authorized" appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, make sure the plug-in is properly authorized as documented by the manufacturer, then rescan the plug-in.
  3. If the plug-in fails validation again, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.
  4. If the plug-in doesn't appear in the plug-in manager, try resetting all Audio Units.

Reset all Audio Units in Logic Pro and MainStage

If you can't find a recently installed plug-in in the Plug-In Manager in Logic Pro or MainStage, try resetting all Audio Units using the Logic Pro Plug-in Manager. Resetting Audio Units in Logic Pro also resets them for MainStage.

  1. Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Plug-In Manager.
  2. Click Full Audio Unit Reset.
  3. Close Logic Pro, then reopen it. Logic Pro rescans all installed Audio Units plug-ins.
  4. Check Logic Pro or MainStage to see if the plug-in is available.

If the plug-in is still not available, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.

Rescan MainStage plug-ins only

If you only use MainStage and don't have Logic Pro installed, manually remove files to rescan all Audio Units in MainStage:

  1. In the Finder, press and hold the Option key, then choose Go > Library.
  2. In the Finder window that opens, locate the AudioUnitCache folder in the Caches folder.
  3. Move the files from AudioUnitCache folder to the Desktop.
  4. Restart the computer, then open MainStage. All installed Audio Units plug-ins will be rescanned.

If the plug-in is still not available, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.

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