[FEATURE] Local plugin installation support in Claude Code desktop app

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

The Claude Code desktop app (macOS) has no mechanism to
install local plugins. The /plugin slash command is
available exclusively in the terminal CLI. The desktop
app's plugin UI (+ → Plugins → Add plugin) shows only
the claude-plugins-official marketplace directory. There
is no file path input or file picker to register a local
directory as a plugin marketplace.

Confirmed by Anthropic support: "The desktop app's plugin
UI currently only supports marketplace-based installations,
not direct local directory registration like the CLI's
/plugin marketplace add command."

Proposed Solution

Add a local path option to the desktop app Add plugin UI —
a file picker or path input field that registers a local
directory as a plugin marketplace, equivalent to the
terminal CLI command:

/plugin marketplace add /path/to/local/plugin
/plugin install <plugin-name>

Alternative Solutions

Currently must switch to terminal CLI (claude binary)
solely for plugin installation, then return to desktop
app for all other work. This requires installing the
terminal CLI as a prerequisite just to manage plugins.

Priority

High - Significant impact on productivity

Feature Category

Configuration and settings

Use Case Example

1. Developer builds a local Claude Code plugin at

~/projects/my-plugin

1. Opens Claude Code desktop app to test the plugin
2. Clicks + → Plugins → Add plugin
3. No local install option exists — only marketplace shown
4. Must quit desktop app, open terminal, run:

/plugin marketplace add ~/projects/my-plugin
/plugin install my-plugin

1. Restart desktop app to load the plugin
2. Local plugin development requires terminal CLI

as a prerequisite solely for installation

Additional Context

Confirmed by Anthropic support on April 22, 2026:
"The desktop app's plugin UI currently only supports
marketplace-based installations, not direct local
directory registration like the CLI's /plugin
marketplace add command."

Claude Code desktop app version: 2.1.116, macOS.