/reload-plugins
A Claude Code slash command, read out of the shipped bundle. No mined inventory carries it: everything below comes from what this site has written about it.
Reload all active plugins to apply pending changes without restarting. Reports counts for each reloaded component and flags any load errors. When the reload would change which MCP tools are loaded and invalidate the prompt cache, the command warns and skips unless you pass --force. Also available in non-interactive mode (-p), the Agent SDK, and the desktop app, where it runs only on input typed directly into the session and doesn't apply plugin MCP server changes; requires Claude Code v2.1.260 or later. See Apply plugin changes without restarting
Anthropic's own wording. Read off Commands, captured 2026-09-28.
In the changelogs
48Releases whose published page names /reload-plugins.
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v2.1.304
The "Plugins changed" hint now also covers plugins not loaded yet
The footer hint telling you to run
/reload-pluginsnow also appears for plugins waiting for their first load, not only for reloadsfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.304
Status messages when mods in a session's mods folder load or reload
Claude Code now reports when a mod in the session mods folder loads, reloads, fails, is blocked, paused or removed
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.301
Plugin folders can include their own marketplace entry file
Claude Code now reads a marketplace entry file kept inside a plugin's own folder and stops with a clear error if the file can't be used
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.301
Plugin auto-update tells you when reloading the updated plugins failed
After plugins update themselves, a failed reload now gets its own notice telling you to run /reload-plugins instead of a restart message
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.299
Plugin hooks are set up before use in non-interactive sessions
Without the interactive screen, Claude Code now waits for plugin hooks to register at startup, and
/reload-pluginsrecords hook reloadsfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.290
/pluginin the desktop app explains where to go insteadRunning /plugin in the desktop app now explains it cannot run there and points to the Plugins menu or the command line
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.289
Updating a plugin that loads from a folder now explains how edits apply
Updating an up-to-date plugin loaded from a local folder says there is nothing to update and that edits apply at next start or
/reload-pluginsnamed in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.289
/reload-pluginsreports which plugin folders it read, and folder watching follows real paths/reload-pluginsadds lines about plugin folders it read, and watched plugin folders are now tracked by their real location on disknamed in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.287
The built-in plugin directory can be turned off and on with marketplace commands
claude plugin marketplace addandremovenow turn the built-in plugin directory on and off, and report when your organization blocks itfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.287
Plugins from the plugin directory are checked against a listed commit
The plugin directory is now handled as its own marketplace, with installs checked against the exact version the directory lists
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.287
Plugin errors explain when a plugin was removed from its marketplace directory
When a plugin is gone from its marketplace directory, the error now says so and suggests a fix that fits the case
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.285
Plugins that need setup now report as active after install
A plugin that still needs configuration now reports "Plugin is now active." with an added note, instead of asking you to run /reload-plugins
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.284
Declining a mod reload tells Claude what
/reload-pluginsreally doesWhen you decline reloading a mod, Claude is told it loads at the next session start and that
/reload-pluginsonly reloads mods loaded at startfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.283
Plugin records this version cannot read are no longer overwritten
Claude Code now keeps plugin records in
installed_plugins.jsonthat it cannot read, instead of overwriting them, and refuses plugin changes until fixedfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.282
Clear error when a plugin marketplace is refused for looking like Anthropic's
A marketplace blocked because its name resembles one of Anthropic's now gets a specific error with steps to remove or rename it
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.281
Smaller internal changes
A batch of small internal changes, a few visible: disabled MCP servers show "off", and two new error messages appear
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.277
Plugin update messaging: version diff and in-place reload note
Plugin update messages now show version changes and, for linked plugins, remind you to reload before edits take effect
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.275
New /plugin install --marketplace flag to install-and-add a marketplace in one step
/plugin install now takes a --marketplace flag to add the marketplace source and install the plugin in one step
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.268
Plugin enable/disable toast no longer hard-codes "Run /reload-plugins to apply."
Plugin enable/disable messages no longer always tell you to run /reload-plugins
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.268
reload_plugins SDK request gains a hold_on_cache_impact option to avoid silent cache invalidation
reload_plugins can now hold off reloading if it would invalidate the prompt cache, via a new hold_on_cache_impact option
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.268
New wording for plugin-enable confirmation depends on a changesApplyOnClose flag
Plugin-enable confirmation message now varies based on whether changes apply automatically when the menu closes
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.268
Plugin menu shows auto-reload deferred/queued state with new copy
Plugin menu now tells you when plugin changes are queued to apply after the current response finishes
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.268
Plugin settings view prompts a reload after changes that need one
Plugin settings screen now prompts a reload only when a change actually needs one
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.268
Plugin config-save confirmation no longer tells users to run /reload-plugins
Plugin config-save confirmation no longer tells you to run /reload-plugins
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.265
Plugin path-not-found errors now surface the underlying errno
Plugin path-not-found errors now include the underlying system error code
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.265
New plugin-directory hot-reload watcher with debounce and circuit breaker
Claude Code now watches plugin folders and reports live when plugins load, unload, or need a reload/restart
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.260
New plugin dev-mode hot reload with a reload-storm circuit breaker
Plugin dev mode now hot-reloads on file changes, with a circuit breaker for rapid reload loops.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.260
Cloud session plugin visibility panel
A new panel shows which plugins a connected cloud session has loaded.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.260
Marketplace-not-found error now distinguishes registry-read failures and hidden registrations
Marketplace-not-found errors now distinguish unreadable registries from hidden registrations.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.260
reload-plugins command now works non-interactively
/reload-plugins now works in non-interactive/headless sessions.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.260
New plugin reload/remote-session restriction messages
New messages explain plugin reload and MCP server change limits over remote sessions.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.248
Cloud sessions no longer claim plugins loaded when unconfirmed
Cloud sessions now say plugins were sent but unconfirmed, and point you at /reload-plugins.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.247
Clearer message when plugins do not load in a cloud session
When cloud plugins don't load, the message now explains why and points at /reload-plugins.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.246
/reload-pluginsskill count includes skillsThe /reload-plugins summary now counts skills as well as commands.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.242
/reload-plugins now warns about LSP tool changes too
Reloading plugins now warns when the reload will add or remove the LSP tool, not just MCP servers.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.239
Skipped-plugin warning no longer overstates what it found
The untrusted-project dialog no longer overstates skipped plugins and points at /reload-plugins.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.229
Slash commands can mark themselves terminal-only, and SDK clients get the list
Terminal-only commands like /doctor and /exit are flagged so non-terminal hosts can hide them.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.229
Plugin auto-updates can now take effect without a restart
Plugin auto-updates can now apply mid-session instead of always asking you to reload.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Installed plugins activate in place instead of waiting for /reload-plugins
Plugins you install from /plugin now activate immediately instead of making you run /reload-plugins.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Plugin reload banner is dismissed instead of getting stuck
The "reload plugins" banner now goes away on its own instead of sticking around.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Plugin install now tells you when the plugin failed to load
Installing a plugin now tells you if it activated, needs a reload, or failed to load.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
/plugin reload checks prompt-cache impact
Activating plugins from the /plugin dialog now warns you before it invalidates your conversation's prompt cache.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Batch plugin install distinguishes disabled-by-default from disabled-in-settings
Batch plugin installs now tell you which plugins are off by default versus off in your settings.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.163
/plugin list --enabled and --disabled Filters
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.163
/reload-plugins Cache Impact Warning
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.69
/reload-pluginsCommandfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.66
Restart-Based Plugin Activation (Replaces /reload-plugins)
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.64
/reload-pluginsCommandfound in this entry's text
First cited
14The earliest release whose published evidence quoted /reload-plugins was v2.1.64, 3 Mar 2026. That is the oldest release this project wrote about it, so it is a floor on the name's age and not the release that introduced it. It is not a presence reading: which builds carried the name is the table below.
8 further spans in the ledger name it. The list above is the earliest first and stops at 6.
Presence across releases
0The miner has never read a build containing this name. It is here because a changelog entry of ours names it, which is evidence that it existed and not evidence of which releases carried it. The inventory starts at v2.1.138 and everything older than that was never mined.
Read out of the published npm bundle release by release, and out of Anthropic's own documentation as this site captured it. Nothing on this page is a description anybody here wrote about what the slash command does. All slash commands.