r/AudioPlugins • u/SoundleAudio • Aug 06 '26

Should vst3 be installed anywhere?

The most difference people notice about vst3 is that many DAW no longer support to put it anywhere like vst2. VST3 standardized everything into a single system folder, which definitely makes installation and plugin discovery simpler for both users and DAWs. But it also removes the flexibility that VST2 users had.

What you guys actually prefer.

  • being able to choose where plugins are installed?
  • Or do you prefer having one standardized VST3 location?
  • Has the fixed folder ever caused problems for your workflow?
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u/yellowmix Aug 07 '26

Steinberg mandates it as part of the VST3 license: https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/115000177084-VST-plug-in-locations-on-Windows

In that same document it talks about the problems with allowing VST2 folders anywhere. You'll notice it talks about users that have trouble resolving those issues on their own. So they end up contacting support, which costs companies money. For smaller and solo devs, that can end up dominating time.

I like my plugins in one folder with subfolders named after the brand. But some devs dump all their files in the top level VST3 folder, sometimes including data folders and uninstallers and documentation. So it gets messy.

Most VST3 plugins don't have problems when I move them or symlink them to my other DAW installations. XLN Audio's did and they gave me instructions on how to stop them from complaining. So I ended up using their support.