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## Installing a plugin 

Jenkins provides a couple of different methods for installing plugins on the master: 

1. Using the "Plugin Manager" in the web UI. 

2. Using the Jenkins CLI install-plugin  command. 

Each approach will result in the plugin being loaded by Jenkins but may require different levels of access and trade-offs in order to use. 

The two approaches require that the Jenkins master be able to download meta-data from an Update Center, whether the primary Update Center operated by the Jenkins project [27: updates.jenkins.io], or a custom Update Center. 

The plugins are packaged as self-contained .hpi  files, which have all the necessary code, images, and other resources which the plugin needs to operate successfully. 

## From the web UI 

The simplest and most common way of installing plugins is through the Manage Jenkins  > Manage Plugins  view, available to administrators of a Jenkins environment. 

Under the Available  tab, plugins available for download from the configured Update Center can be searched and considered: 

<img src='content_image/857297.jpg'>

Most plugins can be installed and used immediately by checking the box adjacent to the plugin and clicking Install without restart . 

## CAUTION 

If the list of available plugins is empty, the master might be incorrectly configured or has not yet downloaded plugin meta-data from the Update Center. Clicking the Check now  button will force Jenkins to attempt to contact its configured Update Center. 

