Get and Manage Add-Ons

Add-ons encompass a wide variety of resources, including products, apps, support packages, and toolboxes. They extend the capabilities of MATLAB® by providing functionality for additional tasks and applications.

Get Add-Ons

You can find and install add-ons using the Add-Ons panel. To open the Add-Ons panel, click the Add-Ons icon on the left sidebar of the desktop. If the Add-Ons icon is not on the sidebar, click the Open more panels button and select the Add-Ons panel. (since R2025a)

To find an add-on, use the search box at the top of the Add-Ons panel to search for available add-ons or browse through the list of add-ons in the Recommended for You section. Click the Filter Add-Ons button to filter the list of add-ons by source (MathWorks®, user community, or custom repository) or by status (whether the add-on has an update available).

To install an add-on, select it from the list and click the Install button. (since R2025a)

Add-Ons panel with a search box, a Recommended for You section with several recommended add-ons, and an Installed section with three installed add-ons. The second installed add-on has an Update button next to it.

You also can use the Add-On Explorer to browse through the full list of available add-ons. To open the Add-On Explorer from the Add-Ons panel, click the Browse link at the bottom of the Recommended for You section. Alternatively, go to the Home tab, and in the Environment section, click the Add-Ons icon. The Add-On Explorer opens and displays the list of available add-ons.

  • Find add-on — Use the search box, or browse through the available categories on the left side of the Add-On Explorer window. Select an add-on from the list to view additional information about it, such as what files it includes and what documentation is available.

  • Install add-on — Select an add-on from the list. Then, select from the available install actions. After you install an add-on, MATLAB manages the MATLAB path for you. So, you can start using the add-on without adjusting your desktop environment.

  • Download add-on — For some add-ons, you also can download the files from the Add-On Explorer without installing them. This option is useful if you want to install the add-on on a system without an internet connection. To download the add-on without installing, select Install > Download Only.

Add-On Explorer showing a list of add-ons including MathWorks Toolboxes and Products and Community Toolboxes. To the left of the list are filters for narrowing the list of add-ons. To the upper-right of the Add-On Explorer is a search box.

Before R2025a: To get add-ons, go to the Home tab, and in the Environment section, click the Add-Ons icon to open the Add-On Explorer.

Install Add-Ons from File

You can install some add-ons manually using an installation file. This option is useful in several situations:

  • The add-on is not available for installation through the Add-On Explorer, for example, if you create a custom add-on yourself or receive one from someone else.

  • You downloaded the add-on from the Add-On Explorer without installing it.

  • You downloaded the add-on from the File Exchange at MATLAB Central.

Valid add-on installation files include .mltbx files (for toolboxes), .mlappinstall files (for apps), and .mlpkginstall files (for hardware support packages). To install an add-on from one of these files, in the Files panel, double-click the file. An installer opens to guide you through the installation process.

Note

Make sure to double-click the installation file in the MATLAB Files panel. Double-clicking to install the add-on from the system file browser is not supported on all operating systems.

You also can install some add-ons programmatically. For more information, see matlab.addons.install.

Default Add-On Installation Folder

The install location of an add-on depends on its type. MATLAB installs MathWorks products in the matlabroot folder and hardware support packages in the folder returned by matlabshared.supportpkg.getSupportPackageRoot. For more information about a specific support package install location, see the documentation for the package.

MATLAB installs all other add-ons in a default installation folder specific to the platform.

  • Windows®— C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\MathWorks\MATLAB Add-Ons

  • Linux® — ~/MATLAB Add-Ons

  • macOS — ~/Library/Application Support/MathWorks/MATLAB Add-Ons

  • MATLAB Online™ — /MATLAB Add-Ons

To change the default installation folder, on the Home tab, in the Environment section, click Settings and select MATLAB > Add-Ons. Then, in the Installation Folder field, specify a folder name to which you have write access.

If you change the default installation folder, add-ons installed in the previously selected folder are no longer accessible from within MATLAB. Changing the default installation folder or customizing installed add-ons is not supported in MATLAB Online.

Manage Add-Ons

You can view and manage add-ons using the Add-Ons panel. To open the Add-Ons panel, click the Add-Ons icon on the left sidebar of the desktop. If the Add-Ons icon is not on the sidebar, click the Open more panels button and select the Add-Ons panel. The Add-Ons panel displays all add-ons that are installed in the add-ons installation folder, as well as MATLAB products and hardware support packages. (since R2025a)

To manage your add-ons, in the Installed section of the Add-Ons panel, click the Options button to the right of the add-on that you want to manage. Then, select from the available actions. For example, to view the documentation for an installed add-on, select Open Documentation. To manage your add-ons using the Add-On Manager, click the Manage link at the bottom of the Installed section.

Before R2025a: To manage add-ons, go to the Home tab, and in the Environment section, select Add-Ons > Manage Add-Ons to open the Add-On Manager.

View Version

To view the currently enabled version of an add-on if it has multiple versions installed, click the Options button and select Version. MATLAB displays a check mark next to the currently enabled version. To enable a different version, click it. For more information about installing multiple versions of an add-on, see matlab.addons.install.

Disable Add-Ons

You can customize your MATLAB environment by disabling add-ons. You can disable most add-ons from the MATLAB user community. Disabling MathWorks products and support packages is not supported.

To disable an add-on, click the Options button and clear the Enabled check box. To reenable the add-on, select the Enabled check box. If an add-on has multiple versions installed, only one version can be enabled at a time. You also can disable and reenable add-ons using the matlab.addons.disableAddon and matlab.addons.enableAddon functions.

Update Add-Ons

To update an installed add-on, click the Update button to the right of the add-on. The Add-Ons panel displays the Update button next to add-ons with an available update.

To check whether any installed add-ons or your current installed version of MATLAB has an update available, go to the Home tab and select Help > Check for Updates. The Add-Ons panel shows any available updates.

Run Apps

An app is a self-contained MATLAB program with a user interface. To view and interact with the user interface after installing an app, run it. Go to the Apps tab and expand the apps gallery by clicking the down arrow on the far right. Then, navigate to your installed app and click the icon. Custom apps that you write or receive from someone else appear in the My Apps section. You can run multiple custom apps concurrently, including multiple instances of the same app.

See Also

Functions

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