Distribute in an enterprise

Enterprise and Team administrators can deploy UXP plugins through Adobe Admin Console, managed .ccx packages, or the Unified Plugin Installer Agent (UPIA).

Choose a deployment method

There are two primary ways to deploy UXP plugins at scale:

1. Via the Admin Console with Creative Cloud Marketplace integration
   Add plugins directly to your deployment packages or make them available for self-service installation.

2. By bundling plugin installers (.ccx files) into managed packages
   Manually place plugin files in package folders and deploy them alongside Creative Cloud apps.

1. Deploy through Admin Console

When building a package in the Admin Console (for Named User Licensing):

• Select plugins from the Adobe Marketplace during package creation.
  These plugins install automatically when the package is deployed.

• Control user permissions:

  • Allow users to self-install plugins from the Marketplace via the Creative Cloud desktop app.
  • Restrict installation rights so only IT manages plugin deployment.

• Automatic updates:
  Marketplace plugins update through the Creative Cloud desktop app unless restricted.

This option works well when plugins are available on the Marketplace and you want simple, policy-driven distribution. See this Admin Console documentation page for more details.

2. Bundle .ccx plugins in managed packages

If your plugin isn't listed in the Marketplace, for example, for internal distribution:

• When creating a package, enable the "create a folder for extensions" option and include the UPIA tool.
• A folder will be generated in the package structure; place your plugin's .ccx files in this folder.
• When the package is deployed, the included plugins install automatically with the Creative Cloud apps.

See this Admin Console documentation page and the UPIA tool documentation for more details.

Plan the deployment

• App dependency: Plugins only install if the corresponding host app (e.g., Premiere) is also present in the package or already installed.
• Error handling: A plugin installation failure does not block the package installation.
• Activation: If a plugin requires the host app to restart, users must restart the app before the plugin becomes active.
• Unique IDs: If you plan to distribute a plugin both internally and through the Creative Cloud Marketplace, create a clone of your plugin with a different ID as explained here.
• UPIA tool: An administrator can deploy plugins anytime from the command line.
• Offline use: As outlined in this FAQ, in environments with limited internet access or under Adobe's Feature Restricted Licensing, it is still possible to install and use UXP plugins using .ccx files and the UPIA tool.