Rhino 3D Tip: Rhino Plug-in Maintenance and Safe Update Workflow

Keep your Rhino plug-ins current to avoid crashes, speed up modeling, and ensure features behave consistently across teams and machines.

• Know what you’re running
  • Open PlugInManager (Tools > Options > Plug-ins) to review Name, Version, and Load status. Sort by “Loaded” to focus on the active set.
  • Run SystemInfo and copy the report; it lists Rhino, GPU drivers, and plug-in versions—perfect for audits and support requests.
• Update paths that actually work
  • Use Rhino’s PackageManager (Yak) to update add-ons installed as packages. Search, then click Update; in Rhino 8 you can pick specific versions under “More versions.”
  • For MSI/DMG-based plug-ins, download the latest installer from the developer or a trusted reseller like NOVEDGE and run it with Rhino closed.
  • Grasshopper add-ons: favor PackageManager packages over manual Libraries drops to keep dependencies clean and updatable.
• Mind major version compatibility
  • Plug-ins are compiled against Rhino’s SDK. A Rhino 7 build may not run correctly in Rhino 8. Always install the build that explicitly targets your Rhino version.
  • Rhino 8 moved to newer runtimes (.NET 7, CPython). If a critical plug-in isn’t Rhino 8–ready, keep Rhino 7 installed in parallel until the vendor ships an update.
• Adopt a safe update workflow
  • Before updating, save your current versions via SystemInfo and export your workspace and aliases if you rely on them.
  • Update one plug-in at a time; relaunch Rhino and sanity-check your core workflows (open, display, render, export).
  • If Rhino misbehaves, launch in Safe Mode (no plug-ins), then disable the last updated plug-in in PlugInManager and roll back.
  • Keep prior installers or use PackageManager to install a previous version when needed.
• Reduce conflicts and clutter
  • Remove duplicate copies of the same plug-in from custom folders; avoid loading both Yak and manual installs concurrently.
  • Audit Grasshopper’s Libraries for duplicated .gha files; restart Grasshopper after changes to rebuild the assembly cache.
• Licensing and IT considerations
  • Some plug-ins require deactivation before uninstall. Sign out/in after updates if the vendor uses cloud licensing.
  • Standardize a vetted plug-in list and versions for your team. Document them in your project template notes.

When planning upgrades or building a standard toolset, check availability and maintenance status with NOVEDGE, and browse their Rhino plug-in catalog for current builds and updates. Their specialists can help you identify version-compatible plug-ins for Rhino 7 or Rhino 8, advise on best-in-class replacements, and streamline purchasing for teams. Start here: NOVEDGE.

Quick checklist: Update GPU drivers, then plug-ins, then Rhino. Test, document, and only then roll out to the team.