---
title: "What are plugins?"
slug: "what-are-plugins"
tags: ["Totara Platform", "Explainer", "Site Administrator"]
updated: 2025-07-22T10:52:18Z
published: 2025-07-22T11:18:07Z
canonical: "totara.help/what-are-plugins"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What are plugins?

Plugins are core features in Totara that can be turned on and off, configured or uninstalled, allowing you to configure the site to your organisation's needs. Most of these plugins will therefore come installed on your site by default, ready for you to use as needed. What you can do with each plugin will vary from feature to feature. In some cases you will simply be able to choose to uninstall a plugin if you do not feel it is helpful for your organisation. In other cases you can enable or disable certain plugins to prevent your site from being cluttered with unnecessary features (as Totara is a powerful tool with lots of functionality). Some plugins can be configured or set up to work in specific ways.

Plugins on the site include (but are not limited to):

- [Activity modules](/19/docs/activities): Activities and resources you can add to courses in Totara Learn
- [Authentication methods](/19/docs/authentication): Configure how users can access your site
- [Availability restrictions](/19/docs/restrict-access): Decide which restrictions will be available on your site (Totara Learn)
- [Blocks](/19/docs/what-are-blocks): Configure which blocks are available for use on dashboards, the front page, and in courses (Totara Learn), etc.
- [Machine learning](/19/docs/what-are-recommendations): Configure how recommendations work in Totara Engage
- [Mobile](/19/docs/totara-mobile): Enable your site to work with the Totara Mobile app

To see all available core plugin features, log in to your Totara site as a Site Administrator and go to *Quick-access menu > Plugins*, then use the left-hand panel for navigation.

[Embedded content](https://www.youtube.com/embed/1d5Ojoi9ifI?&wmode=opaque&rel=0)

| Plugin name | What can you do? |
| --- | --- |
| Plugins overview | - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Activity modules | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Admin tools | - Configure options ([recycle bin](/19/docs/recycle-bin)) - Uninstall options |
| Antivirus plugins | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Authentication | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Availability restrictions | - Enable/ disable options |
| Blocks | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Caching | - Configure options |
| Course formats | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Data formats | - Enable/ disable options - Uninstall options |
| Enrolments | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Filters | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Licences | - Enable/ disable options |
| Local plugins | Only shows options if you have relevant plugins installed - no default options. |
| Logging | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Machine learning settings | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Media players | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Message outputs | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Mobile | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Plagiarism | Only shows options if you have relevant plugins installed - no default options. |
| Portfolios | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Question behaviours | - Enable/ disable options - Uninstall options |
| Question types | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Reports | - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Repositories | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Search | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |
| Tabular exports | - Configure options |
| Text editors | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options - Uninstall options |
| Virtual meetings | - Configure options |
| Web services | - Enable/ disable options - Configure options |

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_core-plugings-and-configurable-features.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T14%3A47%3A38Z&se=2026-11-01T15%3A47%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=5ntRvsD4g00PJmPYVZ6HETlV3MJEBJi76hGRjJpkxSQ%3D)The Totara Academy has a course dedicated to using [Core plugins and advanced features](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=726) in Totara. Here you can learn more, see best practice, give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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