Plugins are small pieces of software that add a particular feature to MuseScore. By enabling a plugin, a new menu option is appended to the Plugins menu: subsequently, when this option is selected, the plugin performs a particular task in the score.
Some plugins come pre-installed with MuseScore—see Plugins installed by default (below). You can find many more plugins in the plugin repository: some work with MuseScore 3, others only with older versions of MuseScore, and some work with either. To tell one from the other: MuseScore 3.x and 2.x plugin code files have an extension of .qml
; for older versions, it is .js
.
Warning: Plugins can potentially contain bad or malicious code, which can compromise or damage your scores or system. Plugins are entirely unvetted (except for those that are installed by default). You either need to trust the author or check the code yourself.
Note: Some plugins may require the installation of other components (fonts, e.g.) to work. Check the plugin's documentation for more information.
Most plugins are provided as ZIP archives: download the plugin's .zip file and uncompress (unzip) it to one of the directories mentioned below (depending on your OS). If the plugin is provided directly as an uncompressed .qml file, simply download it and place into one of the same directories.
Once a plugin is installed, it needs to be enabled in the Plugin Manager in order to use it—see Enable/disable Plugins.
On Windows, new plugins should be installed into %HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore3\Plugins
. Alternatively, specify a different folder in MuseScore's Preferences.
Note: That above mentioned directory name ("Plugins") might be translated according to your language settings! When in doubt, check your Preferences settings.
Pre-installed plugins can be found in %ProgramFiles%\MuseScore 3\Plugins
(or %ProgramFiles(x86)%\MuseScore 3\Plugins
for the 32-bit versions) and in %LOCALAPPDATA%\MuseScore\MuseScore 3\plugins
on Windows 7 and later. These folders should not be modified.
On macOS, new plugins should be installed into ~/Documents/MuseScore3/Plugins
. Alternatively, specify a different folder in MuseScore's Preferences.
Note: That above mentioned directory name ("Plugins") might be translated according to your language settings! When in doubt, check your Preferences settings.
Pre-installed plugins can be found in the MuseScore bundle in /Applications/MuseScore 3.app/Contents/Resources/plugins
(to reveal files in the app bundle, right-click on MuseScore 3.app
and choose "Show package contents"), and in ~/Library/Application Support/MuseScore/MuseScore 3/plugins
. These folders should not be modified.
On Linux, new plugins should be installed into ~/Documents/MuseScore3/Plugins
. Alternatively, specify a different folder in MuseScore's Preferences.
Note: That above mentioned directory name ("Plugins") might be translated according to your language settings! When in doubt, check your Preferences settings.
Pre-installed plugins can be found in /usr/share/mscore-3.x/plugins
and in ~/.local/share/data/MuseScore/MuseScore3/plugins
. These folders should not be modified.
The directory names might be slightly different, depending on your operating system's language.
To be able to access the installed plugins from the Plugins menu, they need to be enabled in the Plugin Manager:
You do this simply by checking the appropriate tick box. This adds the name of the plugin to the list in the Plugins menu.
It is possible to create new or edit existing plugins and run them via the Plugin Creator:
Documentation of all available elements can also be found here.
Some plugins come pre-installed with MuseScore, but they are not enabled by default. See Enable/disable plugins (above) to enable plugins.
This plugin imports ABC text from a file or the clipboard and converts it to MusicXML. Internet connection is required, because it uses an external web-service for the conversion.
This demo plugin colors notes in the selected range (or the entire score), depending on their pitch. It colors the note head of all notes in all staves and voices according to the Boomwhackers convention. Each pitch has a different color. C and C♯ have a different color. C♯ and D♭ have the same color.
To color all the notes in black, just run that plugin again (on the same selection). You could also use the 'Remove Notes Color' plugin for this.
This demo plugin creates a new score. It creates a new piano score with 4 quarter notes: C, D, E, F. It's a good start to learn how to make a new score and add notes from a plugin.
This demo plugin demonstrates some basic tasks.
This plugin names notes in a selected range or for the entire score. It displays the names of the notes (as staff text) according to MuseScore's language settings: voices 1 and 3 notes above the staff; voices 2 and 4 notes below the staff; and chord notes in a comma separated list, starting with the top note.
This demo plugin creates a GUI panel.
Creates a random score.
This demo plugin runs an external command. Probably this will only work on Linux.
This test plugin iterates through the score list.
Demo plugin to demonstrate the use of a ScoreView
This test plugin walks through all elements in a score
You can customize many of MuseScore's default behaviors via the menu: Edit→Preferences... (Mac: MuseScore→Preferences...).
The Preferences dialog has multiple tabs:
Reset All Preferences to Default will reset all preferences to the ones MuseScore had when you installed it. Ok will save the settings and close the dialog. Cancel will close the dialog without applying changes. Apply will make changes take effect without closing the dialog.
Here you can define:
Use Canvas to set your preferred color and wallpaper for the score background and paper. The default "Background" is dark blue (RGB 20, 36, 51; Alpha 255) and the default "Paper," white.
On this tab there are note input and MIDI remote control preferences. Here the following can be set:
Midi Remote Control allows you to use certain keys on your MIDI keyboard to enter notes and rests and to select note durations, without involving the computer mouse or (computer) keyboard. The default setting is off.
To assign a command to a MIDI key:
Once you have defined your key settings you can use the MIDI keyboard to control note input operations. You can verify your key settings by observing the MuseScore Note Input toolbar while pressing the MIDI keys.
To temporarily deactivate Midi Remote Control: uncheck "Midi Remote Control": all MIDI input key action buttons are now greyed out. Note: Your key assignments are always saved between MuseScore sessions and are not affected by deactivation.
Notes: (1) The "Clear" option turns off all the green buttons for the current MuseScore session but all the user-recorded MIDI key settings are retained and will be reloaded on the next session. (2) A MIDI key setting that is activated cannot afterwards be turned off, and the green button will always remain lit: however it can be overwritten with a different MIDI key by using the red button again. (3) If the same MIDI key is accidentally assigned to more than one option, then all the associated green buttons remain lit although only one will work. To fix, see "(2)".
Score preferences include:
See also Load/Save Style
This enables you to set the audio interface (API) and specify the device to be used for audio playback: e.g. built-in speakers/headphones, USB headset, wireless, etc.
When an external MIDI input device is connected, its identifier appears in MIDI Input. When the device is connected for the first time, you also need to select the correct MIDI Output option in order to enable note input and correct audio playback (e.g. in Windows, this might be "MMS<device name>"): then close and reopen the program to confirm the changes.
Check these options as required if using the JACK Audio Connection Kit.
In case of lost communication between your audio device or your MIDI keyboard and MuseScore (no sound output or MIDI action), click on Restart Audio and MIDI Devices to restore them.
These settings determine how files from other sources are imported:
These settings determine how various files are exported from MuseScore:
This tab lists all the commands in MuseScore and any keyboard shortcuts associated with them. Shortcuts listed in preferences also appear next to their associated commands in the menus.
To search for a particular command: Enter its name in the "Search" box near the bottom of the window.
To create a new shortcut for a command:
To reset a shortcut to its system default: Select a command in the list and press Reset Shortcut to Default.
To save the shortcuts list: Press Save and save to a file name of your choice.
To load a saved shortcut list: Press Load etc.
To clear all shortcuts for an entry: Select the entry and press Clear.
To print out the shortcuts list (incl. export to pdf): Press Print etc.
This sets whether MuseScore will check for updates and extensions at startup.
Updates may be checked manually in Help→Check for updates.
Allows you to control specific settings for "application, "export", "i/o" and "user interface", as well as color settings.