The FL Studio installation folder contains default-install copies of several versions of the plugin database (excluding your own plugins).
An issue related to the plugin database that users sometimes face is plugins suddenly missing from the list in 'ADD' or when selecting the '+' icon in the Channel Rack/Playlist.
Use this to change the default Plugin Database folder structure or set it back to the default installation configuration. You do this by copying all or part of this database as follows:
1. Windows: Using File Explorer navigate to the following location in FL Studio installation folder '...\Image-Line\FL Studio\Data\System\Plugin databases'. (If you're unable to see the 'System' folder you may have to set your View options in File Explorer to show 'Hidden Files'.)
MacOS: Navigate to Finder > Applications > FL Studio N, and select 'Show Package Contents' from the right-click menu. Navigate to Contents > Resources > FL > Data > System > Plugin databases
2. Open the Plugin Database folder that corresponds to your desired folder structure. The sub-folders relate to different sorting/categorization options.
3. Copy the files and folders contained within the folder of choice.
4. Navigate to
FL Studio 20 and up '...\Documents\Image-Line\FL Studio\Presets\Plugin database'
FL Studio 12 '..:\Program Files (x86)\Image-Line\FL Studio 12\Data\Patches\Plugin database'.
Or alternatively which ever folder you've manually set as your user-data folder.
5. Delete the existing Effects and or Generators folders and files in this location.
6. Paste the previously copied files and folders from step 3.
7. Once you've completed the above steps you should perform a verified plugin scan to rescan your VST plugins with the following settings:
a. Open 'Options > Manage plugins'.
b. Select the following options:
'Rescan previously verified plugins'
'Rescan plugins with errors'.
'Verify plugins'.
c. Start scan.
Image-Line Support Team