# Error: Missing Plugins

## Causes

This is caused by missing [realtime effects](/audio-editing/using-realtime-effects.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
Audacity currently looks for plugins in absolute paths. This means that if you open a project that was created on a different computer, Audacity will continue to check for the plugins in the exact same locations as they were on the old computer.
{% endhint %}

## Fixes

* You can replace any missing effects from the effects sidebar.
* Before opening a project on a new computer, ensure that all plugins you've used are in the same location as where they would've been in your old computer.

{% hint style="success" %}
If the troubleshooting steps aren't working for you, feel free to ask in our communities:

* [Forum](https://forum.audacityteam.org/)
* [Discord](https://discord.gg/audacity)
  {% endhint %}


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