Rescanning Sonnox AAX Plugins in Pro Tools

Modified on Wed, 30 Jul at 4:12 PM

Pro Tools automatically scans for AAX plug‑ins on launch. If a Sonnox plug‑in isn’t appearing, deleting the InstalledAAXPlugIns cache file—and sometimes plugin-specific cache files—can force Pro Tools to rescan and detect missing plug‑ins.

This guide covers the latest Pro Tools behaviour across macOS and Windows, including new caching mechanisms in Pro Tools 2024 and later.

Prerequisites

Pro Tools completely closed (not running in the background).
Administrative access to your system.
Hidden folders visible if needed.

Step‑by‑Step Solution

macOS / Apple Silicon / Intel

Quit Pro Tools completely.
In Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder…, type: ~/Library/Preferences/Avid/Pro Tools
Locate and delete: InstalledAAXPlugIns
Additionally (Pro Tools 2024+): Clear cache files under: /Users/Shared/Pro Tools/AAXPlugInCache (one cache file per plug‑in)
Re-open Pro Tools — it will force a full rescan of all plug‑ins.

Windows

Quit Pro Tools completely.
Press Windows + R, type %appdata% and press Enter.
Navigate to: \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Avid\Pro Tools
Delete: InstalledAAXPlugIns
Restart Pro Tools — it will recreate the file and rescan.

Additional Tips and Cache Locations

Newer versions of Pro Tools may still exhibit plugin detection issues even after deleting InstalledAAXPlugIns.
In this case, inspecting the shared cache folder under /Users/Shared/Pro Tools/AAXPluginCache and deleting any relevant entries helps force a deeper rescan.
Some users also report that Pro Tools may move unused plug‑ins into an “Unused” folder, particularly if previously blocklisted. Check these folders manually.

Troubleshooting / Alternative Fixes

If plug‑in still missing:
- Confirm the AAX plug‑in file is installed in the correct default Pro Tools folder:
  - macOS: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug‑Ins
  - Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug‑Ins
- Ensure you're using the correct plug‑in format (64-bit AAX) for your Pro Tools version.
- Launch Pro Tools again — it will begin a clean scan.

FAQ / Common Questions

Q: Why can’t I trigger a manual plugin rescan inside Pro Tools?
A: Pro Tools doesn’t offer an internal rescan command. Deleting cache files and restarting is the standard method.

Q: Will deleting the cache file also reset my plugin presets or settings?
A: No, only the plugin scan cache is removed. Your presets or session data remain intact.

Q: What if the plug‑in was blocked previously by Pro Tools?
A: Blocklisted plug‑ins may be moved to an “Unused” folder. You may need to restore them manually.