Rescanning Sonnox AU and VST3 Plugins in Ableton Live

If your Sonnox plug‑ins don’t show up in Ableton Live, you likely need to re-enable plugin formats, run a manual rescan, or perform a deep rescan.

Live 12.1 and later only auto-scans on first launch; afterwards, rescans must be triggered manually.

Prerequisites

• Ableton Live fully closed.

• Sonnox plug‑in installed in a standard or custom format folder.

• iLok licences active and valid.

Step‑by‑Step Solution

1. Enable the Correct Plugin Formats and Folders

1. Open Live → Preferences (macOS) or Options → Preferences (Windows).

2. Go to the Plug‑Ins tab (formerly File/Folder in older versions).

3. Enable the required formats:

   • For macOS: turn on Use Audio Units and Use VST3 Plug‑In System Folders.

   • For Windows: enable Use VST3 Plug‑In System Folders.

4. If your plug‑ins are installed in a custom folder, enable it and click Browse to add the folder into Live’s plugin paths.

2. Run a Manual Rescan

• Click Rescan at the top of the Plug‑Ins tab to refresh Live’s plugin list.

3. Perform a Deep Rescan (Force Full Plugin Re-Scan)

• Hold down Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and click Rescan again.

• This forces Live to scan all installed plugins, including previously ignored or blacklisted ones.

Additional Fixes (Advanced Troubleshooting)

• If rescan hangs or plugin list stalls:

  • Ensure Sonnox plugins are installed to a supported format (64‑bit VST3 on Windows; AU, VST3 on macOS).

  • Check for corrupted files in the plugin folder—rename or remove odd file types that Live may struggle with.

  • Confirm file permissions are correct and reinstall if needed.

• Delete old scan database file (Live 12.1+ only):

  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Ableton/Live Database/Live‑plugins‑1.db

  • Windows: \Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Ableton\Live Database\Live‑plugins‑1.db

  • If scans are failing, delete this file and restart Live → it will rebuild the scan database.

Troubleshooting / Alternative Fixes

• Still missing plug‑in?

  • Make sure the plugin installer placed correct file format in a valid plugin folder.

  • Confirm your iLok licence authorisation is correct and active.

  • Try using the standalone installer or reinstalling the plug‑in.

• Live freezes or crashes during scan?

  • Could be a bad or legacy plugin. Try scanning after temporarily removing suspect files from the plugin folder.

FAQ / Common Questions

Q: Why doesn’t Live automatically rescan plugins each time I open it?
A: Starting with Live 12.1, Live only performs a full rescan on first launch after update. Subsequent scans require manual triggering.

Q: Do I need to hold Option/Alt every time I rescan?
A: Only for a deep rescan. Holding the key skips Live’s blocklist and scans everything.

Q: Will rescanning delete any of my presets or session data?
A: No, rescanning only affects plugin detection. It does not alter your projects or settings.

Related Articles / Links

• Why Doesn’t My Plug‑in Show Up in My DAW?

• Activating Your Sonnox Licence in iLok License Manager

• Understanding iLok & How to Authorise Your Licences