diff --git a/docs/native-vs-web.md b/docs/native-vs-web.md
index 41b48fb1c..631608b45 100644
--- a/docs/native-vs-web.md
+++ b/docs/native-vs-web.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ browser can't provide. This page lists the differences.
 | Parallelism | Multi-threaded (rayon) | Single-threaded |
 | GPU backend | Vulkan / DX12 / Metal (wgpu) | WebGL2 (WebGPU where available) |
 | Update check / external links | `ureq`, `open` | skipped / `window.open` |
+| External plugins | Native packages + Plugin Manager | **No** — native libraries cannot run in a browser |
 
 ## Details
 
@@ -76,6 +77,14 @@ native and sequential `std` iterators on wasm, so the same call sites run in
 parallel on the desktop and serially in the browser. Large drawings are slower
 on the web.
 
+### External plugins — web: unavailable
+
+Marketplace plugins are native `.dll`, `.so`, or `.dylib` packages launched in
+an isolated child process. Browsers cannot load those libraries or spawn the
+plugin runner, so the web build does not show the Plugin Manager or register
+its commands. Installed desktop plugins remain in the per-user plugins folder
+and load again on the next desktop launch.
+
 ### Platform shims (`src/sys.rs`)
 - `open_url`: `open::that` on native, `window.open(_blank)` on web.
 - `download_bytes`: web only (Blob + anchor download).
diff --git a/docs/plugin-architecture.md b/docs/plugin-architecture.md
index 842957874..7d6c08ca1 100644
--- a/docs/plugin-architecture.md
+++ b/docs/plugin-architecture.md
@@ -333,8 +333,9 @@ plugin dead, and reports a `CallTimeout` error via the normal plugin error path.
 
 ## Marketplace
 
-The **Plugin Manager** (`PLUGINS` / `PLUGINMANAGER`, or the Start-page button)
-installs plugins from GitHub Releases:
+The desktop **Plugin Manager** (`PLUGINS` / `PLUGINMANAGER`, or the Start-page
+button) installs plugins from GitHub Releases. It is hidden in the browser
+build because marketplace packages are native dynamic libraries:
 
 - **Curated registry** — [`plugins/registry.json`](../plugins/registry.json) in
   this repo lists discoverable plugins. The host fetches it from `main` at
@@ -343,7 +344,7 @@ installs plugins from GitHub Releases:
   [`plugins/README.md`](../plugins/README.md)); merged PRs reach every user with
   no app update.
 - **Manual link** — *Add a repository* (`owner/repo`) for unlisted or private
-  dev repos; linked repos persist in `settings.txt` (`plugin_repos=`).
+  dev repos; linked repos persist in `settings.json`.
 - **Install / upgrade / reinstall** — pick a release from the dropdown and
   *Install*; the host downloads the platform asset + `plugin.toml` into the
   plugins folder, checking `api_version` first. Reinstalling overwrites and
diff --git a/src/app/commands/mod.rs b/src/app/commands/mod.rs
index a6e81750a..c9f28b3b7 100644
--- a/src/app/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/commands/mod.rs
@@ -236,8 +236,6 @@ pub fn start_allowed(cmd: &str) -> bool {
             | "REPORT"
             | "CHANGELOG"
             | "ABOUT"
-            | "PLUGINS"
-            | "PLUGINMANAGER"
             | "DONATE"
             | "WEBVERSION"
             | "HELP"
@@ -247,6 +245,8 @@ pub fn start_allowed(cmd: &str) -> bool {
             | "CUILOAD"
             | "CUIIMPORT"
     )
+        || (!cfg!(target_arch = "wasm32")
+            && matches!(cmd, "PLUGINS" | "PLUGINMANAGER"))
 }
 
 // ── Autocomplete registry — one-shot commands ──────────────────────────────
diff --git a/src/app/commands/view.rs b/src/app/commands/view.rs
index d96f4125e..d4a1e34d0 100644
--- a/src/app/commands/view.rs
+++ b/src/app/commands/view.rs
@@ -212,10 +212,17 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                 return Some(Task::done(Message::AboutOpen));
             }
 
+            #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
             "PLUGINS" | "PLUGINMANAGER" => {
                 return Some(Task::done(Message::PluginManagerOpen));
             }
 
+            #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+            "PLUGINS" | "PLUGINMANAGER" => {
+                self.command_line
+                    .push_info("External plugins are available in the desktop app.");
+            }
+
             "CHANGELOG" => {
                 crate::sys::open_url("https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio/releases");
                 self.command_line.push_info("Opening release notes...");
diff --git a/src/app/mod.rs b/src/app/mod.rs
index 3f41a0018..c827c07ad 100644
--- a/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -1313,6 +1313,7 @@ impl ClipboardDeps {
 pub enum ModalKind {
     About,
     Shortcuts,
+    #[cfg_attr(target_arch = "wasm32", allow(dead_code))]
     PluginManager,
     UpdateNotice,
     Layers,
diff --git a/src/app/update/file.rs b/src/app/update/file.rs
index 6d96b31a6..96f0fdf96 100644
--- a/src/app/update/file.rs
+++ b/src/app/update/file.rs
@@ -291,8 +291,11 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
     }
 
     #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-    pub(in crate::app) fn fetch_releases_task(&self, _repo: String) -> Task<Message> {
-        Task::none()
+    pub(in crate::app) fn fetch_releases_task(&self, repo: String) -> Task<Message> {
+        Task::done(Message::PluginReleasesFetched(
+            repo,
+            Err("External plugins are available in the desktop app.".to_string()),
+        ))
     }
 
     /// Background task: fetch a repository README from its default branch.
@@ -306,8 +309,11 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
     }
 
     #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-    pub(in crate::app) fn fetch_plugin_readme_task(&self, _repo: String) -> Task<Message> {
-        Task::none()
+    pub(in crate::app) fn fetch_plugin_readme_task(&self, repo: String) -> Task<Message> {
+        Task::done(Message::PluginReadmeFetched(
+            repo,
+            Err("Plugin details are available in the desktop app.".to_string()),
+        ))
     }
 
     /// Background task: download and install the `tag` release of `owner/repo`.
@@ -328,7 +334,9 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
 
     #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
     pub(in crate::app) fn install_task(&self, _repo: String, _tag: String) -> Task<Message> {
-        Task::none()
+        Task::done(Message::PluginInstalled(Err(
+            "External plugins are available in the desktop app.".to_string(),
+        )))
     }
 
     /// Gather the full persisted config (all sections) from live app state.
diff --git a/src/app/update/mod.rs b/src/app/update/mod.rs
index 333bfb308..876304cf3 100644
--- a/src/app/update/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/update/mod.rs
@@ -4056,14 +4056,20 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
 
             // ── Plugin Manager window ─────────────────────────────────────
             Message::PluginManagerOpen => {
-                // Refresh the on-disk external-plugin list each time the manager
-                // opens so newly dropped-in packages show up.
-                self.external_plugins = crate::plugin::external::discover();
-                self.marketplace_status.clear();
-                self.active_modal = Some(super::ModalKind::PluginManager);
-                // Fetch the curated registry and release lists for linked repos.
+                #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+                {
+                    self.command_line
+                        .push_info("External plugins are available in the desktop app.");
+                    return Task::none();
+                }
                 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
                 {
+                    // Refresh the on-disk external-plugin list each time the manager
+                    // opens so newly dropped-in packages show up.
+                    self.external_plugins = crate::plugin::external::discover();
+                    self.marketplace_status.clear();
+                    self.active_modal = Some(super::ModalKind::PluginManager);
+                    // Fetch the curated registry and release lists for linked repos.
                     self.plugin_registry_loading = true;
                     self.plugin_registry_error = None;
                     self.plugin_registry_error_details_open = false;
@@ -4100,8 +4106,6 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                     }
                     return Task::batch(tasks);
                 }
-                #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-                Task::none()
             }
             Message::PluginManagerClose => {
                 self.close_active_modal();
diff --git a/src/app/view/mod.rs b/src/app/view/mod.rs
index e605ebae0..aca0b0ac9 100644
--- a/src/app/view/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/view/mod.rs
@@ -2299,12 +2299,12 @@ pub(super) fn start_page_view<'a>(
         )
         .into(),
         outline_btn("Options", Message::OptionsOpen).into(),
-        outline_btn("Plugins", Message::PluginManagerOpen).into(),
     ];
-    // The web build is already in the browser, so only the desktop offers a
-    // link to the web version.
+    // External plugins are native dynamic libraries and the web build is
+    // already in the browser, so both actions are desktop-only.
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
     {
+        secondary_items.push(outline_btn("Plugins", Message::PluginManagerOpen).into());
         // Filled with the active theme's primary colour.
         secondary_items.push(
             button(text("OCS Web").size(14))
diff --git a/src/plugin/external.rs b/src/plugin/external.rs
index 4e4e36000..0bdd81f8a 100644
--- a/src/plugin/external.rs
+++ b/src/plugin/external.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 //!     <lib<name>.so | .dll | .dylib>
 //! ```
 
+#![cfg_attr(target_arch = "wasm32", allow(dead_code))]
+
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// One entry in the curated plugin registry (`plugins/registry.json`).
diff --git a/src/ui/window/plugin_manager.rs b/src/ui/window/plugin_manager.rs
index cc3d617fe..0b95f620e 100644
--- a/src/ui/window/plugin_manager.rs
+++ b/src/ui/window/plugin_manager.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ pub struct MarketView<'a> {
     pub status: &'a str,
 }
 
-// Register the command names for autocomplete.
+// External plugins are native dynamic libraries, so the browser build must not
+// advertise a manager it cannot use.
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 inventory::submit!(crate::command::CommandRegistration {
     names: &["PLUGINS", "PLUGINMANAGER"]
 });