Plugins Showing as "Missing" in 3ds Max 2024 on Windows 11 Despite Correct Installation Path

[hamoodpg]

I'm experiencing an issue in 3ds Max 2024 on Windows 11 where installed plugins are showing as "missing" when I hover over them, despite the installation paths being set correctly. The plugins previously worked fine on 3ds Max 2024, but now they are not loading properly. Here's what I’ve tried so far:

1. Verified the plugin paths under Customize → Configure User Paths → 3rd Party Plugins.
2. Reinstalled the plugins multiple times.
3. Checked file permissions and ensured I have full access to the plugin directories.
4. Cleared the cache by deleting the PlugCfg folder.
5. Ran 3ds Max as an administrator.
6. Updated my Visual C++ Redistributables.
7. Ensured 3ds Max is fully up to date with the latest service packs.
8. Checked for conflicts with other installed plugins.

Even after all these troubleshooting steps, the plugins still appear as missing. I'm running the 64-bit version of 3ds Max 2024 on Windows 11. The issue started recently, though everything was working fine before.

Any suggestions on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated!

  

[429387556]

I encountered the same issue. After updating to the Windows 11 24H2 version, none of the installed scripts are working, and the word 'Missing' appears.

[hamoodpg · Accepted solution]

I actually tried this and it fixed the issue: 

• Locate the Usermacros Folder:

  • Navigate to the following directory:
    • C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2024 - 64bit\ENU\usermacros
  • Copy the entire usermacros folder.

• Paste the Usermacros Folder:

  • Paste the usermacros folder into:
    • Documents\3dsMax(version)
• Update the Macro Location in 3ds Max:
• • Open 3ds Max and go to Customize → Configure User Paths → System.
  • Find the entry for Additional Macros.
  • Modify the path to point to the newly copied usermacros folder in Documents\3dsMax(version).

• Restart 3ds Max:

  • Restart 3ds Max for the changes to take effect.
  • In some cases, you might need to reinstall the scripts or plugins, but in my case, I didn’t need to.

Please let me know if this solution worked for you, and if it did, kindly mark it as the accepted solution.

[massimo_bongiorno]

Got the exact same issue this morning and it was due to windows update 24H2 ... i got to rollback to 23H2

Found your turn arround solution right after thanks to a friend.

Are you under 24H2 version ? you can find it in Windows 11 :

settings : System : About : Windows Specifications : version

[larryminton]

If you run the following in Listener, what do you get?

getdir #usermacros

you should get something like:
"C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2025 - 64bit\ENU\usermacros"

[massimo_bongiorno]

As mentionned, I rolled back to Windows11 23H2, i cannnot [because i need to work] re install Windows 24H2 in order to test it ...

[hamoodpg]

Yes I am on 24H2 and so far the solution I provided above has been working fine with me, let know if you have tried the suggested method.

[massimo_bongiorno]

I didn't tried myself, but one KeyHydra client tried and it didn't fixed it ... So he rollback too ... Don't know yet if other things than macroscript are impacted. I think based on our client information that the answer is yes.

I am the owner of Onikanabo [maker of KeyHydra plugin for 3dsmax, was contacted in first place by our client previous week, didn't understood at first because i never met the bug, but right after 24H2 i was impacted too !!! Lost one day of work almost, i don't want to try 24H2 anymore ... I rolledback to 23H2.].

While on paper the turnarround found is nice, it remains a turn arround. 3DSMax cannot stay with this issue ... else every plugin dev, or pipeline or mzp existing arround will need to be fixed [that can be a lot of work].

I work primarly for Ubisoft, we cannot ask people to copy paste themselve ... all the macros of our pipeline ... or Autodesk/Microsoft can fix it, or we need to fix the installers for our users ...

  

[massimo_bongiorno]

This issue was confirmed by my Friend Mike, dev at RapidMXS [Uvreactor, Octopus plugin for max], he was reached by his own clients too ...

He told me : "I would just say to the users, to prevent using the 24H2 update and roll back to the previous one."

[gandhics]

For the folks who is having issue with macroscript in win 11. If you dont want to rollback the Windows update. Here is a few things you can try.

1. Set a system env var
ADSK_3DSMAX_MACROS_ADDON_DIR
to
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2025 - 64bit\ENU\usermacros
match the max version. If you already had one, use semicolon(;) to add more.

2. duplicate C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2025 - 64bit\ENU\usermacros folder somewhere in other folder like this.
D:\test\usermacros
and set the folder for ADSK_3DSMAX_MACROS_ADDON_DIR

[huytiep8az]

Tried your way but still not fixed. I use 24h2

[hamoodpg]

did you try reinstalling the scripts after modifying the microscript folder path ?

[huytiep8az]

Yes, I tried reinstalling but it still doesn't work.

[huytiep8az]

I tried again and your method worked. Thank you

[steveJV9SH]

Same happened to me after the 24H2 update.  Also tried the suggested fix which I found in an old post but it didn't work for me.  Tried clean uninstall/reinstall of max to no avail.  Ended up having to spend a day rolling back Windows and setting up my computer again.  Hope it gets resolved soon as Windows only allows me to put off the update for 5 weeks maximum.

[gandhics]

This is an Windows issue. you need to move plugins and script out of ENU folder and point to there using env var or UI.

Or, rollback windows update.

[KasperFilipsen · Accepted solution]

To add to the discussion. Windows marks files different after the update. It seems like all files in the AppData folder inherit the folders hidden attribute, resulting in all the files getting skipped on load.

The max.log file shows this:

2024/10/21 14:48:22 INF: [27784] [00696] Hidden/System startup script: 'C:\Users\max\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2024 - 64bit\ENU\usermacros\Forest Pack-FP_MS_SelectAll.mcr', skip loading...

[yogiyoboy3]

Thank you this Worked For me.

[himanshu_arch]

This worked! Thanks a lot 

i am also on windows 24H2 

[berislav_curic]

you made my day mate!