# Why can't I install plugins locally?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-cant-i-install-plugins-locally/404594
**Category:** Self-hosting
**Created:** [June 5, 2026, 10:31am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-cant-i-install-plugins-locally/404594 "2026-06-05T10:31:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 8

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### Author: ![chapoi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/chapoi/32/537252_2.png) [@chapoi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/chapoi)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2026, 11:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-cant-i-install-plugins-locally/404594/8 "2026-06-05T11:24:59Z")

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A private GitHub/GitLab repo is still private. The token is just a password that lets the server clone it. Nobody else can see the code. It stays private.

See the section about private repos in [Install plugins on a self-hosted site](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-plugins-on-a-self-hosted-site/19157)

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