Adding Extensions to SketchUp

The Extension Warehouse and SketchUp were made to work together. In most cases, to add an extension on your local copy of SketchUp, you simply click the Install button on the extension details page and wait a moment while the software does the rest of the work.

However, this magical installation process comes with a few caveats:

  • You must access the Extension Warehouse from SketchUp (as opposed to a browser). If you access the Extension Warehouse from a web browser, you see a Download button instead of an Install button, and you then need to install the downloaded .rbz file manually through SketchUp Preferences.

    Tip: Installing and managing extensions is easiest if you access the Extension Warehouse from SketchUp by selecting Extensions > Extension Warehouse.

  • The extension is a free extension. Many extensions on the Extension Warehouse are free for you to download and use. Developers also have the option of selling extensions for a one-time fee or a subscription. When an extension is available for purchase, where you’d normally see the Install button, you instead see a Purchase button and sometimes an Install Trial button, as shown in the following figure. A trial extension is free to use for a limited time. In some cases, an extension is available for purchase, but you need to buy the extension from the developer’s website and install the extension manually.
When a SketchUp extension is available for purchase, you see a Purchase button and maybe an Install Trial button in the Extension Warehouse

Note: If you’re not familiar with the features on the extension details page, check out the introduction to the Extension Warehouse interface in Getting Started. If you’re wondering how to uninstall, update, or otherwise manage your extensions, see Managing Extensions.

The following sections explain what you need to know about installing extensions manually, purchasing extensions, and using an extension after it’s installed.

Table of Contents
  1. Installing extensions manually in SketchUp
  2. Trying or purchasing extensions in the Extension Warehouse
  3. Finding and using an extension after it’s installed

Installing extensions manually in SketchUp

If you download an extension from the Extension Warehouse via a web browser or from a developer’s website, your extension is packaged as an .rbz file that you can install manually. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. In SketchUp, select Extensions > Extension Manager. The Extension Manager window appears.
  2. Click the Install Extension button.
  3. In the Open dialog box that appears, navigate to the .rbz file saved to your computer, select the file, and click OK (Microsoft Windows) or Open (Mac OS X).
  4. When SketchUp warns you about installing only extensions from trusted sources, click Yes to proceed and install your extension. (This assumes you do, in fact, trust the source of your extension.)

Trying or purchasing extensions in the Extension Warehouse

Whether you’re signed in to the Extension Warehouse through your browser or SketchUp, you can purchase an extension. However, to install a trial or purchased extension, you need to be signed in to the Extension Warehouse via SketchUp.

The following steps walk you through making a purchase:

  1. On the extension details page, click the Purchase button. (If you can download a trial before you buy, you see an Install Trial from SketchUp link. To install a trial, see the upcoming steps for installing a trial or purchase.)
  2. When prompted, enter your billing and payment information. Billing information is required to verify your credit card. Your receipt is emailed to the email address you use to sign in to Extension Warehouse. If you don’t receive a receipt email shortly after your purchase is complete, check your spam folder.

Tip: After you purchase an extension, the Extension Warehouse doesn’t offer refunds. If you’d like to try out an extension before you purchase it, look for an Install Trial button, which enables you to try how the extension works before you buy it. If you’re having trouble purchasing an extension or would like to contact us about an Extension Warehouse purchase you’ve made, fill out our Customer Service Contact form and, from the You Would Like To drop-down list, select Resolve a Purchasing Issue.

To install a trial or purchased extension, follow these steps:

  1. In SketchUp, select Extension > Extension Warehouse and sign in to the Extension Warehouse.
  2. To install a trial, search for the extension you want to try, and on the extension details page, click Install Trial. If you’ve already purchased an extension, skip to Step 3.
  3. From the user menu, select My Extensions.
  4. On the My Extensions tab, scroll down to the trial extension or the purchased extension that you want to install and click the Install Trial or Install link. In the following figure, you see an Install Trial link.
  5. When SketchUp asks whether you trust the author and want to continue installing the extension, you need to click Yes to proceed. After a few moments, a dialog box confirms that your extension was installed.
After you purchase an extension or download a trial extension, you can install on the extension on the Extension Warehouse My Extensions tab

Finding and using an extension after it’s installed

After you install an extension, how do you use it in SketchUp?

Sometimes, an extension appears on an Extensions menu, as shown in the following figure. Simply select an extension from the menu to start using it. The extension may also add a toolbar for using the extension’s features, such as the Curve Maker toolbar shown in the figure. Other times, an extension is on the Draw menu, the Tools menu, or a context menu.

Tip: For details about how to use an extension, read the extension’s documentation, which you can find on or via the extension’s details page. For example, the extension details page might include a video, instructions, or links to more documentation about how the extension works. If you have a question, check out the reviews from other users (also on the extension details page) or check whether the developer provides contact information via the details page, their profile, or their website.

To start using a SketchUp extension, select it from the Extensions menu
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