# How to Submit a Plugin to the Claude Plugins Community: Complete Guide

> Learn how to submit a plugin to the Claude Plugins Community. Discover the official submission portal and bypass pull requests for a smooth review process.

- Repository: [Anthropic/claude-plugins-community](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-29

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**You cannot submit a plugin via pull request to the `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository; instead, you must use the official submission portal at `clau.de/plugin-directory-submission` to route your plugin through Anthropic's internal review pipeline.**

The `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository serves as a curated marketplace for Claude Cowork and Claude Code extensions. If you want to submit a plugin to the Claude Plugins Community, you need to understand that this repository is a **read-only mirror** synchronized nightly from Anthropic's internal systems, making direct contributions impossible.

## Understanding the Read-Only Repository Structure

The repository's [`README.md`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/README.md) explicitly states that direct contributions are not accepted. According to the source code analysis, the repository aggregates community-contributed plugins through Anthropic's internal review pipeline rather than accepting external pull requests.

When contributors attempt to open pull requests directly against this repository, the GitHub Actions workflow defined in [`.github/workflows/close-external-prs.yml`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.github/workflows/close-external-prs.yml) automatically closes them. This workflow posts a comment directing users to the official submission portal, as implemented in lines 52-55 of the workflow file.

## Plugin Requirements and Structure

Before you submit a plugin to the Claude Plugins Community, ensure your package follows the official specification. Your repository must include a `.claude-plugin/` directory containing a [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest, optional assets, and documentation.

A valid plugin structure looks like this:

```json
{
  "name": "your-plugin-name",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Brief description of your plugin's functionality",
  "author": "Your Name",
  "license": "MIT",
  "entry_point": "src/main.py",
  "keywords": ["productivity", "api-integration"]
}

```

The manifest must define metadata and entry points for Claude Cowork and Claude Code to properly load and execute your plugin.

## Step-by-Step Submission Process

Follow these steps to route your plugin through the official review pipeline:

1. **Prepare your plugin** – Validate that your `.claude-plugin/` directory contains a valid [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest and all required documentation.

2. **Visit the submission portal** – Navigate to **clau.de/plugin-directory-submission** in your browser.

3. **Complete the form** – Provide your plugin's repository URL, author information, license details, and descriptive keywords that help users discover your extension.

4. **Submit for review** – The portal forwards your plugin to Anthropic's internal review pipeline for automated security scanning and metadata validation.

5. **Await approval** – Once approved, your plugin's manifest is automatically merged into [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json) and becomes installable via Claude Cowork or Claude Code.

## The Review Pipeline and Marketplace Integration

After submission, your plugin enters Anthropic's internal validation system. This pipeline performs security scanning and metadata checks before approving plugins for the community marketplace.

Once validation passes, the system automatically updates [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json) in the repository. This generated manifest file serves as the source of truth for all approved community plugins, which is then synchronized to the public mirror during the nightly sync process.

## Summary

- The `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository is a **read-only mirror** that aggregates plugins from Anthropic's internal review pipeline.
- Direct pull requests are **automatically closed** by the workflow in [`.github/workflows/close-external-prs.yml`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.github/workflows/close-external-prs.yml).
- You must use the official portal at **clau.de/plugin-directory-submission** to submit a plugin to the Claude Plugins Community.
- Approved plugins are merged into [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json) and become available in Claude Cowork and Claude Code.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I submit a plugin by opening a pull request on GitHub?

No. The repository's GitHub Actions workflow automatically closes external pull requests and directs contributors to the submission portal. You must submit through clau.de/plugin-directory-submission to enter the review pipeline.

### What files are required in my plugin package?

Your plugin must include a `.claude-plugin/` directory containing a [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest file, optional assets, and a [`README.md`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/README.md) documentation file. The manifest defines your plugin's metadata and entry points for Claude Cowork and Claude Code.

### How long does the review process take?

After submitting through the portal, your plugin undergoes automated security scanning and manual review. The timeline varies based on queue length and complexity, but approved plugins appear in [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json) after the next nightly sync.

### Why is the repository read-only?

The repository serves as a public mirror synchronized nightly from Anthropic's internal review pipeline. This architecture ensures all community plugins undergo consistent security validation before appearing in the marketplace.