# enable_builtins() vs enable_plugins() in MarkItDown: Core Differences Explained

> Understand the core differences between enable_builtins() and enable_plugins() in MarkItDown. Learn how to manage built-in converters and third-party extensions for your MarkItDown projects.

- Repository: [Microsoft/markitdown](https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-04-11

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**MarkItDown's `enable_builtins()` automatically registers the package's built-in file converters during initialization, while `enable_plugins()` discovers and loads optional third-party extensions via Python entry points, with the former enabled by default and the latter requiring explicit opt-in.**

The Microsoft MarkItDown library provides two distinct mechanisms for registering file converters: built-in capabilities that ship with the core package, and an extensible plugin system for third-party formats. Understanding the difference between `enable_builtins()` and `enable_plugins()` is essential for controlling which