claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Disabled plugin state in ~/.claude/settings.json survives uninstall + reinstall

Summary

When a plugin is Disabled via /plugin → Disable, the false value persists in ~/.claude/settings.json under enabledPlugins. Subsequent claude plugin uninstall + claude plugin install cycles do NOT touch this key — so the freshly reinstalled plugin loads in a Disabled state without any user signal explaining why slash commands aren't working.

Repro

1. Install any marketplace plugin (using sig@signal as example): claude plugin install sig@signal
2. Verify slash commands work (e.g., /sig:status).
3. Disable via /plugin → Disable → settings.json now has enabledPlugins["sig@signal"]: false.
4. Uninstall: claude plugin uninstall sig --scope user -y. → manifest entry removed, cache directory removed. → enabledPlugins["sig@signal"]: false STILL present in settings.json.
5. Reinstall: claude plugin install sig@signal. → /reload-plugins reports success, but /plugin shows the plugin as Disabled. → /sig:* commands don't autocomplete.

Expected

Uninstall should remove the corresponding enabledPlugins entry, OR reinstall should reset it to true, OR an explicit user prompt during reinstall should surface "We detected a prior Disabled state; reset to Enabled?"

Workaround

Edit ~/.claude/settings.json and flip the entry to true (or delete it), then /reload-plugins.

Environment

• Claude Code: 2.1.121+ (the version that introduced claude plugin CLI subcommands; the bug existed pre-2.1.121 as well via the /plugin slash-command path)
• macOS — but the underlying settings.json mechanism is platform-independent

Adjacent issues

This sits in the same install-state cluster as:

• #56740 — /plugin install short-circuits on stale gitCommitSha
• #62497 — /plugin interactive menu has no Uninstall verb

Origin

Surfaced while building /sig:doctor, an install-state diagnostician for the Signal plugin. Full troubleshooting write-up with detection logic + remediation steps: https://github.com/InsightRiot/signal/blob/main/docs/install-troubleshooting.md#symptom-3