Plug‑in modules are software programs developed by Adobe Systems and by other software developers in conjunction with Adobe Systems to add features to Photoshop. A number of importing, exporting, and special-effects plug‑ins come with your program. They are automatically installed in folders inside the Photoshop Plug‑ins folder.

You can select an additional Plug‑ins folder for compatible plug‑ins stored with another application. You can also create a shortcut (Windows) or an alias (Mac OS) for a plug‑in stored in another folder on your system. You can then add the shortcut or alias to the plug‑ins folder and use that plug‑in with Photoshop.

Once installed, plug‑in modules appear as options in the Import or Export menu; as file formats in the Open, and Save As dialog boxes; or as filters in the Filter submenus. Photoshop can accommodate a large number of plug‑ins. However, if the list of installed plug‑in modules becomes too long, Photoshop may not be able to display all the plug‑ins in their appropriate menus. If so, newly installed plug‑ins appear in the Filter > Other submenu.