Tech Note | Q-SYS Plugin Encryption Formats & Compatibility Matrix
Applies To
Products: Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS), Q-SYS Ecosystems Plugins, Q-SYS Asset Manager / Q-SYS Library.
Software Versions: Q-SYS Designer 9.10+, Q-SYS Designer 10.5+.
File Types: .qplug, .qplugx, .qplugx2
Overview
Q-SYS plugins can can be distributed in either unencrypted (open Lua script) or encrypted formats. Encrypted plugins protect the developer's intellectual property while allowing the plugin to run seamlessly in Q-SYS designs.
Different Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS) releases support different encryption standards. If a design includes a plugin encrypted with a newer standard than the running QDS version supports, the design will fail to load or decrypt.
Plugin Encryption Compatibility Matrix
| File Extension | Encryption Version | Minimum Supported QDS Version | Description / Notes |
| .qplug | None | Any QDS version. | Open-source or unencrypted Lua plugin file. |
| .qplugx | V1 | All supported versions. | Legacy RSA encryption format. |
| .qplugx2 | V2 | QDS 9.10 or later. | Modern encryption format introduced in Q-SYS 9.10. |
| .qplugx2 | V3 | QDS 10.5 or later. | Next-generation encryption format introduced in Q-SYS 10.5. |
How to Determine the Encryption Version of a .qplugx2 File
Both V2 and V3 encrypted plugins share the .qplugx2 file extension.
1. Locate the .qplugx2 file on your computer.
2. Open the file in any standard text or code editor (such as Notepad, VS Code, or BBEdit).
3. .qplugx2 files are formatted as JSON.text. Locate the “version” key near the top of the file:
“version”: 2 indicates V2 Encryption (requires QDS 9.10+).
“version”: 3 indicates V3 Encryption (requires QDS 10.5+).
Symptoms & Troubleshooting
Issue: Q-SYS Designer Crashes or Fails to Load Design
Symptom: Opening a .qsys design file or adding a plugin results in a decryption error, design load failure, or unexpected application crash.
Cause: The design contains a plugin that requires a newer version of QDS than what is currently installed (for example, attempting to open a design with a V3 encrypted plugin in QDS 9.10 or 10.4).
Resolution: Upgrade Q-SYS Designer Software to the minimum supported version indicated in the compatibility matrix (e.g., QDS 10.5 or later for V3 plugins).
Checking Requirements in Q-SYS Library / Asset Manager
When downloading plugins from the Q-SYS Library or Asset Manager:
- If a minimum Q-SYS version is listed o the asset card / page, the plugin is encrypted and requires that version or higher.
-
If no minimum Q-SYS version is specified, the asset is unencrypted or compatible with legacy versions.