MySQL raises ER_PLUGIN_CANNOT_BE_UNINSTALLED (error 1883) when you attempt to uninstall a plugin that is still in use or flagged as non-removable by the server.
ER_PLUGIN_CANNOT_BE_UNINSTALLED (MySQL error 1883) appears when you try to remove a plugin that is active, required, or locked by configuration. Stop the plugin, close dependent sessions, remove it from my.cnf, then rerun UNINSTALL PLUGIN to resolve the issue.
ER_PLUGIN_CANNOT_BE_UNINSTALLED
MySQL error 1883 fires when the server receives an UNINSTALL PLUGIN command for a component that it currently depends on. The server returns the message "Plugin '%s' cannot be uninstalled now" along with a short reason string.
The error was introduced in MySQL 5.7.5 to protect critical plugins such as InnoDB, Group Replication, or Audit services from accidental removal. Fixing it requires disabling or unloading the plugin before retrying UNINSTALL PLUGIN.
The most common cause is that the target plugin is still active and serving requests. MySQL blocks uninstallation while the plugin thread is running.
Another frequent trigger is my.cnf settings that mark the plugin as mandatory (e.g., plugin-load-add or loose-plugin-load). MySQL refuses removal until those directives are removed and the server is restarted.
Long-running client sessions that rely on the plugin, such as audit log streams or replication channels, also keep the plugin locked. Attempting UNINSTALL PLUGIN in this state returns error 1883.
If the plugin provides replication metadata or system-versioned tables, MySQL treats it as essential. The server reports ER_PLUGIN_CANNOT_BE_UNINSTALLED to maintain data integrity.
First, confirm the plugin status with SHOW PLUGINS. Identify whether it is ACTIVE or DISABLED. You cannot uninstall an ACTIVE plugin.
Stop or disable the plugin using standard commands, close dependent connections, and edit configuration files to remove automatic loading. Then restart MySQL and run UNINSTALL PLUGIN again.
Always back up your data before removing core plugins. Test the procedure in a staging environment to avoid downtime in production.
Audit plugin removal in a busy server often fails because audit log consumers keep the plugin busy. Rotate logs, flush the audit stream, and retry.
Group Replication plugins cannot be removed while the channel is ONLINE. Execute STOP GROUP_REPLICATION, wait for cleanup, then uninstall.
Third-party security plugins may be loaded by init_file scripts. Delete the LOAD PLUGIN statement from the script or MySQL will reload it on startup.
Use INSTALL PLUGIN and UNINSTALL PLUGIN only during maintenance windows when you can control connections and server restarts.
Maintain clear documentation of plugins enabled in my.cnf so you remember to update configuration files before attempting removal.
On development teams using Galaxy, share the planned UNINSTALL PLUGIN script in a Collection and have teammates review it. Galaxy's versioning ensures the approved query is easy to revert if needed.
ER_PLUGIN_IS_NOT_LOADED (1125) appears when you try to uninstall a plugin that is not loaded. Verify with SHOW PLUGINS first.
ER_PLUGIN_INIT_FAILED (1126) indicates the server could not initialize the plugin at startup. Check error logs for missing libraries or wrong paths.
ER_CANT_OPEN_LIBRARY (1127) is raised when MySQL cannot find the shared object file. Ensure correct permissions and paths before loading the plugin.
The plugin thread is running and serving requests, preventing UNINSTALL PLUGIN from completing.
plugin-load or plugin-load-add entries in my.cnf force the plugin to load, making it non-removable until the entry is deleted.
Open client connections use features supplied by the plugin, locking it in memory.
The plugin supplies metadata essential for replication or crash recovery. MySQL blocks removal to protect data.
Raised when you attempt to uninstall a plugin that has not been loaded.
Occurs when MySQL cannot initialize a plugin during startup.
The server cannot open the shared object file for the plugin.
No. You must remove the plugin-load entry from my.cnf and restart the server before UNINSTALL PLUGIN will succeed.
Core storage plugins like InnoDB cannot be removed. For other plugins, take backups and verify that no tables depend on plugin features.
Galaxy lets teams share approved maintenance scripts. By reviewing and endorsing the UNINSTALL PLUGIN routine, you reduce the chance of executing it while the plugin is active.
You need a restart only when the plugin is auto-loaded by my.cnf. For plugins loaded at runtime, disabling and uninstalling without restart is possible.
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