# Can I install Plots without GR

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380>\
**Category:** New to Julia\
**Created:** [March 17, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380 "2021-03-17T13:37:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![melonedo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/melonedo/32/15503_2.png) [@melonedo](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/melonedo)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380/1 "2021-03-17T13:37:23Z")

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Currently, when I `Pkg.add("Plots")`, GR is also installed and built. And if GR is not correctly built, which usual due to network issue, `using Plots` may fail because GR will also be imported. I know I can add and switch to other backends afterwards, but can I use Plots without GR?

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 9:39am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380/2 "2021-03-19T09:39:54Z")

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AFAIK not, it is a dependency. You may want to open an issue at Plots.jl about making that conditional, too.

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**Author:** ![melonedo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/melonedo/32/15503_2.png) [@melonedo](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/melonedo)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380/3 "2021-03-22T12:09:50Z")

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Thanks! I think I have to open an issue then.

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**Author:** ![viralbshah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/viralbshah/32/54_2.png) [@viralbshah](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/viralbshah)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/can-i-install-plots-without-gr/57380/4 "2021-03-22T14:16:17Z")

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GR is now provided through the same BinaryBuilder/Artifacts system as all other Julia packages and binaries. So, it would be good to understand how the download/install failed.

-viral