# Why do I need to re-install Plots after updating Julia?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Created:** [September 28, 2021, 9:55am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864 "2021-09-28T09:55:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jerry](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/jerry/32/34537_2.png) [@Jerry](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Jerry)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 9:55am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864/1 "2021-09-28T09:55:53Z")

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I just downloaded and installed Julia-1.6.app for macOS (1.6.3 I think), upgrading from 1.5.3. Now when I do `using Plots` it complains

`ERROR: ArgumentError: Package Plots not found in current path: Run `import Pkg; Pkg.add(“Plots”)` to install the Plots package.`

Of course I can do that but (1) should I and (2) why? and (3) is this loading up my drive with a copy of stuff that is already there?

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**Author:** ![kristoffer.carlsson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/kristoffer.carlsson/32/22_2.png) [@kristoffer.carlsson](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/kristoffer.carlsson)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 10:08am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864/2 "2021-09-28T10:08:02Z")

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You can also copy the `.julia/environments/v1.5/Project.toml` to `.julia/environments/v1.6/Project.toml` and type `pkg> instantiate` in the Pkg REPL in the new Julia version.

> [@Jerry](#):
>
> (2) why?

Different Julia versions can have different packages “installed” (available to load) and a new Julia version starts out empty as it is right now.

> [@Jerry](#):
>
> is this loading up my drive with a copy of stuff that is already there?

No, all Julia versions share package download locations.

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**Author:** ![Mattriks](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mattriks/32/351_2.png) [@Mattriks](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Mattriks)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 10:52am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864/3 "2021-09-28T10:52:54Z")

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Re (3): there is also the very useful function [Pkg.gc](https://pkgdocs.julialang.org/v1/api/#Pkg.gc), which will remove old package & artifact versions, no longer used by any other package.

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**Author:** ![Jerry](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/jerry/32/34537_2.png) [@Jerry](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Jerry)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/why-do-i-need-to-re-install-plots-after-updating-julia/68864/4 "2021-10-06T06:13:12Z")

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Thank you for your kind help.