diff --git a/app/admin/plugins/page.tsx b/app/admin/plugins/page.tsx
index 74b33dbb..9d95a323 100644
--- a/app/admin/plugins/page.tsx
+++ b/app/admin/plugins/page.tsx
@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@ export default function AdminPluginsPage() {
     setMessage(null);
   }
 
+  function toggleRequirePluginApproval() {
+    setPolicy(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      features: { ...prev.features, requirePluginApproval: !prev.features.requirePluginApproval },
+    }));
+    setPolicyDirty(true);
+    setMessage(null);
+  }
+
   async function handleSavePolicy() {
     setSavingPolicy(true);
     setMessage(null);
@@ -248,6 +257,7 @@ export default function AdminPluginsPage() {
 
   const pluginsEnabled = policy.features.pluginsEnabled ?? true;
   const pluginsUploadEnabled = policy.features.pluginsUploadEnabled ?? true;
+  const requirePluginApproval = policy.features.requirePluginApproval ?? true;
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-6">
@@ -320,6 +330,17 @@ export default function AdminPluginsPage() {
             </button>
           </div>
 
+          <div className="px-4 py-3 flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
+            <div>
+              <span className="text-sm text-foreground">Require Admin Approval</span>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">User-uploaded plugins must be approved by an admin before they can be enabled</p>
+            </div>
+            <button onClick={toggleRequirePluginApproval}
+              className={`relative inline-flex h-5 w-9 items-center rounded-full transition-colors ${requirePluginApproval ? 'bg-primary' : 'bg-muted-foreground/25 dark:bg-muted-foreground/50'}`}>
+              <span className={`inline-block h-3.5 w-3.5 transform rounded-full bg-background shadow transition-transform ${requirePluginApproval ? 'translate-x-[18px]' : 'translate-x-[3px]'}`} />
+            </button>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Force enable / disable all */}
           {plugins.length > 0 && (
             <div className="px-4 py-3 flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
diff --git a/components/settings/plugins-settings.tsx b/components/settings/plugins-settings.tsx
index c583e6a6..cc3a4519 100644
--- a/components/settings/plugins-settings.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/plugins-settings.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const STATUS_COLORS: Record<PluginStatus, string> = {
 
 export function PluginsSettings() {
   const { plugins, installPlugin, uninstallPlugin, enablePlugin, disablePlugin, updatePluginSettings, initializePlugins, initialized } = usePluginStore();
-  const { isFeatureEnabled, isPluginForceEnabled, fetchPolicy, loaded } = usePolicyStore();
+  const { isFeatureEnabled, isPluginForceEnabled, isPluginApproved, fetchPolicy, loaded } = usePolicyStore();
   const [isUploading, setIsUploading] = useState(false);
   const [expandedPlugin, setExpandedPlugin] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
@@ -75,6 +75,13 @@ export function PluginsSettings() {
       return;
     }
 
+    const requireApproval = isFeatureEnabled('requirePluginApproval');
+    const isApproved = plugin.adminApproved || plugin.managed || isPluginApproved(plugin.id);
+    if (!plugin.enabled && requireApproval && !isApproved) {
+      toast.info(`Plugin "${plugin.name}" requires admin approval before it can be enabled`);
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (plugin.enabled) {
       disablePlugin(plugin.id);
       toast.info(`Plugin "${plugin.name}" disabled`);
@@ -108,20 +115,26 @@ export function PluginsSettings() {
         </div>
       ) : (
         <div className="space-y-2">
-          {plugins.map(plugin => (
+          {plugins.map(plugin => {
+            const requireApproval = isFeatureEnabled('requirePluginApproval');
+            const isApproved = plugin.adminApproved || plugin.managed || isPluginApproved(plugin.id);
+            const needsApproval = requireApproval && !isApproved;
+            return (
             <PluginCard
               key={plugin.id}
               plugin={plugin}
               isExpanded={expandedPlugin === plugin.id}
               isForceEnabled={plugin.forceEnabled || isPluginForceEnabled(plugin.id)}
               isManaged={Boolean(plugin.managed)}
+              needsApproval={needsApproval}
               controlsDisabled={!initialized}
               onToggleExpand={() => setExpandedPlugin(expandedPlugin === plugin.id ? null : plugin.id)}
               onToggle={() => handleToggle(plugin)}
               onUninstall={() => handleUninstall(plugin)}
               onUpdateSettings={(settings) => updatePluginSettings(plugin.id, settings)}
             />
-          ))}
+            );
+          })}
         </div>
       )}
 
@@ -166,6 +179,7 @@ interface PluginCardProps {
   isExpanded: boolean;
   isForceEnabled: boolean;
   isManaged: boolean;
+  needsApproval: boolean;
   controlsDisabled: boolean;
   onToggleExpand: () => void;
   onToggle: () => void;
@@ -173,7 +187,7 @@ interface PluginCardProps {
   onUpdateSettings: (settings: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
 }
 
-function PluginCard({ plugin, isExpanded, isForceEnabled, isManaged, controlsDisabled, onToggleExpand, onToggle, onUninstall, onUpdateSettings }: PluginCardProps) {
+function PluginCard({ plugin, isExpanded, isForceEnabled, isManaged, needsApproval, controlsDisabled, onToggleExpand, onToggle, onUninstall, onUpdateSettings }: PluginCardProps) {
   return (
     <div className={cn(
       'rounded-lg border transition-colors',
@@ -197,6 +211,11 @@ function PluginCard({ plugin, isExpanded, isForceEnabled, isManaged, controlsDis
                 <Server className="w-2.5 h-2.5" /> Managed
               </span>
             )}
+            {needsApproval && (
+              <span className="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full font-medium bg-orange-100 text-orange-700 dark:bg-orange-900/30 dark:text-orange-400">
+                Awaiting approval
+              </span>
+            )}
           </div>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mt-0.5">
             <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{plugin.author}</span>
@@ -206,7 +225,7 @@ function PluginCard({ plugin, isExpanded, isForceEnabled, isManaged, controlsDis
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 flex-shrink-0">
-          <ToggleSwitch checked={plugin.enabled} onChange={onToggle} disabled={controlsDisabled || isForceEnabled} />
+          <ToggleSwitch checked={plugin.enabled} onChange={onToggle} disabled={controlsDisabled || isForceEnabled || needsApproval} />
         </div>
       </div>
 
@@ -217,6 +236,10 @@ function PluginCard({ plugin, isExpanded, isForceEnabled, isManaged, controlsDis
             <p className="text-xs text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400">This plugin is forced by an administrator and cannot be disabled or uninstalled.</p>
           )}
 
+          {needsApproval && (
+            <p className="text-xs text-orange-600 dark:text-orange-400">This plugin is awaiting admin approval and cannot be enabled until an administrator approves it.</p>
+          )}
+
           {/* Description */}
           {plugin.description && (
             <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{plugin.description}</p>
diff --git a/lib/admin/types.ts b/lib/admin/types.ts
index 5454fcdf..19114661 100644
--- a/lib/admin/types.ts
+++ b/lib/admin/types.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export interface SettingRestriction {
 export interface FeatureGates {
   pluginsEnabled: boolean;
   pluginsUploadEnabled: boolean;
+  requirePluginApproval: boolean;
   themesEnabled: boolean;
   sidebarAppsEnabled: boolean;
   userThemesEnabled: boolean;
@@ -41,8 +42,9 @@ export interface FeatureGates {
 }
 
 export const DEFAULT_FEATURE_GATES: FeatureGates = {
-  pluginsEnabled: true,
+  pluginsEnabled: false,
   pluginsUploadEnabled: true,
+  requirePluginApproval: true,
   themesEnabled: true,
   sidebarAppsEnabled: true,
   userThemesEnabled: true,
@@ -80,6 +82,8 @@ export interface SettingsPolicy {
   themePolicy: ThemePolicy;
   /** Plugin IDs that are force-enabled (users cannot disable) */
   forceEnabledPlugins: string[];
+  /** Plugin IDs that have been approved by admin (users can enable) */
+  approvedPlugins: string[];
   /** Theme IDs that are force-enabled (users cannot deactivate) */
   forceEnabledThemes: string[];
 }
@@ -90,6 +94,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_POLICY: SettingsPolicy = {
   defaults: {},
   themePolicy: { ...DEFAULT_THEME_POLICY },
   forceEnabledPlugins: [],
+  approvedPlugins: [],
   forceEnabledThemes: [],
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/plugin-api.ts b/lib/plugin-api.ts
index 8d9fec30..2a2d4353 100644
--- a/lib/plugin-api.ts
+++ b/lib/plugin-api.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {
 import { toast as appToast } from '@/stores/toast-store';
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth-store';
 
-// ─── Permission helpers ──────────────────────────────────────
+// --- Permission helpers --------------------------------------
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
 function getPluginExternals(): any {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function guardedHook<T extends (...args: never[]) => unknown>(
   return bus.register(plugin.id, handler, order);
 }
 
-// ─── Plugin-scoped storage ───────────────────────────────────
+// --- Plugin-scoped storage -----------------------------------
 
 function createPluginStorage(pluginId: string) {
   const prefix = `plugin:${pluginId}:`;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function createPluginStorage(pluginId: string) {
   };
 }
 
-// ─── Plugin-scoped logger ────────────────────────────────────
+// --- Plugin-scoped logger ------------------------------------
 
 function createPluginLogger(pluginId: string) {
   const tag = `[plugin:${pluginId}]`;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ function createPluginLogger(pluginId: string) {
   };
 }
 
-// ─── PluginAPI interface ─────────────────────────────────────
+// --- PluginAPI interface -------------------------------------
 
 export interface PluginAPI {
   plugin: { id: string; version: string; settings: Record<string, unknown> };
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ export interface PluginHooksAPI {
   onSidebarAppChange: (handler: (...args: unknown[]) => unknown) => Disposable;
 }
 
-// ─── Permission mapping for hooks ────────────────────────────
+// --- Permission mapping for hooks ----------------------------
 
 const HOOK_PERMISSIONS: Record<string, Permission> = {
   // Email
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ const HOOK_BUSES: Record<string, { register: (pluginId: string, handler: (...arg
   ...Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(sidebarAppHooks)),
 };
 
-// ─── Slot registration bridge ────────────────────────────────
+// --- Slot registration bridge --------------------------------
 // Lazy import to avoid circular dependency — plugin-store imports plugin-api indirectly
 
 let registerSlotFn: ((name: SlotName, reg: { pluginId: string; component: React.ComponentType<Record<string, unknown>>; order: number }) => Disposable) | null = null;
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ function registerSlot(
   return registerSlotFn(slotName, { pluginId, component, order });
 }
 
-// ─── Factory ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// --- Factory -------------------------------------------------
 
 export function createPluginAPI(plugin: InstalledPlugin): PluginAPI {
   // Build hooks proxy — each hook method checks permission and registers on the right bus
diff --git a/lib/plugin-loader.ts b/lib/plugin-loader.ts
index 9dc835b3..7eb1719a 100644
--- a/lib/plugin-loader.ts
+++ b/lib/plugin-loader.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
 import * as ReactJSX from 'react/jsx-runtime';
 
-// ─── Shared React (window.__PLUGIN_EXTERNALS__) ─────────────
+// --- Shared React (window.__PLUGIN_EXTERNALS__) -------------
 
 export function exposePluginExternals(): void {
   if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export function exposePluginExternals(): void {
   };
 }
 
-// ─── Active plugin tracking ──────────────────────────────────
+// --- Active plugin tracking ----------------------------------
 
 interface ActivePlugin {
   id: string;
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ interface ActivePlugin {
 
 const activePlugins = new Map<string, ActivePlugin>();
 
-// ─── Load a single plugin ────────────────────────────────────
+// --- Load a single plugin ------------------------------------
 
 type PluginStoreAccessor = {
   setPluginStatus: (id: string, status: InstalledPlugin['status'], error?: string) => void;
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export async function loadPlugin(plugin: InstalledPlugin): Promise<void> {
   }
 }
 
-// ─── Deactivate a single plugin ──────────────────────────────
+// --- Deactivate a single plugin ------------------------------
 
 export function deactivatePlugin(pluginId: string): void {
   const active = activePlugins.get(pluginId);
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export function deactivatePlugin(pluginId: string): void {
   console.info(`[plugin-loader] Plugin "${pluginId}" deactivated`);
 }
 
-// ─── Activate all enabled plugins ────────────────────────────
+// --- Activate all enabled plugins ----------------------------
 
 export async function activateAllPlugins(plugins: InstalledPlugin[]): Promise<void> {
   // Ensure externals are exposed
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export async function activateAllPlugins(plugins: InstalledPlugin[]): Promise<vo
   }
 }
 
-// ─── Deactivate all plugins ─────────────────────────────────
+// --- Deactivate all plugins ---------------------------------
 
 export function deactivateAllPlugins(): void {
   for (const pluginId of [...activePlugins.keys()]) {
@@ -147,13 +147,13 @@ export function deactivateAllPlugins(): void {
   }
 }
 
-// ─── Check if a plugin is active ─────────────────────────────
+// --- Check if a plugin is active -----------------------------
 
 export function isPluginActive(pluginId: string): boolean {
   return activePlugins.has(pluginId);
 }
 
-// ─── Setup auto-disable callback ─────────────────────────────
+// --- Setup auto-disable callback -----------------------------
 
 export function setupAutoDisable(): void {
   pluginErrorTracker.setAutoDisableCallback((pluginId) => {
diff --git a/lib/plugin-types.ts b/lib/plugin-types.ts
index 804afeae..1936fc6e 100644
--- a/lib/plugin-types.ts
+++ b/lib/plugin-types.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ export interface InstalledPlugin {
   managed?: boolean;
   // True when plugin is admin-enforced and cannot be disabled locally.
   forceEnabled?: boolean;
+  // True when plugin has been approved by an admin. Unapproved plugins cannot be enabled.
+  adminApproved?: boolean;
   settingsSchema?: Record<string, SettingFieldSchema>;
   settings: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
diff --git a/stores/plugin-store.ts b/stores/plugin-store.ts
index eb2bc160..a7513c09 100644
--- a/stores/plugin-store.ts
+++ b/stores/plugin-store.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ export const usePluginStore = create<PluginStoreState>()(
           status: 'installed',
           managed: false,
           forceEnabled: false,
+          adminApproved: false, // Requires admin approval before it can be enabled
           settings: existing?.settings ?? {},
           settingsSchema: manifest.settingsSchema,
         };
@@ -144,6 +145,11 @@ export const usePluginStore = create<PluginStoreState>()(
         const plugin = plugins.find(p => p.id === id);
         if (!plugin) return;
 
+        // Block enabling if plugin requires admin approval and hasn't been approved
+        const requireApproval = usePolicyStore.getState().isFeatureEnabled('requirePluginApproval');
+        const isApproved = plugin.adminApproved || plugin.managed || usePolicyStore.getState().isPluginApproved(id);
+        if (requireApproval && !isApproved) return;
+
         // Ensure bridges are wired before loading (may not have run initializePlugins yet)
         setPluginStoreAccessor({ setPluginStatus: get().setPluginStatus });
         setSlotRegistrationBridge(get().registerSlot);
@@ -393,6 +399,7 @@ async function syncServerPlugins(
           status: sp.forceEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'installed',
           managed: true,
           forceEnabled: sp.forceEnabled,
+          adminApproved: true, // Server-managed plugins are always approved
           settings: {},
         };
 
diff --git a/stores/policy-store.ts b/stores/policy-store.ts
index fe2c5d13..0472512e 100644
--- a/stores/policy-store.ts
+++ b/stores/policy-store.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ interface PolicyState {
   getForcedThemeId: (availableThemeIds?: string[]) => string | null;
   isThemeDisabled: (themeId: string, isBuiltIn: boolean) => boolean;
   isPluginForceEnabled: (pluginId: string) => boolean;
+  isPluginApproved: (pluginId: string) => boolean;
   isThemeForceEnabled: (themeId: string) => boolean;
 }
 
@@ -84,6 +85,10 @@ export const usePolicyStore = create<PolicyState>()((set, get) => ({
     return (get().policy.forceEnabledPlugins || []).includes(pluginId);
   },
 
+  isPluginApproved: (pluginId) => {
+    return (get().policy.approvedPlugins || []).includes(pluginId);
+  },
+
   isThemeForceEnabled: (themeId) => {
     return (get().policy.forceEnabledThemes || []).includes(themeId);
   },