diff --git a/src/main/services/extensions/install/PluginInstallService.ts b/src/main/services/extensions/install/PluginInstallService.ts
index 4a3a7711..0b994f9f 100644
--- a/src/main/services/extensions/install/PluginInstallService.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/extensions/install/PluginInstallService.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ const VALID_SCOPES = new Set(['local', 'user', 'project']);
 const INSTALL_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000; // plugins may clone repos
 const UNINSTALL_TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
 
+function scopeRequiresProjectPath(scope?: string): boolean {
+  return scope === 'project' || scope === 'local';
+}
+
 export class PluginInstallService {
   constructor(private readonly catalogService: PluginCatalogService) {}
 
@@ -48,10 +52,10 @@ export class PluginInstallService {
       };
     }
 
-    if (scope === 'project' && !projectPath) {
+    if (scopeRequiresProjectPath(scope) && !projectPath) {
       return {
         state: 'error',
-        error: 'projectPath is required for project-scoped plugin installs',
+        error: `projectPath is required for ${scope}-scoped plugin installs`,
       };
     }
 
@@ -130,10 +134,10 @@ export class PluginInstallService {
       };
     }
 
-    if (scope === 'project' && !projectPath) {
+    if (scopeRequiresProjectPath(scope) && !projectPath) {
       return {
         state: 'error',
-        error: 'projectPath is required for project-scoped plugin uninstalls',
+        error: `projectPath is required for ${scope}-scoped plugin uninstalls`,
       };
     }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/extensions/plugins/PluginDetailDialog.tsx b/src/renderer/components/extensions/plugins/PluginDetailDialog.tsx
index 74d76b76..8d6e05ac 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/extensions/plugins/PluginDetailDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/extensions/plugins/PluginDetailDialog.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ interface PluginDetailDialogProps {
 
 const SCOPE_OPTIONS: { value: InstallScope; label: string }[] = [
   { value: 'user', label: 'User (global)' },
-  { value: 'project', label: 'Project' },
+  { value: 'project', label: 'Project (shared)' },
+  { value: 'local', label: 'Local (gitignored)' },
 ];
 
 export const PluginDetailDialog = ({
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ export const PluginDetailDialog = ({
   }, [open, plugin?.pluginId]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (scope === 'project' && !projectScopeAvailable) {
+    if (scope !== 'user' && !projectScopeAvailable) {
       setScope('user');
     }
   }, [projectScopeAvailable, scope]);
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ export const PluginDetailDialog = ({
                   <SelectItem
                     key={opt.value}
                     value={opt.value}
-                    disabled={opt.value === 'project' && !projectScopeAvailable}
+                    disabled={opt.value !== 'user' && !projectScopeAvailable}
                   >
                     {opt.label}
                   </SelectItem>
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ export const PluginDetailDialog = ({
               installPlugin({
                 pluginId: plugin.pluginId,
                 scope,
-                ...(scope === 'project' && pluginCatalogProjectPath
+                ...(scope !== 'user' && pluginCatalogProjectPath
                   ? { projectPath: pluginCatalogProjectPath }
                   : {}),
               })
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ export const PluginDetailDialog = ({
               uninstallPlugin(
                 plugin.pluginId,
                 scope,
-                scope === 'project' ? (pluginCatalogProjectPath ?? undefined) : undefined
+                scope !== 'user' ? (pluginCatalogProjectPath ?? undefined) : undefined
               )
             }
             size="default"
diff --git a/src/renderer/store/slices/extensionsSlice.ts b/src/renderer/store/slices/extensionsSlice.ts
index 6c207740..7932eeeb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/store/slices/extensionsSlice.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/store/slices/extensionsSlice.ts
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ const CLI_HEALTHCHECK_FAILED_MESSAGE =
 const CLI_STATUS_UNKNOWN_MESSAGE =
   'Unable to verify Claude CLI status. Open the Dashboard and check the CLI before retrying.';
 const PROJECT_SCOPE_REQUIRED_MESSAGE =
-  'Project-scoped plugins require an active project in the Extensions tab.';
+  'Project- and local-scoped plugins require an active project in the Extensions tab.';
 
 export const createExtensionsSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], ExtensionsSlice> = (
   set,
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ export const createExtensionsSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], ExtensionsSli
     if (!api.plugins) return;
 
     const effectiveProjectPath =
-      request.scope === 'project'
+      request.scope !== 'user'
         ? (request.projectPath ?? get().pluginCatalogProjectPath ?? undefined)
         : request.projectPath;
     const effectiveRequest =
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ export const createExtensionsSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], ExtensionsSli
 
     const cliStatus = get().cliStatus;
     const preflightError =
-      effectiveRequest.scope === 'project' && !effectiveRequest.projectPath
+      effectiveRequest.scope !== 'user' && !effectiveRequest.projectPath
         ? PROJECT_SCOPE_REQUIRED_MESSAGE
         : cliStatus === null
           ? CLI_STATUS_UNKNOWN_MESSAGE
@@ -770,10 +770,10 @@ export const createExtensionsSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], ExtensionsSli
     if (!api.plugins) return;
 
     const effectiveProjectPath =
-      scope === 'project'
+      scope && scope !== 'user'
         ? (projectPath ?? get().pluginCatalogProjectPath ?? undefined)
         : projectPath;
-    if (scope === 'project' && !effectiveProjectPath) {
+    if (scope && scope !== 'user' && !effectiveProjectPath) {
       clearPluginSuccessResetTimer(pluginId);
       set((prev) => ({
         pluginInstallProgress: { ...prev.pluginInstallProgress, [pluginId]: 'error' },
diff --git a/src/shared/types/extensions/plugin.ts b/src/shared/types/extensions/plugin.ts
index 698f800b..5ddb4efc 100644
--- a/src/shared/types/extensions/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/shared/types/extensions/plugin.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function inferCapabilities(item: PluginCatalogItem): PluginCapability[] {
 export interface PluginInstallRequest {
   pluginId: string; // canonical key — main resolves qualifiedName from catalog
   scope: InstallScope;
-  projectPath?: string; // required for 'project' scope
+  projectPath?: string; // required for repo-scoped installs ('project' or 'local')
 }
 
 // ── Filters (renderer-only concern) ────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/test/main/services/extensions/PluginInstallService.test.ts b/test/main/services/extensions/PluginInstallService.test.ts
index b88c1b1e..8223d06d 100644
--- a/test/main/services/extensions/PluginInstallService.test.ts
+++ b/test/main/services/extensions/PluginInstallService.test.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,22 @@ describe('PluginInstallService', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    it('adds local scope flag and cwd for local installs', async () => {
+      mockExecCli.mockResolvedValue({ stdout: '', stderr: '' });
+
+      await service.install({
+        pluginId: 'context7',
+        scope: 'local',
+        projectPath: '/tmp/test-project',
+      });
+
+      expect(mockExecCli).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        '/usr/local/bin/claude',
+        ['plugin', 'install', '-s', 'local', 'context7@claude-plugins-official'],
+        expect.objectContaining({ cwd: '/tmp/test-project' }),
+      );
+    });
+
     it('returns error if plugin not found in catalog', async () => {
       catalog = createMockCatalog({
         resolvePlugin: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null) as PluginCatalogService['resolvePlugin'],
@@ -129,6 +145,14 @@ describe('PluginInstallService', () => {
       expect(result.error).toContain('projectPath is required');
       expect(mockExecCli).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it('rejects local scope when projectPath is missing', async () => {
+      const result = await service.install({ pluginId: 'context7', scope: 'local' });
+
+      expect(result.state).toBe('error');
+      expect(result.error).toContain('local-scoped');
+      expect(mockExecCli).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
   });
 
   // ── uninstall ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -159,6 +183,18 @@ describe('PluginInstallService', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    it('adds scope flag for local scope', async () => {
+      mockExecCli.mockResolvedValue({ stdout: '', stderr: '' });
+
+      await service.uninstall('context7', 'local', '/tmp/test-project');
+
+      expect(mockExecCli).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        '/usr/local/bin/claude',
+        ['plugin', 'uninstall', '-s', 'local', 'context7@claude-plugins-official'],
+        expect.objectContaining({ cwd: '/tmp/test-project' }),
+      );
+    });
+
     it('returns error if plugin not in catalog', async () => {
       catalog = createMockCatalog({
         resolvePlugin: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null) as PluginCatalogService['resolvePlugin'],
@@ -187,5 +223,13 @@ describe('PluginInstallService', () => {
       expect(result.error).toContain('projectPath is required');
       expect(mockExecCli).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it('rejects local scope when projectPath is missing', async () => {
+      const result = await service.uninstall('context7', 'local');
+
+      expect(result.state).toBe('error');
+      expect(result.error).toContain('local-scoped');
+      expect(mockExecCli).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts b/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
index 5d9479eb..058b32d6 100644
--- a/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
+++ b/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
@@ -492,6 +492,32 @@ describe('extensionsSlice', () => {
       expect(store.getState().installErrors['project@m']).toContain('active project');
     });
 
+    it('fills missing projectPath for local scope from the active Extensions project context', async () => {
+      store.setState({
+        cliStatus: makeReadyCliStatus(),
+        pluginCatalogProjectPath: '/tmp/project-a',
+      });
+      (api.plugins!.install as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({ state: 'success' });
+
+      await store.getState().installPlugin({ pluginId: 'local@m', scope: 'local' });
+
+      expect(api.plugins!.install).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        pluginId: 'local@m',
+        scope: 'local',
+        projectPath: '/tmp/project-a',
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('fails fast for local scope when there is no active project path', async () => {
+      store.setState({ cliStatus: makeReadyCliStatus(), pluginCatalogProjectPath: null });
+
+      await store.getState().installPlugin({ pluginId: 'local@m', scope: 'local' });
+
+      expect(api.plugins!.install).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(store.getState().pluginInstallProgress['local@m']).toBe('error');
+      expect(store.getState().installErrors['local@m']).toContain('active project');
+    });
+
     it('clears older success reset timers before a new operation on the same plugin', async () => {
       vi.useFakeTimers();
       store.setState({ cliStatus: makeReadyCliStatus() });
@@ -545,6 +571,25 @@ describe('extensionsSlice', () => {
       expect(store.getState().installErrors['project@m']).toContain('active project');
     });
 
+    it('fills missing projectPath for local uninstall from the active Extensions project context', async () => {
+      store.setState({ pluginCatalogProjectPath: '/tmp/project-a' });
+      (api.plugins!.uninstall as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({ state: 'success' });
+
+      await store.getState().uninstallPlugin('local@m', 'local');
+
+      expect(api.plugins!.uninstall).toHaveBeenCalledWith('local@m', 'local', '/tmp/project-a');
+    });
+
+    it('fails fast for local uninstall when there is no active project path', async () => {
+      store.setState({ pluginCatalogProjectPath: null });
+
+      await store.getState().uninstallPlugin('local@m', 'local');
+
+      expect(api.plugins!.uninstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(store.getState().pluginInstallProgress['local@m']).toBe('error');
+      expect(store.getState().installErrors['local@m']).toContain('active project');
+    });
+
     it('does not restore idle state after project switch clears a pending success timer', async () => {
       vi.useFakeTimers();
       store.setState({