Hi!

I'm opening a project from another computer and Bitwig is saying this:



The thing is that I looked for that file on the other PC and searched for it on this PC so I could binary compare both of them and they're binary same... VST state loads flawlessly but not on this PC. Could anybody shed some light on this, please?

Thanks!

 

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Plug-in Handling and Options ---> www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/vst_plug-in_handling_and_options

I consulted the AI, so I can't guarantee its accuracy.

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

First, make sure the exact same version of the plugin (and Bitwig itself) is installed on both machines—mismatches are a common cause of state loading failures, even if the state file itself is identical. If the plugin is from a different vendor or has any dependencies (like libraries or authorizations), double-check those match too.

In Bitwig, head to Dashboard > Settings > Plug-ins. Look for the plugin in the list and see if it shows any errors or warnings. Click "Show plug-in errors" at the bottom if available, then try the rescan button to force a refresh.

If that doesn't help, try reloading the specific plugin instance in the project: Right-click the device in the chain and look for a "Reload Plug-in" option (or "Reload All" if multiple are affected).

As a stronger step, close Bitwig and reset the plugin cache to force a full rescan on restart. Delete the contents of these folders (back them up first if you're cautious):

• On Windows: C:\Users[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Bitwig\Plugin Database
• On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Bitwig/Plugin Database
• (Optionally, also clear C:\Users[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Bitwig\Cache or ~/Library/Caches/Bitwig for waveform/analysis cache, but that's less relevant here)

Finally, experiment with changing the Plug-in Hosting Mode under Settings > Plug-ins (try "Together," "With Bitwig," or "Individual")—sometimes sandboxing issues prevent states from loading properly on certain setups. Save a backup of the project first, then reload it after the change.

If none of that works, it could be an OS-specific quirk (e.g., Windows vs. macOS file handling or permissions)—share more details like the plugin name, Bitwig versions, OS on each PC, and the exact error text/file path for better troubleshooting.

Spoiler: Source: ChatGPT KI

You're encountering the "Could not load initial plug-in state" error in Bitwig when opening a project on a different computer, even though the VST plugin files themselves appear to be binary identical between the two machines. This issue typically points to problems outside of just the plugin .dll file itself.

Here's a breakdown of what might be going wrong and how to troubleshoot it:

Likely Causes & Fixes
1. Missing or mismatched plug-in versions

• Even if the .dll file is identical, other components (e.g. support files, presets, config files, or dependencies like shared libraries) may differ.
  
  
• Some plugins rely on AppData, registry entries (on Windows), or installed runtimes.

Fix:

• Ensure the exact same version of the plugin is installed. If possible, reinstall it using the original installer rather than copying the .dll.
  
  
• If the plugin has a standalone version, try launching it standalone first to let it initialize its settings.

2. Preset or state file missing

• Bitwig saves the "state" of a plugin separately from just the plugin binary — this might include initialization parameters, factory presets, or user presets that the plugin expects.

Fix:

• On the original machine, look for folders like:
  • C:\Users\[User]\Documents\[PluginName]
    
    
  • C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Roaming\[PluginVendor]
• Copy over any relevant folders to the same locations on the second machine.

3. Bitwig plug-in sandboxing issues

• If Bitwig's plug-in sandboxing is enabled, some plugins might behave differently, or fail silently when their dependencies are missing or blocked.

Fix:

• Try toggling sandboxing for the plugin:
  • Go to Settings > Plug-ins in Bitwig.
    
    
  • Find the plugin and try disabling sandboxing, then re-load the project.

4. System-specific dependencies (like iLok, eLicenser, etc.)

• If the plugin uses a license system (iLok, eLicenser, or online activation), the state might not load if the license isn't properly validated.

Fix:

• Ensure the plugin is fully activated and authorized on the second machine.

5. Bitwig Cache Issues

• Sometimes Bitwig’s plugin database or cache can get corrupted or out of sync.

Fix:

• Force Bitwig to rescan all plug-ins:
  • Delete the index folders:
    
    
    C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Bitwig Studio\cache\index\
    
    
  • Restart Bitwig and let it re-index your plugins.

✅ Summary Checklist
✅ Step Action
Reinstall plugin Use official installer, not just file copy
Sync support files Copy AppData, preset folders, or settings from original PC
Disable sandbox In Bitwig settings for the plugin
Check licensing Ensure plugin is authorized and activated
Clear cache Remove Bitwig's plugin cache and re-scan
If you've gone through all of that and it's still not working, you can also try:

• Creating a new project and loading that same plugin to see if it loads normally.
  
  
• If it loads fine in a new project, the issue may be with how the project file references the plugin — e.g., corrupted metadata in the .bwproject file.

Let me know which plugin this is — some have known quirks — and I can give you more targeted help.

 

Last edited: Sep 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM