MoonshotAI · wbxl2000 · May 29, 2026 · May 29, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
diff --git a/.changeset/plugin-reload-hot-apply.md b/.changeset/plugin-reload-hot-apply.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+"@moonshot-ai/agent-core": minor
+"@moonshot-ai/kimi-code-sdk": minor
+"@moonshot-ai/kimi-code": minor
+---
+
+`/plugins reload` now hot-applies plugin changes to the current session — no `/new` required. Newly installed or enabled plugin skills load immediately (the main agent's skill list and `Skill` tool are refreshed) and newly enabled plugin MCP servers are connected. Disable, remove, update, and `sessionStart` changes are not torn down in a running session; reload reports when a new session is still needed to fully apply them.
+
+Adds `PluginManager.runtimeSnapshot()` and `Session.applyPluginRuntimeSnapshot()` in `agent-core`; the SDK's `reloadPlugins()` now returns the applied result (`PluginReloadResult` / `PluginRuntimeApplyResult`).
diff --git a/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/commands/dispatch.ts b/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/commands/dispatch.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 } from './config';
 import { handleFeedbackCommand, showMcpServers, showStatusReport, showUsage } from './info';
 import { handlePluginsCommand } from './plugins';
+import type { SkillListSession } from './skills';
 import {
   handleExportDebugZipCommand,
   handleExportMdCommand,
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ export interface SlashCommandHost {
   showSessionPicker(): Promise<void>;
   sendNormalUserInput(text: string): void;
   sendSkillActivation(session: Session, skillName: string, skillArgs: string): void;
+  refreshSkillCommands(session?: SkillListSession): Promise<void>;
   readonly skillCommandMap: Map<string, string>;
 
   // Controller refs

diff --git a/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/commands/plugins.ts b/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/commands/plugins.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { homedir as osHomedir } from 'node:os';
 import { isAbsolute, join, resolve } from 'node:path';
 
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+
 import type { PluginInfo, PluginSummary } from '@moonshot-ai/kimi-code-sdk';
 
 import {
@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ export async function handlePluginsCommand(host: SlashCommandHost, rawArgs: stri
       }
       await session.setPluginMcpServerEnabled(id, server, action === 'enable');
       host.showStatus(
-        `${action === 'enable' ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'} MCP server ${server} for ${id}. Run /new to apply.`,
+        `${action === 'enable' ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'} MCP server ${server} for ${id}. Run ${reloadCommandText(host.state.theme.colors)} to apply to this session.`,
       );
       return;
     }
@@ -264,7 +266,9 @@ async function applyPluginEnabled(
       ? ` Some MCP servers are disabled; re-enable with /plugins mcp enable ${id} <server>.`
       : '';
   if (showStatus) {
-    host.showStatus(`${enabled ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'} ${id}. Run /new to apply.${mcpHint}`);
+    host.showStatus(
+      `${enabled ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'} ${id}. Run ${reloadCommandText(host.state.theme.colors)} to apply to this session.${mcpHint}`,
+    );
   }
   const inlineMcpHint = mcpHint.length > 0 ? ' · MCP servers disabled' : '';
   return `${pluginInlineChangeHint()}${inlineMcpHint}`;
@@ -393,22 +397,39 @@ async function installPluginFromSource(
       ? ` Declares ${summary.mcpServerCount} MCP ${serverWord}; enabled by default and configurable from /plugins.`
       : '';
   const installVerb = options?.successNotice === 'marketplace' ? 'Installed or updated' : 'Installed';
+  const reloadCmd = reloadCommandText(host.state.theme.colors);
   host.showStatus(
-    `${installVerb} ${summary.displayName} (${summary.id}).${mcpHint} Run /new to apply plugin changes.`,
+    `${installVerb} ${summary.displayName} (${summary.id}).${mcpHint} Run ${reloadCmd} to apply to this session.`,
   );
   if (options?.successNotice === 'marketplace') {
     host.showNotice(
       `Installed or updated ${summary.displayName}`,
-      `Marketplace install or update succeeded for ${summary.id}. Run /new to apply plugin changes.`,
+      `Marketplace install or update succeeded for ${summary.id}. Run ${reloadCmd} to apply to this session.`,
     );
   }
 }
 
 async function reloadPlugins(host: SlashCommandHost): Promise<void> {
-  const summary = await host.requireSession().reloadPlugins();
-  const line = `Reload: +${summary.added.length} -${summary.removed.length}` +
-    (summary.errors.length > 0 ? ` (${summary.errors.length} errors)` : '');
+  const session = host.requireSession();
+  const summary = await session.reloadPlugins();
+  const applied = summary.applied;
+  const parts = [`+${summary.added.length} plugins`];
+  if (applied !== undefined) {
+    parts.push(
+      `${applied.addedSkills.length} skills`,
+      `${applied.addedMcpServers.length} MCP servers`,
+    );
+  }
+  let line = `Reload: ${parts.join(', ')} now active`;
+  if (summary.errors.length > 0) {
+    line += ` (${summary.errors.length} errors)`;
+  }
+  if (summary.removed.length > 0 || (applied?.needsNewSession ?? false)) {
+    line += '. Removals, updates, and sessionStart changes need a new session to fully apply.';
+  }
   host.showStatus(line);
+  // New skills may add slash commands; refresh the palette/autocomplete.
+  await host.refreshSkillCommands(session);
 }
 
 function resolvePluginInstallSource(source: string, workDir: string): string {
@@ -420,5 +441,15 @@ function resolvePluginInstallSource(source: string, workDir: string): string {
 }
 
 function pluginInlineChangeHint(): string {
-  return 'pending /new';
+  return 'pending reload';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Render a `/plugins reload` reference with the theme accent + bold so the
+ * call to action stands out against the dimmed status line. chalk restores the
+ * surrounding status color after the highlighted span, so it composes with the
+ * status component's own coloring.
+ */
+function reloadCommandText(colors: { readonly accent: string }): string {
+  return chalk.hex(colors.accent).bold('/plugins reload');
 }
diff --git a/apps/kimi-code/test/tui/components/dialogs/plugins-selector.test.ts b/apps/kimi-code/test/tui/components/dialogs/plugins-selector.test.ts
@@ -300,15 +300,15 @@ describe('plugins selector dialogs', () => {
         },
       ],
       selectedId: 'kimi-datasource',
-      pluginHint: { id: 'kimi-datasource', text: 'pending /new' },
+      pluginHint: { id: 'kimi-datasource', text: 'pending reload' },
       colors: darkColors,
       onSelect: vi.fn(),
       onCancel: vi.fn(),
     });
 
     const out = picker.render(120).map(strip).join('\n');
 
-    expect(out).toContain('? Kimi Datasource  enabled  pending /new');
+    expect(out).toContain('? Kimi Datasource  enabled  pending reload');
   });
 
   it('defaults plugin removal confirmation to cancel', () => {

diff --git a/apps/kimi-code/test/tui/kimi-tui-message-flow.test.ts b/apps/kimi-code/test/tui/kimi-tui-message-flow.test.ts
@@ -1486,9 +1486,11 @@ describe('KimiTUI message flow', () => {
       );
     });
     const out = stripSgr(driver.state.editorContainer.children[0]!.render(120).join('\n'));
-    expect(out).toContain('❯ Demo  disabled  pending /new');
+    expect(out).toContain('❯ Demo  disabled  pending reload');
     expect(out).not.toContain('Space enable');
-    expect(stripSgr(renderTranscript(driver))).not.toContain('Disabled demo. Run /new to apply.');
+    expect(stripSgr(renderTranscript(driver))).not.toContain(
+      'Disabled demo. Run /plugins reload to apply to this session.',
+    );
   });
 
   it('toggles plugin MCP servers from the overview MCP picker', async () => {
@@ -1579,10 +1581,41 @@ describe('KimiTUI message flow', () => {
       expect(driver.state.editorContainer.children[0]).toBeInstanceOf(PluginMcpSelectorComponent);
     });
     const out = stripSgr(driver.state.editorContainer.children[0]!.render(120).join('\n'));
-    expect(out).toContain('❯ data  disabled  pending /new');
+    expect(out).toContain('❯ data  disabled  pending reload');
     expect(stripSgr(renderTranscript(driver))).not.toContain(
-      'Disabled MCP server data for kimi-datasource. Run /new to apply.',
+      'Disabled MCP server data for kimi-datasource. Run /plugins reload to apply to this session.',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('reports the reload summary and refreshes skill commands on /plugins reload', async () => {
+    const session = makeSession({
+      reloadPlugins: vi.fn(async () => ({
+        added: [],
+        removed: [],
+        errors: [],
+        applied: {
+          addedSkills: ['hot-skill'],
+          addedMcpServers: ['plugin-demo:data'],
+          needsNewSession: true,
+        },
+      })),
+    });
+    const { driver } = await makeDriver(session);
+    const refreshSpy = vi.spyOn(
+      driver as unknown as { refreshSkillCommands: (...args: unknown[]) => Promise<void> },
+      'refreshSkillCommands',
     );
+
+    driver.handleUserInput('/plugins reload');
+
+    // The status line wraps at the terminal width, so collapse whitespace.
+    const transcript = () => stripSgr(renderTranscript(driver)).replaceAll(/\s+/g, ' ');
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(transcript()).toContain('Reload: +0 plugins, 1 skills, 1 MCP servers now active');
+    });
+    expect(transcript()).toContain('need a new session to fully apply');
+    expect(session.reloadPlugins).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(refreshSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it('requires confirmation before /plugins remove removes a plugin', async () => {

diff --git a/docs/en/customization/mcp.md b/docs/en/customization/mcp.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Project entries override user-level entries with the same name.
 
 The easiest entry point is running `/mcp-config` in the TUI, which guides you through adding, editing, or removing servers. To check connection status, run `/mcp`.
 
-Plugins can also declare MCP servers in `kimi.plugin.json` or `.kimi-plugin/plugin.json`. Plugin-declared servers are enabled by default but only start in new sessions; disable or re-enable them from `/plugins` or with `/plugins mcp disable|enable <plugin-id> <server>`, then start a new session. See [Plugins](./plugins.md) for details.
+Plugins can also declare MCP servers in `kimi.plugin.json` or `.kimi-plugin/plugin.json`. Plugin-declared servers are enabled by default; a newly installed or enabled one comes online in the current session after `/plugins reload` (or in a new session). Disable or re-enable them from `/plugins` or with `/plugins mcp disable|enable <plugin-id> <server>` — enabling applies on `/plugins reload`, while disabling needs a new session to fully take effect. See [Plugins](./plugins.md) for details.
 
 The top-level shape of `mcp.json` is:
 

diff --git a/docs/en/customization/plugins.md b/docs/en/customization/plugins.md
@@ -30,17 +30,17 @@ Most users only need the interactive manager. You can also use these slash comma
 | `/plugins enable <id>` | Enable a plugin; opens the manager when `<id>` is omitted. |
 | `/plugins disable <id>` | Disable a plugin; opens the manager when `<id>` is omitted. |
 | `/plugins remove <id>` | Remove a plugin; requires confirmation. |
-| `/plugins reload` | Reload `installed.json` and each plugin manifest. |
+| `/plugins reload` | Reload `installed.json` and each plugin manifest, and hot-apply newly added skills and newly enabled MCP servers to the current session. |
 | `/plugins mcp enable <id> <server>` | Enable an MCP server declared by a plugin. |
 | `/plugins mcp disable <id> <server>` | Disable an MCP server declared by a plugin. |
 
 For general slash command behavior, see [Slash commands](../reference/slash-commands.md).
 
 Kimi Code CLI currently installs plugins per user. Records are stored under `$KIMI_CODE_HOME/plugins/` and apply across all projects. Project-local, repository-shared, admin-managed, and `--scope` installs are not supported yet.
 
-Plugin changes apply to new sessions only. After installing, enabling, disabling, removing, or reloading a plugin, or changing an MCP server toggle, start a fresh session with `/new`. The current session is not updated; new skills, session-start behavior, and MCP servers load only in new sessions.
+After installing or enabling a plugin (or enabling one of its MCP servers), run `/plugins reload` to apply the change to the current session — no `/new` required. Reload hot-loads newly added skills (the main agent's skill list and the `Skill` tool are refreshed) and connects newly enabled MCP servers; their tools become available on the next turn. Additive changes only: disabling or removing a plugin, updating one, and `sessionStart` injections are not torn down in a running session. When any of those are pending, `/plugins reload` reports that a new session (`/new`) is still required to fully apply them.
 
-Local installs are copied into `$KIMI_CODE_HOME/plugins/managed/<id>/`, and Kimi Code CLI always runs from that managed copy. Editing the original source directory after install has no effect until you reinstall — `/plugins reload` re-reads install records and manifests, not the original source. Removing a plugin deletes only its install record; the managed copy and the original source files are left on disk.
+Local installs are copied into `$KIMI_CODE_HOME/plugins/managed/<id>/`, and Kimi Code CLI always runs from that managed copy. Editing the original source directory after install has no effect until you reinstall — `/plugins reload` re-reads install records and manifests (not the original source) and applies the additive changes above. Removing a plugin deletes only its install record; the managed copy and the original source files are left on disk.
 
 ## Plugin manifest
 
@@ -134,14 +134,16 @@ HTTP server:
 
 For stdio servers, `command` may be a command on `PATH` or a `./` path inside the plugin root. If `cwd` is set, it must also start with `./` and stay inside the plugin root; other values are rejected and the server is omitted. Plugin MCP servers inherit the current process environment; values under `env` are literal overrides.
 
-Plugin MCP servers start only in new sessions. To disable or re-enable one, run `/plugins`, select the plugin, and press `M`. Shortcut commands are also available:
+Newly enabled plugin MCP servers come online when you run `/plugins reload` (or in a new session). To disable or re-enable one, run `/plugins`, select the plugin, and press `M`. Shortcut commands are also available:
 
 ```sh
+# Disabling is not torn down live — a new session fully applies it:
 /plugins mcp disable kimi-finance finance
 /new
 
+# Enabling takes effect in the current session after a reload:
 /plugins mcp enable kimi-finance finance
-/new
+/plugins reload
 ```
 
 ## Security model
@@ -151,5 +153,5 @@ Plugins expose a limited loading surface:
 - Install and session startup read only plugin manifests and Markdown skill files.
 - All paths must stay inside the plugin root after symlinks are resolved.
 - Command-backed plugin tools, hooks, and legacy tool runtimes are not executed by the plugin loader.
-- MCP servers declared by enabled plugins start only in new sessions and can be disabled from `/plugins`.
+- MCP servers declared by enabled plugins come online via `/plugins reload` (or a new session) and can be disabled from `/plugins`.
 - Bad manifests or unsafe paths produce diagnostics in `/plugins info <id>` without crashing unrelated sessions.
diff --git a/docs/en/reference/slash-commands.md b/docs/en/reference/slash-commands.md
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ Some commands are only available in the idle state. Running them while the sessi
 | `/usage` | — | Show token usage, context consumption, and quota information. | Yes |
 | `/status` | — | Show the current session runtime status, including version, model, working directory, and permission mode. | Yes |
 | `/mcp` | — | List the MCP servers in the current session and their connection status. | Yes |
-| `/plugins` | — | Open the interactive plugin manager for user/global installs: install, inspect, enable, disable, confirm removal, reload, browse the official marketplace, and toggle plugin MCP servers. Shortcut subcommands remain available. | Yes |
+| `/plugins` | — | Open the interactive plugin manager for user/global installs: install, inspect, enable, disable, confirm removal, reload (hot-applies new skills and MCP servers to the current session), browse the official marketplace, and toggle plugin MCP servers. Shortcut subcommands remain available. | Yes |
 | `/version` | — | Show the Kimi Code CLI version number. | Yes |
 | `/feedback` | — | Submit feedback to help improve Kimi Code CLI. | Yes |
 

diff --git a/docs/zh/customization/mcp.md b/docs/zh/customization/mcp.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ MCP server 配置写在 `mcp.json` 中，分为两层：
 
 最方便的入口是在 TUI 中运行 `/mcp-config`，它会引导你新增、编辑或删除 server。要查看当前连接状态，可运行 `/mcp`。
 
-Plugins 也可以在 `kimi.plugin.json` 或 `.kimi-plugin/plugin.json` 中声明 MCP servers。Plugin 声明的 servers 默认启用，但只会在新会话中启动；可以在 `/plugins` 中禁用或重新启用，也可以使用 `/plugins mcp disable|enable <plugin-id> <server>`，然后开启新会话。详见 [Plugins](./plugins.md)。
+Plugins 也可以在 `kimi.plugin.json` 或 `.kimi-plugin/plugin.json` 中声明 MCP servers。Plugin 声明的 servers 默认启用；新安装或新启用的 server 在运行 `/plugins reload`（或新会话）后即在当前会话上线。可以在 `/plugins` 中禁用或重新启用，也可以使用 `/plugins mcp disable|enable <plugin-id> <server>`——启用在 `/plugins reload` 后生效，禁用则需开启新会话才能完全生效。详见 [Plugins](./plugins.md)。
 
 `mcp.json` 的顶层结构如下：