How to make an `.ablx` extension

Goal: Produce an installable Ableton Live Extension package you can share or install without keeping Patchwright connected.

Time: ~15 minutes

Steps

  1. Design your graph in Patchwright — triggers, dialogs, and actions wired and building cleanly.
  2. Set Extension name and Author on the toolbar (Live shows these after install).
  3. Fix all build errors — see Read build error messages.
  4. Click Build .ablx on the toolbar (works in web Patchwright and desktop).
  5. Save the downloaded or output package when prompted.
  6. In Live, install the extension through the Extensions workflow for your Live beta build.
  7. Enable the extension in Live preferences if it is not already on.
  8. Right-click the matching context (clip, track, etc.) → Extensions → your command.
  9. For day-to-day iteration on one machine, desktop Build & Run is faster — see Build & Run vs export only.

More context: patchwright.live/docs.

Expected result

You have an .ablx file you can archive, send to collaborators, or install on another computer with a compatible Live Suite beta.

If something goes wrong

Problem What to do
Build failed Fix graph first — export requires a clean build
Live rejects package Confirm Live Suite version matches Extensions SDK requirements
Wrong menu name Rebuild with updated Extension name
No host on web Expected — web builds export only; install manually in Live
Old version runs Disable old extension, install new .ablx, rebuild if needed

See also