diff --git a/src/components/PluginToggle.tsx b/src/components/PluginToggle.tsx
index 59517a9..994fa7f 100644
--- a/src/components/PluginToggle.tsx
+++ b/src/components/PluginToggle.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ interface PluginToggleProps {
   flashCount?: number
   homepage?: string
   version?: string
+  disabled?: boolean
+  enabledLabel?: string
 }
 
 export function PluginToggle({
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@ export function PluginToggle({
   flashCount = 0,
   homepage,
   version,
+  disabled = false,
+  enabledLabel = 'Add',
 }: PluginToggleProps) {
   return (
     <div className="relative flex items-start gap-4 p-4 rounded-lg border-2 border-slate-700 bg-slate-900/50 hover:border-slate-600 transition-colors">
@@ -68,8 +72,9 @@ export function PluginToggle({
         <Switch
           checked={isEnabled}
           onCheckedChange={onToggle}
+          disabled={disabled}
           labelLeft="Skip"
-          labelRight="Add"
+          labelRight={enabledLabel}
           className={isEnabled ? 'bg-green-600' : 'bg-slate-600'}
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/utils.ts b/src/lib/utils.ts
index 2a4c41c..0446667 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils.ts
@@ -44,3 +44,84 @@ export function humanizeStatus(status: string): string {
     .map((word) => word.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + word.slice(1).toLowerCase())
     .join(' ')
 }
+
+/**
+ * Resolves plugin dependencies recursively from registry.
+ * Returns all plugins that should be enabled (selected plugins + their dependencies).
+ * Filters out "meshtastic" as it's a firmware version requirement, not a plugin.
+ */
+export function getDependedPlugins(
+  selectedPlugins: string[],
+  registry: Record<string, { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }>
+): string[] {
+  const result = new Set<string>()
+  const visited = new Set<string>()
+
+  function resolveDependencies(pluginId: string) {
+    // Prevent circular dependencies
+    if (visited.has(pluginId)) return
+    visited.add(pluginId)
+
+    const plugin = registry[pluginId]
+    if (!plugin || !plugin.dependencies) return
+
+    // Process each dependency
+    for (const [depId] of Object.entries(plugin.dependencies)) {
+      // Skip "meshtastic" - it's a firmware version requirement, not a plugin
+      if (depId === 'meshtastic') continue
+
+      // Only include dependencies that exist in the registry
+      if (depId in registry) {
+        result.add(depId)
+        // Recursively resolve transitive dependencies
+        resolveDependencies(depId)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Start with selected plugins
+  for (const pluginId of selectedPlugins) {
+    if (pluginId in registry) {
+      result.add(pluginId)
+      resolveDependencies(pluginId)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return Array.from(result)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Gets only the implicit dependencies (dependencies that are not explicitly selected).
+ * Returns a set of plugin IDs that are dependencies but not in the explicitly selected list.
+ */
+export function getImplicitDependencies(
+  explicitlySelectedPlugins: string[],
+  registry: Record<string, { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }>
+): Set<string> {
+  const allDependencies = getDependedPlugins(explicitlySelectedPlugins, registry)
+  const explicitSet = new Set(explicitlySelectedPlugins)
+  return new Set(allDependencies.filter((id) => !explicitSet.has(id)))
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks if a plugin is required by any other explicitly selected plugin.
+ * Returns true if the plugin is a dependency (direct or transitive) of at least one explicitly selected plugin.
+ */
+export function isRequiredByOther(
+  pluginId: string,
+  explicitlySelectedPlugins: string[],
+  registry: Record<string, { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }>
+): boolean {
+  // Check if any explicitly selected plugin depends on this plugin
+  for (const selectedId of explicitlySelectedPlugins) {
+    if (selectedId === pluginId) continue // Skip self
+    
+    // Get all dependencies (including transitive) of this selected plugin
+    const allDeps = getDependedPlugins([selectedId], registry)
+    if (allDeps.includes(pluginId)) {
+      return true
+    }
+  }
+  
+  return false
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/BuildNew.tsx b/src/pages/BuildNew.tsx
index a793680..66d3004 100644
--- a/src/pages/BuildNew.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/BuildNew.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ import { toast } from 'sonner'
 import { ModuleToggle } from '@/components/ModuleToggle'
 import { PluginToggle } from '@/components/PluginToggle'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import {
+  getDependedPlugins,
+  getImplicitDependencies,
+  isRequiredByOther,
+} from '@/lib/utils'
 import { api } from '../../convex/_generated/api'
 import modulesData from '../../convex/modules.json'
 import registryData from '../../registry/registry.json'
@@ -164,12 +169,33 @@ export default function BuildNew() {
     }
 
     // Set plugin config (convert array to object format)
+    // Only add explicitly selected plugins, not implicit dependencies
     if (config.pluginsEnabled && config.pluginsEnabled.length > 0) {
+      const allPluginSlugs = config.pluginsEnabled.map((pluginId) => {
+        return pluginId.includes('@') ? pluginId.split('@')[0] : pluginId
+      })
+
+      // Determine which plugins are required by others (implicit dependencies)
+      const requiredByOthers = new Set<string>()
+      for (const pluginSlug of allPluginSlugs) {
+        if (
+          isRequiredByOther(
+            pluginSlug,
+            allPluginSlugs,
+            registryData as Record<
+              string,
+              { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+            >
+          )
+        ) {
+          requiredByOthers.add(pluginSlug)
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Only add plugins that are NOT required by others (explicitly selected)
       const pluginObj: Record<string, boolean> = {}
-      config.pluginsEnabled.forEach((pluginId) => {
-        // Extract slug from "slug@version" format if present
-        const slug = pluginId.includes('@') ? pluginId.split('@')[0] : pluginId
-        if (slug in registryData) {
+      allPluginSlugs.forEach((slug) => {
+        if (slug in registryData && !requiredByOthers.has(slug)) {
           pluginObj[slug] = true
         }
       })
@@ -198,12 +224,85 @@ export default function BuildNew() {
   }
 
   const handleTogglePlugin = (id: string, enabled: boolean) => {
+    // Get current explicit selections
+    const explicitPlugins = Object.keys(pluginConfig).filter(
+      (pluginId) => pluginConfig[pluginId] === true
+    )
+    
+    // Check if this plugin is currently an implicit dependency
+    const implicitDeps = getImplicitDependencies(
+      explicitPlugins,
+      registryData as Record<
+        string,
+        { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+      >
+    )
+    
+    // Check if this plugin is required by another explicitly selected plugin
+    const isRequired = isRequiredByOther(
+      id,
+      explicitPlugins,
+      registryData as Record<
+        string,
+        { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+      >
+    )
+    
+    // Don't allow toggling implicit dependencies at all
+    // (they should be disabled in the UI, but add this as a safeguard)
+    if (implicitDeps.has(id)) {
+      return // Can't toggle implicit dependencies
+    }
+    
+    // Don't allow disabling if it's required by another explicitly selected plugin
+    if (!enabled && isRequired) {
+      return // Can't disable required plugins
+    }
+    
     setPluginConfig((prev) => {
       const next = { ...prev }
       if (enabled) {
+        // Enabling: add to explicit selection (even if it was implicit)
         next[id] = true
       } else {
+        // Disabling: remove from explicit selection
         delete next[id]
+        
+        // Recompute what plugins are still needed after removal
+        const remainingExplicit = Object.keys(next).filter(
+          (pluginId) => next[pluginId] === true
+        )
+        const allStillNeeded = getDependedPlugins(
+          remainingExplicit,
+          registryData as Record<
+            string,
+            { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+          >
+        )
+        
+        // Remove any plugins from config that are no longer needed
+        // BUT preserve all plugins that are currently explicitly selected (in remainingExplicit)
+        // This ensures that plugins that were explicitly selected remain explicitly selected
+        // even if they temporarily became implicit and then un-implicit
+        for (const pluginId of Object.keys(next)) {
+          if (
+            next[pluginId] === true &&
+            !allStillNeeded.includes(pluginId) &&
+            !remainingExplicit.includes(pluginId)
+          ) {
+            // This plugin is no longer needed and is not in the remaining explicit list
+            // Only remove if it's truly not needed and wasn't explicitly selected
+            // Note: If a plugin is in `next` with value `true`, it should be in `remainingExplicit`
+            // So this condition should rarely be true, but we keep it as a safety check
+            delete next[pluginId]
+          }
+        }
+        
+        // Ensure all remaining explicitly selected plugins stay in config
+        // (they should already be there, but this ensures they remain even if they're not needed)
+        for (const pluginId of remainingExplicit) {
+          next[pluginId] = true
+        }
       }
       return next
     })
@@ -217,7 +316,21 @@ export default function BuildNew() {
       const enabledSlugs = Object.keys(pluginConfig).filter(
         (id) => pluginConfig[id] === true
       )
-      const pluginsEnabled = enabledSlugs.map((slug) => {
+      
+      // Double-check: filter out any implicit dependencies that might have snuck in
+      // This ensures we only send explicitly selected plugins to the backend
+      const implicitDeps = getImplicitDependencies(
+        enabledSlugs,
+        registryData as Record<
+          string,
+          { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+        >
+      )
+      const explicitOnlySlugs = enabledSlugs.filter(
+        (slug) => !implicitDeps.has(slug)
+      )
+      
+      const pluginsEnabled = explicitOnlySlugs.map((slug) => {
         const plugin = (registryData as Record<string, { version: string }>)[
           slug
         ]
@@ -442,33 +555,77 @@ export default function BuildNew() {
                   </button>
                 </div>
                 <div className="grid gap-2 md:grid-cols-2">
-                  {Object.entries(registryData)
-                    .sort(([, pluginA], [, pluginB]) => {
-                      // Featured plugins first
-                      const featuredA = pluginA.featured ?? false
-                      const featuredB = pluginB.featured ?? false
-                      if (featuredA !== featuredB) {
-                        return featuredA ? -1 : 1
-                      }
-                      // Then alphabetical by name
-                      return pluginA.name.localeCompare(pluginB.name)
-                    })
-                    .map(([slug, plugin]) => (
-                      <PluginToggle
-                        key={slug}
-                        id={slug}
-                        name={plugin.name}
-                        description={plugin.description}
-                        isEnabled={pluginConfig[slug] === true}
-                        onToggle={(enabled) =>
-                          handleTogglePlugin(slug, enabled)
+                  {(() => {
+                    // Get explicitly selected plugins (user-selected)
+                    const explicitPlugins = Object.keys(pluginConfig).filter(
+                      (id) => pluginConfig[id] === true
+                    )
+                    
+                    // Compute implicit dependencies (dependencies that are not explicitly selected)
+                    const implicitDeps = getImplicitDependencies(
+                      explicitPlugins,
+                      registryData as Record<
+                        string,
+                        { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+                      >
+                    )
+                    
+                    // Compute all enabled plugins (explicit + implicit)
+                    const allEnabledPlugins = getDependedPlugins(
+                      explicitPlugins,
+                      registryData as Record<
+                        string,
+                        { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+                      >
+                    )
+
+                    return Object.entries(registryData)
+                      .sort(([, pluginA], [, pluginB]) => {
+                        // Featured plugins first
+                        const featuredA = pluginA.featured ?? false
+                        const featuredB = pluginB.featured ?? false
+                        if (featuredA !== featuredB) {
+                          return featuredA ? -1 : 1
                         }
-                        featured={plugin.featured ?? false}
-                        flashCount={pluginFlashCounts[slug] ?? 0}
-                        homepage={plugin.homepage}
-                        version={plugin.version}
-                      />
-                    ))}
+                        // Then alphabetical by name
+                        return pluginA.name.localeCompare(pluginB.name)
+                      })
+                      .map(([slug, plugin]) => {
+                        // Check if plugin is required by another explicitly selected plugin
+                        const isRequired = isRequiredByOther(
+                          slug,
+                          explicitPlugins,
+                          registryData as Record<
+                            string,
+                            { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }
+                          >
+                        )
+                        // Plugin is implicit if it's either:
+                        // 1. Not explicitly selected but is a dependency, OR
+                        // 2. Explicitly selected but required by another explicitly selected plugin
+                        const isImplicit =
+                          implicitDeps.has(slug) ||
+                          (explicitPlugins.includes(slug) && isRequired)
+                        return (
+                          <PluginToggle
+                            key={slug}
+                            id={slug}
+                            name={plugin.name}
+                            description={plugin.description}
+                            isEnabled={allEnabledPlugins.includes(slug)}
+                            onToggle={(enabled) =>
+                              handleTogglePlugin(slug, enabled)
+                            }
+                            disabled={isImplicit}
+                            enabledLabel={isImplicit ? 'Required' : 'Add'}
+                            featured={plugin.featured ?? false}
+                            flashCount={pluginFlashCounts[slug] ?? 0}
+                            homepage={plugin.homepage}
+                            version={plugin.version}
+                          />
+                        )
+                      })
+                  })()}
                 </div>
               </div>
             )}
diff --git a/src/pages/BuildProgress.tsx b/src/pages/BuildProgress.tsx
index 97d0722..1594db0 100644
--- a/src/pages/BuildProgress.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/BuildProgress.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ import { Link, useNavigate, useParams } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { toast } from 'sonner'
 import { BuildDownloadButton } from '@/components/BuildDownloadButton'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
-import { humanizeStatus } from '@/lib/utils'
+import {
+  getDependedPlugins,
+  getImplicitDependencies,
+  humanizeStatus,
+} from '@/lib/utils'
 import { api } from '../../convex/_generated/api'
 import { ArtifactType } from '../../convex/builds'
 import modulesData from '../../convex/modules.json'
@@ -231,19 +235,76 @@ export default function BuildProgress() {
     (module) => build.config.modulesExcluded[module.id] === true
   )
 
-  // Get enabled plugins
-  const enabledPlugins = (build.config.pluginsEnabled || []).map((pluginId) => {
+  // Get explicitly selected plugins from stored config
+  // The stored config only contains explicitly selected plugins (not resolved dependencies)
+  const explicitPluginSlugs = (build.config.pluginsEnabled || []).map(
+    (pluginId) => {
+      // Extract slug from "slug@version" format if present
+      return pluginId.includes('@') ? pluginId.split('@')[0] : pluginId
+    }
+  )
+
+  // Resolve dependencies to get all plugins that should be enabled
+  const allResolvedPlugins = getDependedPlugins(
+    explicitPluginSlugs,
+    registryData as Record<string, { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }>
+  )
+
+  // Get implicit dependencies (dependencies that are not explicitly selected)
+  const implicitDeps = getImplicitDependencies(
+    explicitPluginSlugs,
+    registryData as Record<string, { dependencies?: Record<string, string> }>
+  )
+
+  // Separate explicit and implicit plugins
+  const explicitPlugins: Array<{
+    id: string
+    name: string
+    description: string
+    version: string
+  }> = []
+  const implicitPlugins: Array<{
+    id: string
+    name: string
+    description: string
+    version: string
+  }> = []
+
+  // Process explicitly selected plugins
+  ;(build.config.pluginsEnabled || []).forEach((pluginId) => {
     // Extract slug from "slug@version" format if present
     const slug = pluginId.includes('@') ? pluginId.split('@')[0] : pluginId
-    const pluginData = (registryData as Record<string, { name: string; description: string; version: string }>)[slug]
-    return {
+    const pluginData = (registryData as Record<
+      string,
+      { name: string; description: string; version: string }
+    >)[slug]
+    const pluginInfo = {
       id: slug,
       name: pluginData?.name || slug,
       description: pluginData?.description || '',
-      version: pluginId.includes('@') ? pluginId.split('@')[1] : pluginData?.version || '',
+      version: pluginId.includes('@')
+        ? pluginId.split('@')[1]
+        : pluginData?.version || '',
     }
+    explicitPlugins.push(pluginInfo)
   })
 
+  // Process implicit dependencies (resolved but not in stored config)
+  for (const slug of implicitDeps) {
+    const pluginData = (registryData as Record<
+      string,
+      { name: string; description: string; version: string }
+    >)[slug]
+    if (pluginData) {
+      implicitPlugins.push({
+        id: slug,
+        name: pluginData.name || slug,
+        description: pluginData.description || '',
+        version: pluginData.version || '',
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-slate-950 text-white p-8">
       <div className="max-w-4xl mx-auto space-y-6">
@@ -420,7 +481,9 @@ export default function BuildProgress() {
           )}
 
           {/* Build Configuration Summary */}
-          {(excludedModules.length > 0 || enabledPlugins.length > 0) && (
+          {(excludedModules.length > 0 ||
+            explicitPlugins.length > 0 ||
+            implicitPlugins.length > 0) && (
             <div className="space-y-6 border-t border-slate-800 pt-6">
               {/* Excluded Modules */}
               {excludedModules.length > 0 && (
@@ -447,12 +510,45 @@ export default function BuildProgress() {
               )}
 
               {/* Enabled Plugins */}
-              {enabledPlugins.length > 0 && (
+              {explicitPlugins.length > 0 && (
                 <div>
                   <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-3">Enabled Plugins</h3>
                   <div className="bg-slate-900/50 rounded-lg border border-slate-800 p-6">
                     <div className="space-y-4">
-                      {enabledPlugins.map((plugin) => (
+                      {explicitPlugins.map((plugin) => (
+                        <div
+                          key={plugin.id}
+                          className="border-b border-slate-800 pb-4 last:border-b-0 last:pb-0"
+                        >
+                          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1">
+                            <h4 className="text-base font-medium">
+                              {plugin.name}
+                            </h4>
+                            {plugin.version && (
+                              <span className="text-xs text-slate-500">
+                                v{plugin.version}
+                              </span>
+                            )}
+                          </div>
+                          {plugin.description && (
+                            <p className="text-slate-400 text-sm">
+                              {plugin.description}
+                            </p>
+                          )}
+                        </div>
+                      ))}
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
+
+              {/* Required Plugins (Implicit Dependencies) */}
+              {implicitPlugins.length > 0 && (
+                <div>
+                  <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-3">Required Plugins</h3>
+                  <div className="bg-slate-900/50 rounded-lg border border-slate-800 p-6">
+                    <div className="space-y-4">
+                      {implicitPlugins.map((plugin) => (
                         <div
                           key={plugin.id}
                           className="border-b border-slate-800 pb-4 last:border-b-0 last:pb-0"