diff --git a/quartz/cli/plugin-data.js b/quartz/cli/plugin-data.js
index f5b4aa0c0..8171295f9 100644
--- a/quartz/cli/plugin-data.js
+++ b/quartz/cli/plugin-data.js
@@ -83,7 +83,20 @@ export function writeLockfile(lockfile) {
   fs.writeFileSync(LOCKFILE_PATH, JSON.stringify(lockfile, null, 2) + "\n")
 }
 
+export function isLocalSource(source) {
+  if (source.startsWith("./") || source.startsWith("../") || source.startsWith("/")) {
+    return true
+  }
+  // Windows absolute paths (e.g. C:\ or D:/)
+  if (/^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]/.test(source)) {
+    return true
+  }
+  return false
+}
 export function extractPluginName(source) {
+  if (isLocalSource(source)) {
+    return path.basename(source.replace(/[\/]+$/, ""))
+  }
   if (source.startsWith("github:")) {
     const withoutPrefix = source.replace("github:", "")
     const [repoPath] = withoutPrefix.split("#")
@@ -110,6 +123,11 @@ export function readManifestFromPackageJson(pluginDir) {
 }
 
 export function parseGitSource(source) {
+  if (isLocalSource(source)) {
+    const resolved = path.resolve(source)
+    const name = path.basename(resolved)
+    return { name, url: resolved, ref: undefined, local: true }
+  }
   if (source.startsWith("github:")) {
     const [repoPath, ref] = source.replace("github:", "").split("#")
     const [owner, repo] = repoPath.split("/")
diff --git a/quartz/cli/plugin-git-handlers.js b/quartz/cli/plugin-git-handlers.js
index 568c85268..086e4d908 100644
--- a/quartz/cli/plugin-git-handlers.js
+++ b/quartz/cli/plugin-git-handlers.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   getGitCommit,
   PLUGINS_DIR,
   LOCKFILE_PATH,
+  isLocalSource,
 } from "./plugin-data.js"
 
 const INTERNAL_EXPORTS = new Set(["manifest", "default"])
@@ -187,6 +188,37 @@ export async function handlePluginInstall() {
   for (const [name, entry] of Object.entries(lockfile.plugins)) {
     const pluginDir = path.join(PLUGINS_DIR, name)
 
+    // Local plugin: ensure symlink exists
+    if (entry.commit === "local") {
+      try {
+        if (fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
+          const stat = fs.lstatSync(pluginDir)
+          if (stat.isSymbolicLink() && fs.readlinkSync(pluginDir) === entry.resolved) {
+            console.log(styleText("gray", `  ✓ ${name} (local) already linked`))
+            installed++
+            continue
+          }
+          // Wrong target or not a symlink — remove and re-link
+          if (stat.isSymbolicLink()) fs.unlinkSync(pluginDir)
+          else fs.rmSync(pluginDir, { recursive: true })
+        }
+        if (!fs.existsSync(entry.resolved)) {
+          console.log(styleText("red", `  ✗ ${name}: local path missing: ${entry.resolved}`))
+          failed++
+          continue
+        }
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(pluginDir), { recursive: true })
+        fs.symlinkSync(entry.resolved, pluginDir, "dir")
+        console.log(styleText("green", `  ✓ ${name} (local) linked`))
+        pluginsToBuild.push({ name, pluginDir })
+        installed++
+      } catch {
+        console.log(styleText("red", `  ✗ ${name}: failed to link local path`))
+        failed++
+      }
+      continue
+    }
+
     if (fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
       try {
         const currentCommit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
@@ -270,7 +302,7 @@ export async function handlePluginAdd(sources) {
 
   for (const source of sources) {
     try {
-      const { name, url, ref } = parseGitSource(source)
+      const { name, url, ref, local } = parseGitSource(source)
       const pluginDir = path.join(PLUGINS_DIR, name)
 
       if (fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
@@ -278,25 +310,45 @@ export async function handlePluginAdd(sources) {
         continue
       }
 
-      console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Adding ${name} from ${url}...`))
-
-      if (ref) {
-        execSync(`git clone --depth 1 --branch ${ref} ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+      if (local) {
+        // Local path: create symlink instead of git clone
+        const resolvedPath = path.resolve(url)
+        if (!fs.existsSync(resolvedPath)) {
+          console.log(styleText("red", `✗ Local path does not exist: ${resolvedPath}`))
+          continue
+        }
+        console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Adding ${name} from local path ${resolvedPath}...`))
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(pluginDir), { recursive: true })
+        fs.symlinkSync(resolvedPath, pluginDir, "dir")
+        lockfile.plugins[name] = {
+          source,
+          resolved: resolvedPath,
+          commit: "local",
+          installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+        }
+        addedPlugins.push({ name, pluginDir, source })
+        console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Added ${name} (local symlink)`))
       } else {
-        execSync(`git clone --depth 1 ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
-      }
+        console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Adding ${name} from ${url}...`))
 
-      const commit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
-      lockfile.plugins[name] = {
-        source,
-        resolved: url,
-        commit,
-        ...(ref && { ref }),
-        installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-      }
+        if (ref) {
+          execSync(`git clone --depth 1 --branch ${ref} ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+        } else {
+          execSync(`git clone --depth 1 ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+        }
 
-      addedPlugins.push({ name, pluginDir, source })
-      console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Added ${name}@${commit.slice(0, 7)}`))
+        const commit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
+        lockfile.plugins[name] = {
+          source,
+          resolved: url,
+          commit,
+          ...(ref && { ref }),
+          installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+        }
+
+        addedPlugins.push({ name, pluginDir, source })
+        console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Added ${name}@${commit.slice(0, 7)}`))
+      }
     } catch (error) {
       console.log(styleText("red", `✗ Failed to add ${source}: ${error}`))
     }
@@ -504,6 +556,17 @@ export async function handlePluginCheck() {
 
   const results = []
   for (const [name, entry] of Object.entries(lockfile.plugins)) {
+    // Local plugins: show "local" status, skip git checks
+    if (entry.commit === "local") {
+      results.push({
+        name,
+        installed: "local",
+        latest: "—",
+        status: "local",
+      })
+      continue
+    }
+
     try {
       const lsRemoteRef = entry.ref ? `refs/heads/${entry.ref}` : "HEAD"
       const latestCommit = execSync(`git ls-remote ${entry.resolved} ${lsRemoteRef}`, {
@@ -536,7 +599,11 @@ export async function handlePluginCheck() {
 
   for (const r of results) {
     const color =
-      r.status === "up to date" ? "green" : r.status === "check failed" ? "red" : "yellow"
+      r.status === "up to date" || r.status === "local"
+        ? "green"
+        : r.status === "check failed"
+          ? "red"
+          : "yellow"
     console.log(
       `${r.name.padEnd(nameWidth)}${r.installed.padEnd(12)}${r.latest.padEnd(12)}${styleText(
         color,
@@ -571,6 +638,13 @@ export async function handlePluginUpdate(names) {
       continue
     }
 
+    // Local plugins: just rebuild, no git operations
+    if (entry.commit === "local") {
+      console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Rebuilding local plugin ${name}...`))
+      updatedPlugins.push({ name, pluginDir })
+      continue
+    }
+
     try {
       console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Updating ${name}...`))
       const fetchRef = entry.ref || ""
@@ -624,6 +698,20 @@ export async function handlePluginList() {
   for (const [name, entry] of Object.entries(lockfile.plugins)) {
     const pluginDir = path.join(PLUGINS_DIR, name)
     const exists = fs.existsSync(pluginDir)
+
+    // Local plugins: special display
+    if (entry.commit === "local") {
+      const isLinked = exists && fs.lstatSync(pluginDir).isSymbolicLink()
+      const status = isLinked ? styleText("green", "✓") : styleText("red", "✗")
+      console.log(`  ${status} ${styleText("bold", name)}`)
+      console.log(`    Source: ${entry.source}`)
+      console.log(`    Type: local symlink`)
+      console.log(`    Target: ${entry.resolved}`)
+      console.log(`    Installed: ${new Date(entry.installedAt).toLocaleDateString()}`)
+      console.log()
+      continue
+    }
+
     let currentCommit = entry.commit
 
     if (exists) {
@@ -676,6 +764,26 @@ export async function handlePluginRestore() {
       continue
     }
 
+    // Local plugin: re-symlink
+    if (entry.commit === "local") {
+      try {
+        if (!fs.existsSync(entry.resolved)) {
+          console.log(styleText("red", `  ✗ ${name}: local path missing: ${entry.resolved}`))
+          failed++
+          continue
+        }
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(pluginDir), { recursive: true })
+        fs.symlinkSync(entry.resolved, pluginDir, "dir")
+        console.log(styleText("green", `✓ ${name} restored (local symlink)`))
+        restoredPlugins.push({ name, pluginDir })
+        installed++
+      } catch {
+        console.log(styleText("red", `✗ ${name}: failed to restore local symlink`))
+        failed++
+      }
+      continue
+    }
+
     try {
       console.log(
         styleText("cyan", `→ ${name}: cloning ${entry.resolved}@${entry.commit.slice(0, 7)}...`),
@@ -785,13 +893,18 @@ export async function handlePluginResolve({ dryRun = false } = {}) {
     fs.mkdirSync(PLUGINS_DIR, { recursive: true })
   }
 
-  // Find config entries whose source is a git-resolvable URL and not yet in lockfile
+  // Find config entries whose source is a git/local-resolvable URL and not yet in lockfile
   const missing = pluginsJson.plugins.filter((entry) => {
     const name = extractPluginName(entry.source)
     if (lockfile.plugins[name]) return false
-    // Only attempt sources that parseGitSource can handle
+    // Only attempt sources that parseGitSource can handle (git URLs + local paths)
     const src = entry.source
-    return src.startsWith("github:") || src.startsWith("git+") || src.startsWith("https://")
+    return (
+      src.startsWith("github:") ||
+      src.startsWith("git+") ||
+      src.startsWith("https://") ||
+      isLocalSource(src)
+    )
   })
 
   if (missing.length === 0) {
@@ -818,10 +931,21 @@ export async function handlePluginResolve({ dryRun = false } = {}) {
 
   for (const entry of missing) {
     try {
-      const { name, url, ref } = parseGitSource(entry.source)
+      const { name, url, ref, local } = parseGitSource(entry.source)
       const pluginDir = path.join(PLUGINS_DIR, name)
 
       if (fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
+        if (local) {
+          console.log(styleText("yellow", `⚠ ${name} directory already exists, updating lockfile`))
+          lockfile.plugins[name] = {
+            source: entry.source,
+            resolved: url,
+            commit: "local",
+            installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+          }
+          installed.push({ name, pluginDir })
+          continue
+        }
         console.log(styleText("yellow", `⚠ ${name} directory already exists, updating lockfile`))
         const commit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
         lockfile.plugins[name] = {
@@ -835,25 +959,46 @@ export async function handlePluginResolve({ dryRun = false } = {}) {
         continue
       }
 
-      console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Cloning ${name} from ${url}...`))
-
-      if (ref) {
-        execSync(`git clone --depth 1 --branch ${ref} ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+      if (local) {
+        // Local path: symlink
+        const resolvedPath = path.resolve(url)
+        if (!fs.existsSync(resolvedPath)) {
+          console.log(styleText("red", `✗ Local path does not exist: ${resolvedPath}`))
+          failed++
+          continue
+        }
+        console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Linking ${name} from ${resolvedPath}...`))
+        fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(pluginDir), { recursive: true })
+        fs.symlinkSync(resolvedPath, pluginDir, "dir")
+        lockfile.plugins[name] = {
+          source: entry.source,
+          resolved: resolvedPath,
+          commit: "local",
+          installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+        }
+        installed.push({ name, pluginDir })
+        console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Linked ${name} (local)`))
       } else {
-        execSync(`git clone --depth 1 ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
-      }
+        console.log(styleText("cyan", `→ Cloning ${name} from ${url}...`))
 
-      const commit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
-      lockfile.plugins[name] = {
-        source: entry.source,
-        resolved: url,
-        commit,
-        ...(ref && { ref }),
-        installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-      }
+        if (ref) {
+          execSync(`git clone --depth 1 --branch ${ref} ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+        } else {
+          execSync(`git clone --depth 1 ${url} ${pluginDir}`, { stdio: "ignore" })
+        }
 
-      installed.push({ name, pluginDir })
-      console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Cloned ${name}@${commit.slice(0, 7)}`))
+        const commit = getGitCommit(pluginDir)
+        lockfile.plugins[name] = {
+          source: entry.source,
+          resolved: url,
+          commit,
+          ...(ref && { ref }),
+          installedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+        }
+
+        installed.push({ name, pluginDir })
+        console.log(styleText("green", `✓ Cloned ${name}@${commit.slice(0, 7)}`))
+      }
     } catch (error) {
       console.log(styleText("red", `✗ Failed to resolve ${entry.source}: ${error}`))
       failed++
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/config-loader.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/config-loader.ts
index d3806248d..c0398ce31 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/loader/config-loader.ts
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/config-loader.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@ import {
   PluginLayoutDeclaration,
   FlexGroupConfig,
 } from "./types"
-import { parsePluginSource, installPlugin, getPluginEntryPoint, toFileUrl } from "./gitLoader"
+import {
+  parsePluginSource,
+  installPlugin,
+  getPluginEntryPoint,
+  toFileUrl,
+  isLocalSource,
+} from "./gitLoader"
 import { loadComponentsFromPackage } from "./componentLoader"
 import { loadFramesFromPackage } from "./frameLoader"
 import { componentRegistry } from "../../components/registry"
@@ -44,6 +50,10 @@ function readPluginsJson(): QuartzPluginsJson | null {
 }
 
 function extractPluginName(source: string): string {
+  // Local file paths: use directory basename
+  if (isLocalSource(source)) {
+    return path.basename(source.replace(/[\/]+$/, ""))
+  }
   if (source.startsWith("github:")) {
     const withoutPrefix = source.replace("github:", "")
     const [repoPath] = withoutPrefix.split("#")
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/gitLoader.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/gitLoader.ts
index 1c79fa250..aaf7c470a 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/loader/gitLoader.ts
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/gitLoader.ts
@@ -21,27 +21,52 @@ export function toFileUrl(filePath: string): string {
 export interface GitPluginSpec {
   /** Plugin name (used for directory) */
   name: string
-  /** Git repository URL (https://github.com/user/repo.git or just github:user/repo) */
+  /** Git repository URL or absolute local path */
   repo: string
   /** Git ref (branch, tag, or commit hash). Defaults to 'main' */
   ref?: string
   /** Optional subdirectory within the repo if plugin is not at root */
   subdir?: string
+  /** Whether this is a local path source */
+  local?: boolean
 }
 
 export type PluginInstallSource = string | GitPluginSpec
 
 const PLUGINS_CACHE_DIR = path.join(process.cwd(), ".quartz", "plugins")
 
+/**
+ * Check if a source string refers to a local file path.
+ * Local sources start with ./, ../, / or a Windows drive letter (e.g. C:\).
+ */
+export function isLocalSource(source: string): boolean {
+  if (source.startsWith("./") || source.startsWith("../") || source.startsWith("/")) {
+    return true
+  }
+  // Windows absolute paths (e.g. C:\ or D:/)
+  if (/^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]/.test(source)) {
+    return true
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
 /**
  * Parse a plugin source string into a GitPluginSpec
  * Supports:
+ * - "./path/to/plugin" or "/absolute/path" -> local path
  * - "github:user/repo" -> https://github.com/user/repo.git
  * - "github:user/repo#ref" -> https://github.com/user/repo.git with specific ref
  * - "git+https://..." -> direct git URL
  * - "https://github.com/..." -> direct https URL
  */
 export function parsePluginSource(source: string): GitPluginSpec {
+  // Handle local paths
+  if (isLocalSource(source)) {
+    const resolved = path.resolve(source)
+    const name = path.basename(resolved)
+    return { name, repo: resolved, local: true }
+  }
+
   // Handle github shorthand: github:user/repo or github:user/repo#ref
   if (source.startsWith("github:")) {
     const withoutPrefix = source.replace("github:", "")
@@ -94,7 +119,7 @@ function extractRepoName(url: string): string {
 }
 
 /**
- * Install a plugin from a Git repository
+ * Install a plugin from a Git repository, or symlink a local plugin.
  */
 export async function installPlugin(
   spec: GitPluginSpec,
@@ -102,6 +127,57 @@ export async function installPlugin(
 ): Promise<string> {
   const pluginDir = path.join(PLUGINS_CACHE_DIR, spec.name)
 
+  // Local source: symlink instead of clone
+  if (spec.local) {
+    if (!fs.existsSync(spec.repo)) {
+      throw new Error(`Local plugin path does not exist: ${spec.repo}`)
+    }
+
+    if (!options.force && fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
+      // Check if existing entry is already a symlink to the right place
+      try {
+        const stat = fs.lstatSync(pluginDir)
+        if (stat.isSymbolicLink() && fs.realpathSync(pluginDir) === fs.realpathSync(spec.repo)) {
+          if (options.verbose) {
+            console.log(styleText("cyan", `→`), `Plugin ${spec.name} already linked`)
+          }
+          return pluginDir
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // stat failed, recreate
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Clean up if force reinstall or existing non-symlink entry
+    if (fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
+      const stat = fs.lstatSync(pluginDir)
+      if (stat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+        fs.unlinkSync(pluginDir)
+      } else {
+        fs.rmSync(pluginDir, { recursive: true })
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Ensure parent directory exists
+    const parentDir = path.dirname(pluginDir)
+    if (!fs.existsSync(parentDir)) {
+      fs.mkdirSync(parentDir, { recursive: true })
+    }
+
+    if (options.verbose) {
+      console.log(styleText("cyan", `→`), `Linking ${spec.name} from ${spec.repo}...`)
+    }
+
+    fs.symlinkSync(spec.repo, pluginDir, "dir")
+
+    if (options.verbose) {
+      console.log(styleText("green", `✓`), `Linked ${spec.name}`)
+    }
+
+    return pluginDir
+  }
+
+  // Git source: clone
   // Check if already installed
   if (!options.force && fs.existsSync(pluginDir)) {
     // Check if it's a git repo by trying to resolve HEAD
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts
index dad4a0cea..d034515ea 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,13 @@ import {
   QuartzEmitterPlugin,
   QuartzPageTypePlugin,
 } from "../types"
-import { parsePluginSource, installPlugin, getPluginEntryPoint, toFileUrl } from "./gitLoader"
+import {
+  parsePluginSource,
+  installPlugin,
+  getPluginEntryPoint,
+  toFileUrl,
+  isLocalSource,
+} from "./gitLoader"
 
 const MINIMUM_QUARTZ_VERSION = "4.5.0"
 
@@ -115,8 +121,9 @@ function extractPluginFactory(
 }
 
 function isGitSource(source: string): boolean {
-  // Check if it's a Git-based source
+  // Check if it's a Git-based or local file path source
   return (
+    isLocalSource(source) ||
     source.startsWith("github:") ||
     source.startsWith("git+") ||
     source.startsWith("https://github.com/") ||
@@ -267,7 +274,7 @@ async function resolveSinglePlugin(
         plugin: factory,
         manifest: fullManifest,
         type: detectedType,
-        source: `${gitSpec.repo}#${gitSpec.ref}`,
+        source: gitSpec.local ? `local:${gitSpec.repo}` : `${gitSpec.repo}#${gitSpec.ref}`,
       }
 
       if (options.verbose) {
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/quartz-plugins.schema.json b/quartz/plugins/quartz-plugins.schema.json
index a4c2cfe90..563cebcf0 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/quartz-plugins.schema.json
+++ b/quartz/plugins/quartz-plugins.schema.json
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
         "properties": {
           "source": {
             "type": "string",
-            "description": "Plugin source path or identifier. Supports github:user/repo, git+https://, and https:// URLs. Append #ref to pin to a specific branch or tag (e.g., github:user/repo#my-branch)."
+            "description": "Plugin source path or identifier. Supports github:user/repo, git+https://, and https:// URLs. Append #ref to pin to a specific branch or tag (e.g., github:user/repo#my-branch). Local file paths (e.g., ./my-plugin, ../sibling-plugin, /absolute/path) are also supported for local development or airgapped environments."
           },
           "enabled": {
             "type": "boolean",