How to Install a Toolbox in MATLAB

Method 1: Install via MATLAB Add-On Explorer (GUI)

1. Launch MATLAB and navigate to the Home tab at the top toolbar.
2. Click the Add-Ons drop-down menu and select Get Add-Ons.
3. Use the search bar in Add-On Explorer to locate toolboxes like Control System Toolbox, Image Processing Toolbox, Signal Processing Toolbox, or Optimization Toolbox.
4. Click Add to MATLAB or Install and complete authentication.

Method 2: Programmatically Verify Installed Toolboxes & Licenses

Check if specific toolboxes (e.g., Signal Processing, Image Processing, Control System) are active before calling their functions:

% Check all installed toolboxes
installedToolboxes = ver;
disp({installedToolboxes.Name}');

% Programmatically test specific licenses
hasSignalProc = license('test', 'signal_toolbox');
hasImageProc  = license('test', 'image_toolbox');
hasControl    = license('test', 'control_toolbox');

fprintf('Signal Processing Available: %d\n', hasSignalProc);
fprintf('Image Processing Available:  %d\n', hasImageProc);
fprintf('Control System Available:    %d\n', hasControl);

Method 3: Install Custom `.mltbx` Package Files

If you downloaded a custom toolbox file (extension .mltbx) from File Exchange or GitHub, install it in one line:

% Command window installation for .mltbx file
matlab.addons.install('MyCustomToolbox.mltbx');

% Verify installed add-ons list
addons = matlab.addons.installedAddons;
disp(addons);

Method 4: Manual Folder & Path Configuration (`addpath` / `savepath`)

For custom .m scripts packaged inside a directory without an installer, manually register the path:

% Add folder and subfolders to path
addpath(genpath('C:\MyMatlabToolboxes\CustomPackage'));

% Permanently save search path across MATLAB restarts
savepath;

Method 5: Headless / Silent CLI Installation for CI/CD Servers

On remote Linux servers or GitHub Actions runners, install toolboxes via non-interactive MATLAB batch commands:

# Linux / Windows CLI headless installation
matlab -batch "matlab.addons.install('custom_toolbox.mltbx'); exit;"