I was working with Cubase 8.5 Artist. Everything worked well. VST 2, VST3, DAW, etc… No Problemo ! Then Steinberg stopped the possibility to update. So I bought Cubase 15 and a new computer. My library of VST2 ( a lot I downloaded free and bought for a lot of $ ) was not working.
User error.
vst2 plugins DO work in Cubase 15 on Windows. Just click the button to allow.
I load up vst2 plugins all day long on Cubase 14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3 on Win11 Pro.
15 is just as fine with them….I didn’t buy cb15 myself …as this time around, I’m only gonna update Nuendo to 15 in April or whatever.
Open the Plugin Manager, click on the VST2 button in the lower left corner and that’s it.
You can find that in the documentation.
Are you on a Mac or PC? Silicon Macs don’t support VST2 at all. If you’re on a PC then @JuergenP’s advice applies.
Native silicon Macs support VST2 if they are run via Rosetta mode as I have recently learned.
Yes, if they are 64bit (depending on the OS version).
… so close. 
This could have been one of the few statements about Macs that would have let me look like an expert on Macs. Soooo close…
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Had to give you some wiggle room! There are VST2 for Apple Silicon too (e.g. for Ample “rectangles”). So it all depends on the actual source VST. The details matter in these cases!! 
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Okay, no more replies on Mac issues for me. I leave that to you Mac people… 
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OK, Cubase doesn’t support VST2 on native Mac silicon, alright?
Jeez, what a bunch of literalists!
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I wasn’t trying to pick nits, I just wanted to ensure the thread was as accurate as possible. Plus it’s fun to poke at @Reco29! 
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Well, that is true.
But yes, you were quite right. I was in a hurry to get out of the house so didn’t really express myself very well.
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Cheeky Mac users poking an innocent Windows user on New Year’s Eve. Tzz, tzz, tzz… And I thought 2026 was all about reconciliation between Mac and Windows users for a change…
Happy new year to you guys - may the music be with us 
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