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--- title: Azure virtual machine extensions and features description: Learn more about Azure VM extensions that provide post-deployment configuration and automation on Azure VMs. ms.topic: overview ms.service: azure-virtual-machines ms.subservice: extensions ms.author: gabsta author: GabstaMSFT ms.reviewer: jushiman ms.date: 08/18/2025 # Customer intent: As a cloud administrator, I want to install and manage virtual machine extensions, so that I can automate configuration and enhance the functionality of my Azure virtual machines. --- # Azure virtual machine extensions and features Extensions are small applications that provide post-deployment configuration and automation on Azure virtual machines (VMs). The Azure platform hosts many extensions covering VM configuration, monitoring, security, and utility applications. Publishers take an application, wrap it into an extension, and simplify the installation. All you need to do is provide mandatory parameters. > [!NOTE] > Extensions are only supported on [Endorsed Linux distributions on Azure](../linux/endorsed-distros.md). [!INCLUDE [VM assist troubleshooting tools](../includes/vmassist-include.md)] ## View available extensions You can view available extensions for a VM in the Azure portal. 1. In the portal, go to the **Overview** page for a VM. 1. Under **Settings**, select **Extensions + Applications**. The list of available extensions are displayed. To see the complete list of extensions, see [Discovering VM Extensions for Linux](features-linux.md) and [Discovering VM Extensions for Windows](features-windows.md). ## Install and use extensions Azure VM extensions can be managed by using the Azure CLI, PowerShell, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, and the Azure portal. 1. From the **Extensions + Applications** for the VM, on the **Extensions** tab, select **+ Add**. 1. Locate the **Custom Script Extension** option. Select the extension option, then select **Next**. You can then pass in a command or script to run the extension. For more information, see [Linux Custom Script Extension](custom-script-linux.md) and [Windows Custom Script Extension](custom-script-windows.md). ### Check for prerequisites Some individual VM extension applications might have their own environmental prerequisites, such as access to an endpoint. Each extension has an article that explains any prerequisites, including which operating systems are supported. ### Manage extension application lifecycle You don't need to connect to a VM directly to install or delete an extension. The Azure extension lifecycle is managed outside of the VM and integrated into the Azure platform. [Automatic extension upgrade](../automatic-extension-upgrade.md) can be used to monitor for new minor versions and automatically upgrade extensions in a safe rolling manner. ## Troubleshoot extensions If you're looking for general troubleshooting steps for Windows VM extensions, refer to [Troubleshooting Azure Windows VM extension failures ](troubleshoot.md). Otherwise, specific troubleshooting information for each extension can be found in the **Troubleshoot and support** section in the overview for the extension. Here's a list of the troubleshooting information available: | Namespace | Troubleshooting | |-----------|-----------------| | microsoft.azure.monitoring.dependencyagent.dependencyagentlinux | [Azure Monitor Dependency for Linux](agent-dependency-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.azure.monitoring.dependencyagent.dependencyagentwindows | [Azure Monitor Dependency for Windows](agent-dependency-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.azure.security.azurediskencryptionforlinux | [Azure Disk Encryption for Linux](azure-disk-enc-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.azure.security.azurediskencryption | [Azure Disk Encryption for Windows](azure-disk-enc-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.compute.customscriptextension | [Custom Script for Windows](custom-script-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.ostcextensions.customscriptforlinux | | microsoft.powershell.dsc | [Desired State Configuration for Windows](dsc-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.hpccompute.nvidiagpudriverlinux | [NVIDIA GPU Driver Extension for Linux](hpccompute-gpu-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.hpccompute.nvidiagpudriverwindows | [NVIDIA GPU Driver Extension for Windows](hpccompute-gpu-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.azure.security.iaasantimalware | [Antimalware Extension for Windows](iaas-antimalware-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.enterprisecloud.monitoring.omsagentforlinux | [Azure Monitor for Linux](oms-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | microsoft.enterprisecloud.monitoring.microsoftmonitoringagent | [Azure Monitor for Windows](oms-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | stackify.linuxagent.extension.stackifylinuxagentextension | [Stackify Retrace for Linux](stackify-retrace-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | vmaccessforlinux.microsoft.ostcextensions | [VMAccess for Linux](vmaccess-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.recoveryservices.vmsnapshot | [Snapshot for Linux](vmsnapshot-linux.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | | microsoft.recoveryservices.vmsnapshot | [Snapshot for Windows](vmsnapshot-windows.md#troubleshoot-and-support) | ## Next steps * For more information about how the Linux Agent and extensions work, see [Azure VM extensions and features for Linux](features-linux.md). * For more information about how the Windows Guest Agent and extensions work, see [Azure VM extensions and features for Windows](features-windows.md). * To install the Linux Agent, see [Azure Linux Virtual Machine Agent overview](agent-linux.md). * To install the Windows Guest Agent, see [Azure Windows Virtual Machine Agent overview](agent-windows.md). * To automatically update the extensions to latest version, see [Automatic Extension Upgrade for VMs and Scale Sets in Azure](../automatic-extension-upgrade.md)