diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/api_version.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/api_version.py
index ab243f423d..7390d5136e 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/api_version.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/api_version.py
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 """InvenTree API version information."""
 
 # InvenTree API version
-INVENTREE_API_VERSION = 326
+INVENTREE_API_VERSION = 327
 
 """Increment this API version number whenever there is a significant change to the API that any clients need to know about."""
 
 
 INVENTREE_API_TEXT = """
 
+v327 - 2025-03-20 : https://github.com/inventree/InvenTree/pull/9339
+    - Adds "is_mandatory" field to the Plugin API
+    - Adds ability to filter by "mandatory" status in the Plugin API
+
 v326 - 2025-03-18 : https://github.com/inventree/InvenTree/pull/9096
     - Overhaul the data-export API functionality
     - Allow customization of data exporting via plugins
diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/api.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/api.py
index c20fd9d0ee..f0f8a93808 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/api.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/api.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import plugin.serializers as PluginSerializers
 from common.api import GlobalSettingsPermissions
 from InvenTree.api import MetadataView
 from InvenTree.filters import SEARCH_ORDER_FILTER
+from InvenTree.helpers import str2bool
 from InvenTree.mixins import (
     CreateAPI,
     ListAPI,
@@ -27,13 +28,13 @@ from InvenTree.mixins import (
     UpdateAPI,
 )
 from InvenTree.permissions import IsSuperuser, IsSuperuserOrReadOnly
-from plugin import registry
 from plugin.base.action.api import ActionPluginView
 from plugin.base.barcodes.api import barcode_api_urls
 from plugin.base.locate.api import LocatePluginView
 from plugin.base.ui.api import ui_plugins_api_urls
 from plugin.models import PluginConfig, PluginSetting
 from plugin.plugin import InvenTreePlugin
+from plugin.registry import registry
 
 
 class PluginFilter(rest_filters.FilterSet):
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ class PluginFilter(rest_filters.FilterSet):
         return queryset.filter(pk__in=matches)
 
     builtin = rest_filters.BooleanFilter(
-        field_name='builtin', label='Builtin', method='filter_builtin'
+        field_name='builtin', label=_('Builtin'), method='filter_builtin'
     )
 
     def filter_builtin(self, queryset, name, value):
@@ -88,8 +89,19 @@ class PluginFilter(rest_filters.FilterSet):
 
         return queryset.filter(pk__in=matches)
 
+    mandatory = rest_filters.BooleanFilter(
+        field_name='mandatory', label=_('Mandatory'), method='filter_mandatory'
+    )
+
+    def filter_mandatory(self, queryset, name, value):
+        """Filter by 'mandatory' flag."""
+        if str2bool(value):
+            return queryset.filter(key__in=registry.MANDATORY_PLUGINS)
+        else:
+            return queryset.exclude(key__in=registry.MANDATORY_PLUGINS)
+
     sample = rest_filters.BooleanFilter(
-        field_name='sample', label='Sample', method='filter_sample'
+        field_name='sample', label=_('Sample'), method='filter_sample'
     )
 
     def filter_sample(self, queryset, name, value):
@@ -103,7 +115,7 @@ class PluginFilter(rest_filters.FilterSet):
         return queryset.filter(pk__in=matches)
 
     installed = rest_filters.BooleanFilter(
-        field_name='installed', label='Installed', method='filter_installed'
+        field_name='installed', label=_('Installed'), method='filter_installed'
     )
 
     def filter_installed(self, queryset, name, value):
@@ -135,8 +147,6 @@ class PluginList(ListAPI):
 
     filter_backends = SEARCH_ORDER_FILTER
 
-    filterset_fields = ['active']
-
     ordering_fields = ['key', 'name', 'active']
 
     ordering = ['-active', 'name', 'key']
diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/builtin/suppliers/test_supplier_barcodes.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/builtin/suppliers/test_supplier_barcodes.py
index cab309065a..31635af4ce 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/builtin/suppliers/test_supplier_barcodes.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/builtin/suppliers/test_supplier_barcodes.py
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ class SupplierBarcodeTests(InvenTreeAPITestCase):
 
     SCAN_URL = reverse('api-barcode-scan')
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        """Ensure the digikey plugin is enabled."""
+        super().setUp()
+        registry.set_plugin_state('digikeyplugin', True)
+
     @classmethod
     def setUpTestData(cls):
         """Create supplier parts for barcodes."""
diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/models.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/models.py
index 3068dbcfad..c5947c24f5 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/models.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/models.py
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 import common.models
 import InvenTree.models
 import plugin.staticfiles
-from plugin import InvenTreePlugin, registry
+from plugin import InvenTreePlugin
 from plugin.events import PluginEvents, trigger_event
+from plugin.registry import registry
 
 
 class PluginConfig(InvenTree.models.MetadataMixin, models.Model):
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@ class PluginConfig(InvenTree.models.MetadataMixin, models.Model):
 
         super().save(force_insert, force_update, *args, **kwargs)
 
-        if self.is_builtin():
-            # Force active if builtin
+        if self.is_mandatory():
+            # Force active if mandatory plugin
             self.active = True
 
         if not no_reload and self.active != self.__org_active:
@@ -180,6 +181,11 @@ class PluginConfig(InvenTree.models.MetadataMixin, models.Model):
 
         return self.plugin.check_is_builtin()
 
+    @admin.display(boolean=True, description=_('Mandatory Plugin'))
+    def is_mandatory(self) -> bool:
+        """Return True if this plugin is mandatory."""
+        return self.key in registry.MANDATORY_PLUGINS
+
     @admin.display(boolean=True, description=_('Package Plugin'))
     def is_package(self) -> bool:
         """Return True if this is a 'package' plugin."""
diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
index 81b5b3ed16..f5debcda61 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
@@ -53,6 +53,21 @@ class PluginsRegistry:
 
     DEFAULT_MIXIN_ORDER = [SettingsMixin, ScheduleMixin, AppMixin, UrlsMixin]
 
+    # This list of plugins are *always* enabled, and are loaded by default
+    # This is because they provide core functionality to the InvenTree system
+    # Other 'builtin' plugins are automatically loaded, but can be disabled by the user
+    MANDATORY_PLUGINS = [
+        'inventreebarcode',
+        'bom-exporter',
+        'inventree-exporter',
+        'inventreecorenotificationsplugin',
+        'inventreecurrencyexchange',
+        'inventreecorenotificationsplugin',
+        'inventreelabel',
+        'inventreelabelmachine',
+        'inventreelabelsheet',
+    ]
+
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         """Initialize registry.
 
@@ -518,10 +533,11 @@ class PluginsRegistry:
         if getattr(plugin, 'is_package', False):
             package_name = getattr(plugin, 'package_name', None)
 
-        # Auto-enable builtin plugins
-        if builtin and plg_db and not plg_db.active:
-            plg_db.active = True
-            plg_db.save()
+        # Auto-enable default builtin plugins
+        if builtin and plg_db and plg_db.is_mandatory():
+            if not plg_db.active:
+                plg_db.active = True
+                plg_db.save()
 
         # Save the package_name attribute to the plugin
         if plg_db.package_name != package_name:
diff --git a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/serializers.py b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/serializers.py
index c6e9981a77..6ec679c78e 100644
--- a/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/serializers.py
+++ b/src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/serializers.py
@@ -59,12 +59,14 @@ class PluginConfigSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             'is_sample',
             'is_installed',
             'is_package',
+            'is_mandatory',
         ]
 
         read_only_fields = ['key', 'is_builtin', 'is_sample', 'is_installed']
 
     meta = serializers.DictField(read_only=True)
     mixins = serializers.DictField(read_only=True)
+    is_mandatory = serializers.BooleanField(read_only=True)
 
 
 class PluginAdminDetailSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/tables/plugin/PluginListTable.tsx b/src/frontend/src/tables/plugin/PluginListTable.tsx
index f8218b899b..e28bfd4c7a 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/tables/plugin/PluginListTable.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/tables/plugin/PluginListTable.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 
 import { ActionButton } from '../../components/buttons/ActionButton';
-import { YesNoButton } from '../../components/buttons/YesNoButton';
 import { DetailDrawer } from '../../components/nav/DetailDrawer';
 import PluginDrawer from '../../components/plugins/PluginDrawer';
 import type { PluginInterface } from '../../components/plugins/PluginInterface';
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@ import { useTable } from '../../hooks/UseTable';
 import { apiUrl, useServerApiState } from '../../states/ApiState';
 import { useUserState } from '../../states/UserState';
 import type { TableColumn } from '../Column';
+import { BooleanColumn } from '../ColumnRenderers';
 import { InvenTreeTable } from '../InvenTreeTable';
 import type { RowAction } from '../RowActions';
 
@@ -89,12 +89,21 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
           );
         }
       },
-      {
+      BooleanColumn({
         accessor: 'active',
         sortable: true,
-        title: t`Active`,
-        render: (record: any) => <YesNoButton value={record.active} />
-      },
+        title: t`Active`
+      }),
+      BooleanColumn({
+        accessor: 'is_builtin',
+        sortable: false,
+        title: t`Builtin`
+      }),
+      BooleanColumn({
+        accessor: 'is_mandatory',
+        sortable: false,
+        title: t`Mandatory`
+      }),
       {
         accessor: 'meta.description',
         title: t`Description`,
@@ -164,7 +173,7 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
 
       return [
         {
-          hidden: record.is_builtin != false || record.active != true,
+          hidden: record.is_mandatory != false || record.active != true,
           title: t`Deactivate`,
           color: 'red',
           icon: <IconCircleX />,
@@ -176,7 +185,7 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
         },
         {
           hidden:
-            record.is_builtin != false ||
+            record.is_mandatory != false ||
             !record.is_installed ||
             record.active != false,
           title: t`Activate`,
@@ -207,6 +216,7 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
             !user.isSuperuser() ||
             record.active ||
             record.is_builtin ||
+            record.is_mandatory ||
             record.is_sample ||
             !record.is_installed ||
             !record.is_package,
@@ -225,6 +235,7 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
           hidden:
             record.active ||
             record.is_builtin ||
+            record.is_mandatory ||
             record.is_sample ||
             record.is_installed ||
             !user.isSuperuser(),
@@ -405,6 +416,11 @@ export default function PluginListTable() {
               label: t`Builtin`,
               type: 'boolean'
             },
+            {
+              name: 'mandatory',
+              label: t`Mandatory`,
+              type: 'boolean'
+            },
             {
               name: 'sample',
               label: t`Sample`,