diff --git a/.changeset/config.json b/.changeset/config.json
index 8dac55d6b..90a7d53bf 100644
--- a/.changeset/config.json
+++ b/.changeset/config.json
@@ -14,6 +14,5 @@
   ],
   "access": "public",
   "baseBranch": "master",
-  "updateInternalDependencies": "patch",
-  "ignore": []
+  "updateInternalDependencies": "patch"
 }
diff --git a/.changeset/early-jokes-nail.md b/.changeset/early-jokes-nail.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fba14f66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/early-jokes-nail.md
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+---
+'@verdaccio/api': major
+'@verdaccio/auth': major
+'@verdaccio/config': major
+'@verdaccio/types': major
+'@verdaccio/loaders': major
+'@verdaccio/node-api': major
+'verdaccio-audit': major
+'verdaccio-auth-memory': major
+'verdaccio-htpasswd': major
+'@verdaccio/local-storage': major
+'verdaccio-memory': major
+'@verdaccio/server': major
+'@verdaccio/server-fastify': major
+'@verdaccio/store': major
+'@verdaccio/test-helper': major
+'customprefix-auth': major
+'verdaccio': major
+'@verdaccio/web': major
+---
+
+feat(plugins): improve plugin loader
+
+### Changes
+
+- Add scope plugin support to 6.x https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/pull/3227
+- Avoid config collisions https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/928
+- https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/1394
+- `config.plugins` plugin path validations
+- Updated algorithm for plugin loader.
+- improved documentation (included dev)
+
+## Features
+
+- Add scope plugin support to 6.x https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/pull/3227
+- Custom prefix:
+
+```
+// config.yaml
+server:
+  pluginPrefix: mycompany
+middleware:
+  audit:
+      foo: 1
+```
+
+This configuration will look up for `mycompany-audit` instead `Verdaccio-audit`.
+
+## Breaking Changes
+
+### sinopia plugins
+
+- `sinopia` fallback support is removed, but can be restored using `pluginPrefix`
+
+### plugin filter
+
+- method rename `filter_metadata`->`filterMetadata`
+
+### Plugin constructor does not merge configs anymore https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/928
+
+The plugin receives as first argument `config`, which represents the config of the plugin. Example:
+
+```
+// config.yaml
+auth:
+  plugin:
+     foo: 1
+     bar: 2
+
+export class Plugin<T> {
+  public constructor(config: T, options: PluginOptions) {
+    console.log(config);
+    // {foo:1, bar: 2}
+ }
+}
+```
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 55d077ced..000000000
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,116 +0,0 @@
-## Development notes
-
-The `5.x` still under development, key points:
-
-Ensure you have `nvm` installed or the latest Node.js (check `.nvmrc`
-for mode details).
-
-```bash
-nvm install
-```
-
-Verdaccio uses **pnpm** as monorepo management. To install
-
-```bash
-npm i -g pnpm@latest-6
-```
-
-Install all needed packages
-
-```bash
-pnpm install
-```
-
-For building the application:
-
-```bash
-pnpm build
-```
-
-Running the test
-
-```
-pnpm test
-```
-
-### Running the application (with UI hot reloading)
-
-```bash
-pnpm start
-```
-
-with hot reloading (server and UI), `nodemon` will restart the server and `babel` runs
-in watch mode.
-
-```bash
-pnpm start:watch
-```
-
-Running with `ts-node`
-
-```
-pnpm start:ts
-```
-
-### Running the Website
-
-We use _Gatsbyjs_ as development stack for website,
-please [for more information check their official guidelines.](https://www.gatsbyjs.com/docs/quick-start/)
-
-```
-pnpm website:develop
-```
-
-### Running E2E
-
-For running the CLI test
-
-```
-pnpm test:e2e:cli
-```
-
-For running the UI test
-
-```
-pnpm test:e2e:ui
-```
-
-### Linting
-
-Linting the code.
-
-```bash
-pnpm lint
-```
-
-For website runs
-
-```bash
-pnpm website:lint
-```
-
-Formatting the code with prettier
-
-```bash
-pnpm prettier
-```
-
-### Debugging
-
-Run the server in debug mode (it does not include UI hot reload)
-with `--inspect` support.
-
-```
-pnpm debug
-pnpm debug:break
-```
-
-> requires `pnpm build` previously
-
-#### debug internal output
-
-Each verdaccio module uses `debug`, use the namespaces in combination with filters to get a verbose output about each action, for example:
-
-```
-DEBUG=verdaccio:* pnpm start
-```
diff --git a/jest/config.js b/jest/config.js
index 6fcf39388..07c32bdaf 100644
--- a/jest/config.js
+++ b/jest/config.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ module.exports = {
   },
   verbose: false,
   collectCoverage: true,
+  coverageReporters: ['text', 'html'],
   collectCoverageFrom: ['src/**/*.ts', '!**/node_modules/**', '!**/partials/**', '!**/fixture/**'],
   coveragePathIgnorePatterns: ['node_modules', 'fixtures'],
   coverageThreshold: {
diff --git a/packages/api/test/integration/_helper.ts b/packages/api/test/integration/_helper.ts
index b8b0288b9..53894e8f6 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/integration/_helper.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/integration/_helper.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ export const getConf = (conf) => {
 };
 
 export async function initializeServer(configName): Promise<Application> {
-  return initializeServerHelper(getConf(configName), [apiMiddleware], Storage);
+  const config = getConf(configName);
+  return initializeServerHelper(config, [apiMiddleware], Storage);
 }
 
 export function createUser(app, name: string, password: string): supertest.Test {
diff --git a/packages/api/test/integration/publish.spec.ts b/packages/api/test/integration/publish.spec.ts
index 71c7bfd6b..daa91d2ed 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/integration/publish.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/integration/publish.spec.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ jest.mock('@verdaccio/auth', () => ({
     apiJWTmiddleware() {
       return mockApiJWTmiddleware();
     }
+    init() {
+      return Promise.resolve();
+    }
     allow_access(_d, f_, cb) {
       cb(null, true);
     }
diff --git a/packages/api/test/integration/user.jwt.spec.ts b/packages/api/test/integration/user.jwt.spec.ts
index 899e884ef..bb79c5e4e 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/integration/user.jwt.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/integration/user.jwt.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import { createUser, getPackage, initializeServer } from './_helper';
 
 const FORBIDDEN_VUE = 'authorization required to access package vue';
 
+jest.setTimeout(20000);
+
 describe('token', () => {
   describe('basics', () => {
     const FAKE_TOKEN: string = buildToken(TOKEN_BEARER, 'fake');
diff --git a/packages/api/test/integration/user.spec.ts b/packages/api/test/integration/user.spec.ts
index 190732983..edd3fc21d 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/integration/user.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/integration/user.spec.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ jest.mock('@verdaccio/auth', () => ({
     apiJWTmiddleware() {
       return mockApiJWTmiddleware();
     }
+    init() {
+      return Promise.resolve();
+    }
     allow_access(_d, f_, cb) {
       cb(null, true);
     }
diff --git a/packages/auth/src/auth.ts b/packages/auth/src/auth.ts
index 8e5315c22..b543f9317 100644
--- a/packages/auth/src/auth.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/src/auth.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import buildDebug from 'debug';
 import { NextFunction, Request, Response } from 'express';
 import _ from 'lodash';
-import { HTPasswd, HTPasswdConfig } from 'verdaccio-htpasswd';
+import { HTPasswd } from 'verdaccio-htpasswd';
 
 import { createAnonymousRemoteUser, createRemoteUser } from '@verdaccio/config';
 import {
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   VerdaccioError,
   errorUtils,
 } from '@verdaccio/core';
-import { loadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
 import {
   AllowAccess,
   AuthPluginPackage,
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ export interface IAuth extends IBasicAuth<Config>, IAuthMiddleware, TokenEncrypt
   plugins: any[];
   allow_unpublish(pkg: AuthPluginPackage, user: RemoteUser, callback: Callback): void;
   invalidateToken(token: string): Promise<void>;
+  init(): Promise<void>;
 }
 
 class Auth implements IAuth {
@@ -94,24 +95,32 @@ class Auth implements IAuth {
     this.config = config;
     this.logger = LoggerApi.logger.child({ sub: 'auth' });
     this.secret = config.secret;
+    this.plugins = [];
     if (!this.secret) {
       throw new TypeError('secret it is required value on initialize the auth class');
     }
+  }
+
+  public async init() {
+    let plugins = await this.loadPlugin();
+    debug('auth plugins found %s', plugins.length);
+    if (!plugins || plugins.length === 0) {
+      plugins = this.loadDefaultPlugin();
+    }
+    this.plugins = plugins;
 
-    this.plugins =
-      _.isNil(config?.auth) === false ? this._loadPlugin(config) : this.loadDefaultPlugin(config);
     this._applyDefaultPlugins();
   }
 
-  private loadDefaultPlugin(config: Config) {
-    const plugingConf: HTPasswdConfig = { ...config, file: './htpasswd' };
-    const pluginOptions: PluginOptions<{}> = {
-      config,
+  private loadDefaultPlugin() {
+    debug('load default auth plugin');
+    const pluginOptions: PluginOptions = {
+      config: this.config,
       logger: this.logger,
     };
     let authPlugin;
     try {
-      authPlugin = new HTPasswd(plugingConf, pluginOptions as any as PluginOptions<HTPasswdConfig>);
+      authPlugin = new HTPasswd({ file: './htpasswd' }, pluginOptions as any as PluginOptions);
     } catch (error: any) {
       debug('error on loading auth htpasswd plugin stack: %o', error);
       return [];
@@ -120,22 +129,20 @@ class Auth implements IAuth {
     return [authPlugin];
   }
 
-  private _loadPlugin(config: Config): IPluginAuth<Config>[] {
-    const pluginOptions = {
-      config,
-      logger: this.logger,
-    };
-
-    return loadPlugin<IPluginAuth<Config>>(
-      config,
-      config.auth,
-      pluginOptions,
+  private async loadPlugin(): Promise<IPluginAuth<Config>[]> {
+    return asyncLoadPlugin<IPluginAuth<Config>>(
+      this.config.auth,
+      {
+        config: this.config,
+        logger: this.logger,
+      },
       (plugin: IPluginAuth<Config>): boolean => {
         const { authenticate, allow_access, allow_publish } = plugin;
 
         // @ts-ignore
         return authenticate || allow_access || allow_publish;
-      }
+      },
+      this.config?.server?.pluginPrefix
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/auth-utils.spec.ts b/packages/auth/test/auth-utils.spec.ts
index b28efd96b..725c29752 100644
--- a/packages/auth/test/auth-utils.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/test/auth-utils.spec.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ describe('Auth utilities', () => {
   ): Promise<string> {
     const config: Config = getConfig(configFileName, secret);
     const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+    await auth.init();
     // @ts-ignore
     const spy = jest.spyOn(auth, methodToSpy);
     // @ts-ignore
@@ -409,6 +410,7 @@ describe('Auth utilities', () => {
         const secret = 'b2df428b9929d3ace7c598bbf4e496b2';
         const config: Config = getConfig('security-legacy', secret);
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+        await auth.init();
         const token = auth.aesEncrypt(null);
         const security: Security = config.security;
         const credentials = getMiddlewareCredentials(
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/auth.spec.ts b/packages/auth/test/auth.spec.ts
index 4f3b17a01..e57cd682d 100644
--- a/packages/auth/test/auth.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/test/auth.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import _ from 'lodash';
+import path from 'path';
 
 import { IAuth } from '@verdaccio/auth';
-import { Config as AppConfig, ROLES } from '@verdaccio/config';
+import { Config as AppConfig, ROLES, getDefaultConfig } from '@verdaccio/config';
 import { errorUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
 import { setup } from '@verdaccio/logger';
 import { Config } from '@verdaccio/types';
@@ -12,22 +12,31 @@ import { authPluginFailureConf, authPluginPassThrougConf, authProfileConf } from
 setup([]);
 
 describe('AuthTest', () => {
-  test('should be defined', () => {
-    const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authProfileConf));
+  test('should init correctly', async () => {
+    const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authProfileConf });
     config.checkSecretKey('12345');
 
     const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+    await auth.init();
+    expect(auth).toBeDefined();
+  });
 
+  test('should load default auth plugin', async () => {
+    const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authProfileConf, auth: undefined });
+    config.checkSecretKey('12345');
+
+    const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+    await auth.init();
     expect(auth).toBeDefined();
   });
 
   describe('test authenticate method', () => {
     describe('test authenticate states', () => {
-      test('should be a success login', () => {
-        const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authProfileConf));
+      test('should be a success login', async () => {
+        const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authProfileConf });
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -50,11 +59,11 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
         });
       });
 
-      test('should be a fail on login', () => {
+      test('should be a fail on login', async () => {
         const config: Config = new AppConfig(authPluginFailureConf);
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -69,11 +78,11 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
     // that might make break the request
     // the @ts-ignore below are intended
     describe('test authenticate out of control inputs from plugins', () => {
-      test('should skip falsy values', () => {
-        const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authPluginPassThrougConf));
+      test('should skip falsy values', async () => {
+        const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authPluginPassThrougConf });
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -89,11 +98,11 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
         }
       });
 
-      test('should error truthy non-array', () => {
-        const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authPluginPassThrougConf));
+      test('should error truthy non-array', async () => {
+        const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authPluginPassThrougConf });
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -107,11 +116,11 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
         }
       });
 
-      test('should skip empty array', () => {
-        const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authPluginPassThrougConf));
+      test('should skip empty array', async () => {
+        const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authPluginPassThrougConf });
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -124,11 +133,11 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
         expect(callback.mock.calls[0][1]).toBeUndefined();
       });
 
-      test('should accept valid array', () => {
-        const config: Config = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(authPluginPassThrougConf));
+      test('should accept valid array', async () => {
+        const config: Config = new AppConfig({ ...authPluginPassThrougConf });
         config.checkSecretKey('12345');
         const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
-
+        await auth.init();
         expect(auth).toBeDefined();
 
         const callback = jest.fn();
@@ -144,4 +153,31 @@ describe('AuthTest', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('test multiple authenticate methods', () => {
+    test('should skip falsy values', async () => {
+      const config: Config = new AppConfig({
+        ...getDefaultConfig(),
+        plugins: path.join(__dirname, './partials/plugin'),
+        auth: {
+          success: {},
+          'fail-invalid-method': {},
+        },
+      });
+      config.checkSecretKey('12345');
+      const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+      await auth.init();
+
+      return new Promise((resolve) => {
+        auth.authenticate('foo', 'bar', (err, value) => {
+          expect(value).toEqual({
+            name: 'foo',
+            groups: ['test', '$all', '$authenticated', '@all', '@authenticated', 'all'],
+            real_groups: ['test'],
+          });
+          resolve(value);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/helper/plugin.ts b/packages/auth/test/helper/plugin.ts
index a090608f2..8ce1ef4ee 100644
--- a/packages/auth/test/helper/plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/test/helper/plugin.ts
@@ -4,21 +4,32 @@ import { getDefaultConfig } from '@verdaccio/config';
 
 export const authProfileConf = {
   ...getDefaultConfig(),
+  plugins: path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin'),
   auth: {
-    [`${path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin/authenticate.success')}`]: {},
+    success: {},
   },
 };
 
 export const authPluginFailureConf = {
   ...getDefaultConfig(),
+  plugins: path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin'),
   auth: {
-    [`${path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin/authenticate.fail.js')}`]: {},
+    fail: {},
   },
 };
 
 export const authPluginPassThrougConf = {
   ...getDefaultConfig(),
+  plugins: path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin'),
   auth: {
-    [`${path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin/authenticate.passthroug')}`]: {},
+    passthroug: {},
+  },
+};
+
+export const authFailInvalidMethod = {
+  ...getDefaultConfig(),
+  plugins: path.join(__dirname, '../partials/plugin'),
+  auth: {
+    'fail-invalid-method': {},
   },
 };
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.fail.js b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.fail.js
deleted file mode 100644
index a358d5430..000000000
--- a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.fail.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-import { errorUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
-
-module.exports = function () {
-  return {
-    authenticate(user, pass, callback) {
-      // we return an 500 error, the second argument must be false.
-      // https://verdaccio.org/docs/en/dev-plugins#onerror
-      callback(errorUtils.getInternalError(), false);
-    },
-  };
-};
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/fail.js b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/fail.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3e39bc7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/fail.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+const { errorUtils } = require('@verdaccio/core');
+
+module.exports = function () {
+  return {
+    authenticateFake(user, pass, callback) {
+      /* user and pass are used here to forward errors
+      and success types respectively for testing purposes */
+      callback(errorUtils.getInternalError(), false);
+    },
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/package.json b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5750f254
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail-invalid-method/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "verdaccio-fail",
+  "main": "fail.js",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/fail.js b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/fail.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..435a05333
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/fail.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+const { errorUtils } = require('@verdaccio/core');
+
+module.exports = function () {
+  return {
+    authenticate(user, pass, callback) {
+      /* user and pass are used here to forward errors
+      and success types respectively for testing purposes */
+      callback(errorUtils.getInternalError(), false);
+    },
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/package.json b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5750f254
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-fail/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "verdaccio-fail",
+  "main": "fail.js",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-passthroug/package.json b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-passthroug/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd4d55f21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-passthroug/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "verdaccio-passthroug",
+  "main": "passthroug.js",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.passthroug.js b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-passthroug/passthroug.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.passthroug.js
rename to packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-passthroug/passthroug.js
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-success/package.json b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-success/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..214cb24d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-success/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "verdaccio-success",
+  "main": "success.js",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
diff --git a/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.success.js b/packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-success/success.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/authenticate.success.js
rename to packages/auth/test/partials/plugin/verdaccio-success/success.js
diff --git a/packages/config/src/conf/default.yaml b/packages/config/src/conf/default.yaml
index c5f5b2755..12f653b36 100644
--- a/packages/config/src/conf/default.yaml
+++ b/packages/config/src/conf/default.yaml
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@
 
 # path to a directory with all packages
 storage: ./storage
-# path to a directory with plugins to include
-plugins: ./plugins
+# path to a directory with plugins to include, the plugins folder has the higher priority for loading plugins
+# disable this folder to avoid warnings if is not used
+# plugins: ./plugins
 
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/webui
 web:
@@ -99,6 +100,9 @@ packages:
 # WORKAROUND: Through given configuration you can workaround following issue https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/301. Set to 0 in case 60 is not enough.
 server:
   keepAliveTimeout: 60
+  # The pluginPrefix replaces the default plugins prefix which is `verdaccio`, please don't include `-`. If `something` is provided
+  # the resolve package will be `something-xxxx`.
+  # pluginPrefix: something
 
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/configuration#offline-publish
 # publish:
diff --git a/packages/config/src/conf/docker.yaml b/packages/config/src/conf/docker.yaml
index 62bb5493b..9aab78f3f 100644
--- a/packages/config/src/conf/docker.yaml
+++ b/packages/config/src/conf/docker.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 
 # path to a directory with all packages
 storage: /verdaccio/storage/data
-# path to a directory with plugins to include
+# path to a directory with plugins to include, the plugins folder has the higher priority for loading plugins
+# disable this folder to avoid warnings if is not used
 plugins: /verdaccio/plugins
 
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/webui
@@ -105,6 +106,9 @@ packages:
 # https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/301. Set to 0 in case 60 is not enough.
 server:
   keepAliveTimeout: 60
+  # The pluginPrefix replaces the default plugins prefix which is `verdaccio`, please don't include `-`. If `something` is provided
+  # the resolve package will be `something-xxxx`.
+  # pluginPrefix: something
 
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/configuration#offline-publish
 # publish:
diff --git a/packages/config/src/config.ts b/packages/config/src/config.ts
index a24d59494..62dedbf18 100644
--- a/packages/config/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/config/src/config.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class Config implements AppConfig {
   public configPath: string;
   public storage: string | void;
 
-  public plugins: string | void;
+  public plugins: string | void | null;
   public security: Security;
   public serverSettings: ServerSettingsConf;
   // @ts-ignore
diff --git a/packages/core/types/src/configuration.ts b/packages/core/types/src/configuration.ts
index 3ccfb34a3..05b268dbe 100644
--- a/packages/core/types/src/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/core/types/src/configuration.ts
@@ -226,6 +226,13 @@ export type ServerSettingsConf = {
   // express-rate-limit settings
   rateLimit: RateLimit;
   keepAliveTimeout?: number;
+  /**
+   * Plugins should be prefixed verdaccio-XXXXXX by default.
+   * To override the default prefix, use this property without `-`
+   * If you set pluginPrefix: acme, the packages to resolve will be
+   * acme-XXXXXX
+   */
+  pluginPrefix?: string;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -245,7 +252,7 @@ export interface ConfigYaml {
   listen?: ListenAddress;
   https?: HttpsConf;
   http_proxy?: string;
-  plugins?: string | void;
+  plugins?: string | void | null;
   https_proxy?: string;
   no_proxy?: string;
   max_body_size?: string;
@@ -264,7 +271,7 @@ export interface ConfigYaml {
 }
 
 /**
- * Configuration object with additonal methods for configuration, includes yaml and internal medatada.
+ * Configuration object with additional methods for configuration, includes yaml and internal medatada.
  * @interface Config
  * @extends {ConfigYaml}
  */
diff --git a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/commons.ts b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/commons.ts
index 6d415ce2a..296358aa1 100644
--- a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/commons.ts
+++ b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/commons.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Config, Logger } from '../configuration';
 
 export class Plugin<T> {
-  public constructor(config: T, options: PluginOptions<T>) {}
+  public constructor(config: T, options: PluginOptions) {}
 }
 
 export interface IPlugin<T> {
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export interface IPlugin<T> {
   version?: string;
 }
 
-export interface PluginOptions<T> {
-  config: T & Config;
+export interface PluginOptions {
+  config: Config;
   logger: Logger;
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/filter.ts b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/filter.ts
index 2c8bc1315..d10fcefd2 100644
--- a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/filter.ts
+++ b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/filter.ts
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@ import { Manifest } from '../manifest';
 import { IPlugin } from './commons';
 
 export interface IPluginStorageFilter<T> extends IPlugin<T> {
-  filter_metadata(packageInfo: Manifest): Promise<Manifest>;
+  filterMetadata(packageInfo: Manifest): Promise<Manifest>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/storage.ts b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/storage.ts
index 595e587c6..587bfef18 100644
--- a/packages/core/types/src/plugins/storage.ts
+++ b/packages/core/types/src/plugins/storage.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export type IPackageStorageManager = ILocalPackageManager;
  */
 interface ILocalData<T> extends IPlugin<T>, ITokenActions {
   logger: Logger;
-  config: T & Config;
+  config: T;
   add(name: string): Promise<void>;
   remove(name: string): Promise<void>;
   get(): Promise<any>;
diff --git a/packages/loaders/package.json b/packages/loaders/package.json
index a716cb298..96286f0d2 100644
--- a/packages/loaders/package.json
+++ b/packages/loaders/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@verdaccio/core": "workspace:6.0.0-6-next.47",
     "@verdaccio/config": "workspace:6.0.0-6-next.47",
-    "@verdaccio/types": "workspace:11.0.0-6-next.16"
+    "@verdaccio/types": "workspace:11.0.0-6-next.16",
+    "@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo": "0.0.2",
+    "verdaccio-auth-memory": "workspace:*",
+    "customprefix-auth": "0.0.1"
   },
   "homepage": "https://verdaccio.org",
   "keywords": [
diff --git a/packages/loaders/src/index.ts b/packages/loaders/src/index.ts
index e3a9df4e8..498517ddc 100644
--- a/packages/loaders/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/loaders/src/index.ts
@@ -1 +1 @@
-export * from './plugin-loader';
+export { asyncLoadPlugin } from './plugin-async-loader';
diff --git a/packages/loaders/src/plugin-async-loader.ts b/packages/loaders/src/plugin-async-loader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5907248cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/src/plugin-async-loader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import buildDebug from 'debug';
+import { lstat } from 'fs/promises';
+import { dirname, isAbsolute, join, resolve } from 'path';
+
+import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
+import { Config, IPlugin, Logger } from '@verdaccio/types';
+
+import { isES6, isValid, tryLoad } from './utils';
+
+const debug = buildDebug('verdaccio:plugin:loader:async');
+
+async function isDirectory(pathFolder) {
+  const stat = await lstat(pathFolder);
+  return stat.isDirectory();
+}
+
+export type Params = { config: Config; logger: Logger };
+
+/**
+ * The plugin loader find recursively plugins, if one plugin fails is ignored and report the error to the logger.
+ *
+ * The loader follows the order:
+ * - If the at the `config.yaml` file the  `plugins: ./plugins` is defined
+ *   - If is absolute will use the provided path
+ *   - If is relative, will use the base path of the config file. eg: /root/config.yaml the plugins folder should be
+ *     hosted at /root/plugins
+ * - The next step is find at the node_modules or global based on the `require` native algorithm.
+ * - If the package is scoped eg: @scope/foo, try to load the package `@scope/foo`
+ * - If the package is not scoped, will use the default prefix: verdaccio-foo.
+ * - If a custom prefix is provided, the verdaccio- is replaced by the config.server.pluginPrefix.
+ *
+ * The `sanityCheck` is the validation for the required methods to load the plugin, if the validation fails the plugin won't be loaded.
+ * The `params` is an object that contains the global configuration and the logger.
+ *
+ * @param {*} pluginConfigs the custom plugin section
+ * @param {*} params a set of params to initialize the plugin
+ * @param {*} sanityCheck callback that check the shape that should fulfill the plugin
+ * @param {*} prefix by default is verdaccio but can be override with config.server.pluginPrefix
+ * @return {Array} list of plugins
+ */
+export async function asyncLoadPlugin<T extends IPlugin<T>>(
+  pluginConfigs: any = {},
+  params: Params,
+  sanityCheck: any,
+  prefix: string = 'verdaccio'
+): Promise<any> {
+  const pluginsIds = Object.keys(pluginConfigs);
+  const { config } = params;
+  let plugins: any[] = [];
+  for (let pluginId of pluginsIds) {
+    debug('plugin %s', pluginId);
+    if (typeof config.plugins === 'string') {
+      let pluginsPath = config.plugins;
+      debug('plugin path %s', pluginsPath);
+      if (!isAbsolute(pluginsPath)) {
+        if (typeof config.config_path === 'string' && !config.configPath) {
+          logger.error(
+            'configPath is missing and the legacy config.config_path is not available for loading plugins'
+          );
+        }
+
+        if (!config.configPath) {
+          logger.error('config path property is required for loading plugins');
+          continue;
+        }
+        pluginsPath = resolve(join(dirname(config.configPath), pluginsPath));
+      }
+
+      logger.debug({ path: pluginsPath }, 'plugins folder defined, loading plugins from @{path} ');
+      // throws if is nto a directory
+      try {
+        await isDirectory(pluginsPath);
+        const pluginDir = pluginsPath;
+        const externalFilePlugin = resolve(pluginDir, `${prefix}-${pluginId}`);
+        let plugin = tryLoad(externalFilePlugin);
+        if (plugin && isValid(plugin)) {
+          plugin = executePlugin(plugin, pluginConfigs[pluginId], params);
+          if (!sanityCheck(plugin)) {
+            logger.error(
+              { content: externalFilePlugin },
+              "@{content} doesn't look like a valid plugin"
+            );
+            continue;
+          }
+          plugins.push(plugin);
+          continue;
+        }
+      } catch (err: any) {
+        logger.warn(
+          { err: err.message, pluginsPath, pluginId },
+          '@{err} on loading plugins at @{pluginsPath} for @{pluginId}'
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (typeof pluginId === 'string') {
+      const isScoped: boolean = pluginId.startsWith('@') && pluginId.includes('/');
+      debug('is scoped plugin %s', isScoped);
+      const pluginName = isScoped ? pluginId : `${prefix}-${pluginId}`;
+      debug('plugin pkg name %s', pluginName);
+      let plugin = tryLoad(pluginName);
+      if (plugin && isValid(plugin)) {
+        plugin = executePlugin(plugin, pluginConfigs[pluginId], params);
+        if (!sanityCheck(plugin)) {
+          logger.error({ content: pluginName }, "@{content} doesn't look like a valid plugin");
+          continue;
+        }
+        plugins.push(plugin);
+        continue;
+      } else {
+        logger.error(
+          { pluginName },
+          'package not found, try to install @{pluginName} with a package manager'
+        );
+        continue;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  debug('plugin found %s', plugins.length);
+  return plugins;
+}
+
+export function executePlugin(plugin, pluginConfig, params: Params) {
+  if (isES6(plugin)) {
+    debug('plugin is ES6');
+    // eslint-disable-next-line new-cap
+    return new plugin.default(pluginConfig, params);
+  } else {
+    debug('plugin is commonJS');
+    return plugin(pluginConfig, params);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/loaders/src/plugin-loader.ts b/packages/loaders/src/plugin-loader.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 85a706ed2..000000000
--- a/packages/loaders/src/plugin-loader.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
-import buildDebug from 'debug';
-import _ from 'lodash';
-import Path from 'path';
-
-import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
-import { Config, IPlugin } from '@verdaccio/types';
-
-const debug = buildDebug('verdaccio:plugin:loader');
-
-export const MODULE_NOT_FOUND = 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND';
-
-/**
- * Requires a module.
- * @param {*} path the module's path
- * @return {Object}
- */
-function tryLoad(path: string): any {
-  try {
-    return require(path);
-  } catch (err: any) {
-    if (err.code === MODULE_NOT_FOUND) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    throw err;
-  }
-}
-
-function mergeConfig(appConfig, pluginConfig): Config {
-  return _.merge(appConfig, pluginConfig);
-}
-
-function isValid(plugin): boolean {
-  return _.isFunction(plugin) || _.isFunction(plugin.default);
-}
-
-function isES6(plugin): boolean {
-  return Object.keys(plugin).includes('default');
-}
-
-// export type PluginGeneric<R, T extends IPlugin<R> = ;
-
-/**
- * Load a plugin following the rules
- * - First try to load from the internal directory plugins (which will disappear soon or later).
- * - A second attempt from the external plugin directory
- * - A third attempt from node_modules, in case to have multiple match as for instance
- * verdaccio-ldap
- * and sinopia-ldap. All verdaccio prefix will have preferences.
- * @param {*} config a reference of the configuration settings
- * @param {*} pluginConfigs
- * @param {*} params a set of params to initialize the plugin
- * @param {*} sanityCheck callback that check the shape that should fulfill the plugin
- * @return {Array} list of plugins
- */
-export function loadPlugin<T extends IPlugin<T>>(
-  config: Config,
-  pluginConfigs: any = {},
-  params: any,
-  sanityCheck: any,
-  prefix: string = 'verdaccio'
-): any[] {
-  return Object.keys(pluginConfigs).map((pluginId: string): IPlugin<T> => {
-    let plugin;
-
-    const localPlugin = Path.resolve(__dirname + '/../plugins', pluginId);
-    // try local plugins first
-    plugin = tryLoad(localPlugin);
-
-    // try the external plugin directory
-    if (plugin === null && config.plugins) {
-      const pluginDir = config.plugins;
-      const externalFilePlugin = Path.resolve(pluginDir, pluginId);
-      plugin = tryLoad(externalFilePlugin);
-
-      // npm package
-      if (plugin === null && pluginId.match(/^[^\.\/]/)) {
-        plugin = tryLoad(Path.resolve(pluginDir, `${prefix}-${pluginId}`));
-        // compatibility for old sinopia plugins
-        if (!plugin) {
-          plugin = tryLoad(Path.resolve(pluginDir, `sinopia-${pluginId}`));
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    // npm package
-    if (plugin === null && pluginId.match(/^[^\.\/]/)) {
-      plugin = tryLoad(`${prefix}-${pluginId}`);
-      // compatibility for old sinopia plugins
-      if (!plugin) {
-        plugin = tryLoad(`sinopia-${pluginId}`);
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (plugin === null) {
-      plugin = tryLoad(pluginId);
-    }
-
-    // relative to config path
-    debug('config path: %s', config.configPath);
-    if (plugin === null && pluginId.match(/^\.\.?($|\/)/) && config.configPath) {
-      plugin = tryLoad(Path.resolve(Path.dirname(config.configPath), pluginId));
-    }
-
-    if (plugin === null) {
-      logger.error(
-        { content: pluginId, prefix },
-        'plugin not found. try npm install @{prefix}-@{content}'
-      );
-      throw Error(`
-        ${prefix}-${pluginId} plugin not found. try "npm install ${prefix}-${pluginId}"`);
-    }
-
-    if (!isValid(plugin)) {
-      logger.error(
-        { content: pluginId },
-        '@{prefix}-@{content} plugin does not have the right code structure'
-      );
-      throw Error(`"${pluginId}" plugin does not have the right code structure`);
-    }
-
-    /* eslint new-cap:off */
-    try {
-      plugin = isES6(plugin)
-        ? new plugin.default(mergeConfig(config, pluginConfigs[pluginId]), params)
-        : new plugin(pluginConfigs[pluginId], params);
-    } catch (error: any) {
-      plugin = null;
-      logger.error({ error, pluginId }, 'error loading a plugin @{pluginId}: @{error}');
-    }
-    /* eslint new-cap:off */
-
-    if (plugin === null || !sanityCheck(plugin)) {
-      logger.error(
-        { content: pluginId, prefix },
-        "@{prefix}-@{content} doesn't look like a valid plugin"
-      );
-      throw Error(`sanity check has failed, "${pluginId}" is not a valid plugin`);
-    }
-
-    debug('Plugin successfully loaded: %o-%o', pluginId, prefix);
-    return plugin;
-  });
-}
diff --git a/packages/loaders/src/utils.ts b/packages/loaders/src/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cc7fe5c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/src/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import buildDebug from 'debug';
+import _ from 'lodash';
+
+import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
+import { Config } from '@verdaccio/types';
+
+const debug = buildDebug('verdaccio:plugin:loader:utils');
+
+const MODULE_NOT_FOUND = 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND';
+
+export function mergeConfig(appConfig, pluginConfig): Config {
+  return _.merge(appConfig, pluginConfig);
+}
+
+export function isValid(plugin): boolean {
+  return _.isFunction(plugin) || _.isFunction(plugin.default);
+}
+
+export function isES6(plugin): boolean {
+  return Object.keys(plugin).includes('default');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Requires a module.
+ * @param {*} path the module's path
+ * @return {Object}
+ */
+export function tryLoad(path: string): any {
+  try {
+    debug('loading plugin %s', path);
+    return require(path);
+  } catch (err: any) {
+    if (err.code === MODULE_NOT_FOUND) {
+      debug('plugin %s not found', path);
+      return null;
+    }
+    logger.error({ err: err.msg }, 'error loading plugin @{err}');
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/custom-prefix-auth.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/custom-prefix-auth.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e04f5aca8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/custom-prefix-auth.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+auth:
+  '@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo':
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-auth.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-auth.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..262fcd153
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-auth.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+auth:
+  auth-memory:
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-not-found.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-not-found.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b006b3ff4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/npm-plugin-not-found.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+auth:
+  not-found:
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/plugins-folder-fake.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/plugins-folder-fake.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9179cdfb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/plugins-folder-fake.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+auth:
+  something:
+    enabled: true
+plugins: /roo/does-not-exist
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/relative-plugins.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/relative-plugins.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc4308a1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/relative-plugins.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+plugins: '../test-plugin-storage'
+auth:
+  plugin:
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/scope-auth.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/scope-auth.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e04f5aca8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/scope-auth.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+auth:
+  '@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo':
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/valid-plugin.yaml b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/valid-plugin.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc911a186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/config/valid-plugin.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+auth:
+  plugin:
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/index.js b/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..75df4c216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+function ValidScopedVerdaccioPlugin() {
+  return {
+    authenticate: function () {},
+  };
+}
+
+module.exports = ValidVerdaccioPlugin;
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/package.json b/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..639abefd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/partials/test-plugin-storage/verdaccio-scope/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "name": "@verdaccio-scoped/verdaccio-plugin",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "description": "",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
+  },
+  "author": "",
+  "license": "ISC"
+}
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader.spec.ts b/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader.spec.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index abb5ec9cd..000000000
--- a/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader.spec.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-import path from 'path';
-
-import { setup } from '@verdaccio/logger';
-
-import { loadPlugin } from '../src/plugin-loader';
-
-setup([]);
-
-describe('plugin loader', () => {
-  const relativePath = path.join(__dirname, './partials/test-plugin-storage');
-  const buildConf = (name) => {
-    return {
-      config_path: path.join(__dirname, './'),
-      max_users: 0,
-      auth: {
-        [`${relativePath}/${name}`]: {},
-      },
-    };
-  };
-
-  describe('auth plugins', () => {
-    test('testing auth valid plugin loader', () => {
-      const _config = buildConf('verdaccio-plugin');
-      // @ts-ignore
-      const plugins = loadPlugin(_config, _config.auth, {}, function (plugin) {
-        return plugin.authenticate || plugin.allow_access || plugin.allow_publish;
-      });
-
-      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
-    });
-
-    test('testing storage valid plugin loader', () => {
-      const _config = buildConf('verdaccio-es6-plugin');
-      // @ts-ignore
-      const plugins = loadPlugin(_config, _config.auth, {}, function (p) {
-        return p.getPackageStorage;
-      });
-
-      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
-    });
-
-    test('testing auth plugin invalid plugin', () => {
-      const _config = buildConf('invalid-plugin');
-      try {
-        // @ts-ignore
-        loadPlugin(_config, _config.auth, {}, function (p) {
-          return p.authenticate || p.allow_access || p.allow_publish;
-        });
-      } catch (e: any) {
-        expect(e.message).toEqual(
-          `"${relativePath}/invalid-plugin" plugin does not have the right code structure`
-        );
-      }
-    });
-
-    test('testing auth plugin invalid plugin sanityCheck', () => {
-      const _config = buildConf('invalid-plugin-sanity');
-      try {
-        // @ts-ignore
-        loadPlugin(_config, _config.auth, {}, function (plugin) {
-          return plugin.authenticate || plugin.allow_access || plugin.allow_publish;
-        });
-      } catch (err: any) {
-        expect(err.message).toEqual(
-          `sanity check has failed, "${relativePath}/invalid-plugin-sanity" is not a valid plugin`
-        );
-      }
-    });
-
-    test('testing auth plugin no plugins', () => {
-      const _config = buildConf('invalid-package');
-      try {
-        // @ts-ignore
-        loadPlugin(_config, _config.auth, {}, function (plugin) {
-          return plugin.authenticate || plugin.allow_access || plugin.allow_publish;
-        });
-      } catch (e: any) {
-        expect(e.message).toMatch('plugin not found');
-        expect(e.message.replace(/\\/g, '/')).toMatch(
-          '/partials/test-plugin-storage/invalid-package'
-        );
-      }
-    });
-
-    test.todo('test middleware plugins');
-    test.todo('test storage plugins');
-  });
-});
diff --git a/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader_async.spec.ts b/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader_async.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..392fdcd61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/loaders/test/plugin_loader_async.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+import path from 'path';
+
+import { Config, parseConfigFile } from '@verdaccio/config';
+import { logger, setup } from '@verdaccio/logger';
+
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '../src/plugin-async-loader';
+
+function getConfig(file: string) {
+  const conPath = path.join(__dirname, './partials/config', file);
+  return new Config(parseConfigFile(conPath));
+}
+
+const authSanitize = function (plugin) {
+  return plugin.authenticate || plugin.allow_access || plugin.allow_publish;
+};
+
+const pluginsPartialsFolder = path.join(__dirname, './partials/test-plugin-storage');
+
+setup();
+
+describe('plugin loader', () => {
+  describe('file plugins', () => {
+    describe('absolute path', () => {
+      test('testing auth valid plugin loader', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('valid-plugin.yaml');
+        config.plugins = pluginsPartialsFolder;
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, authSanitize);
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+      });
+
+      test('should handle does not exist plugin folder', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('plugins-folder-fake.yaml');
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+          config.auth,
+          { logger: logger, config: config },
+          authSanitize
+        );
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+      });
+
+      test('testing load auth npm package invalid method check', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('valid-plugin.yaml');
+        config.plugins = pluginsPartialsFolder;
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, (p) => p.anyMethod);
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+      });
+
+      test('should fails if plugins folder is not a directory', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('plugins-folder-fake.yaml');
+        // force file instead a folder.
+        config.plugins = path.join(__dirname, 'just-a-file.js');
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+          config.auth,
+          { logger: logger, config: config },
+          authSanitize
+        );
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+      });
+    });
+    describe('relative path', () => {
+      test('should resolve plugin based on relative path', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('relative-plugins.yaml');
+        // force file instead a folder.
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+          config.auth,
+          { logger: logger, config: config },
+          authSanitize
+        );
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+      });
+
+      test('should fails if config path is missing', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('relative-plugins.yaml');
+        // @ts-expect-error
+        config.configPath = undefined;
+        // @ts-expect-error
+        config.config_path = undefined;
+        // force file instead a folder.
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+          config.auth,
+          { logger: logger, config: config },
+          authSanitize
+        );
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+      });
+
+      // config.config_path is not considered for loading plugins due legacy support
+      test('should fails if config path is missing (only config_path)', async () => {
+        const config = getConfig('relative-plugins.yaml');
+        // @ts-expect-error
+        config.configPath = undefined;
+        // force file instead a folder.
+        const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+          config.auth,
+          { logger: logger, config: config },
+          authSanitize
+        );
+
+        expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('npm plugins', () => {
+    test('testing load auth npm package', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('npm-plugin-auth.yaml');
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, authSanitize);
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    test('should handle not found installed package', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('npm-plugin-not-found.yaml');
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, (p) => p.anyMethod);
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    test('testing load auth npm package invalid method check', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('npm-plugin-auth.yaml');
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, (p) => p.anyMethod);
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    test('testing load auth npm package custom prefix', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('custom-prefix-auth.yaml');
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+        config.auth,
+        { config, logger },
+        authSanitize,
+        'customprefix'
+      );
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    test('testing load auth scope npm package', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('scope-auth.yaml');
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, authSanitize);
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('fallback plugins', () => {
+    test('should fallback to npm package if does not find on plugins folder', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('npm-plugin-auth.yaml');
+      config.plugins = pluginsPartialsFolder;
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, authSanitize);
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    test('should fallback to npm package if plugins folder does not exist', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig('npm-plugin-auth.yaml');
+      config.plugins = '/does-not-exist';
+      const plugins = await asyncLoadPlugin(config.auth, { config, logger }, authSanitize);
+
+      expect(plugins).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/node-api/src/server.ts b/packages/node-api/src/server.ts
index 677c07a5e..f9987b97c 100644
--- a/packages/node-api/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/node-api/src/server.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import url from 'url';
 import { findConfigFile, parseConfigFile } from '@verdaccio/config';
 import { API_ERROR } from '@verdaccio/core';
 import { setup } from '@verdaccio/logger';
-import server from '@verdaccio/server';
+import expressServer from '@verdaccio/server';
 import fastifyServer from '@verdaccio/server-fastify';
 import { ConfigYaml, HttpsConfKeyCert, HttpsConfPfx } from '@verdaccio/types';
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export async function initServer(
         }
       });
     } else {
-      app = await server(config);
+      app = await expressServer(config);
       const serverFactory = createServerFactory(config, addr, app);
       serverFactory
         .listen(addr.port || addr.path, addr.host, (): void => {
@@ -196,6 +196,6 @@ export async function runServer(config?: string | ConfigYaml): Promise<any> {
   displayExperimentsInfoBox(configurationParsed.flags);
   // FIXME: get only the first match, the multiple address will be removed
   const [addr] = getListListenAddresses(undefined, configurationParsed.listen);
-  const app = await server(configurationParsed);
+  const app = await expressServer(configurationParsed);
   return createServerFactory(configurationParsed, addr, app);
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/audit/src/audit.ts b/packages/plugins/audit/src/audit.ts
index a27072e3a..dae81fda0 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/audit/src/audit.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/audit/src/audit.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export default class ProxyAudit implements IPluginMiddleware<{}, {}> {
   public logger: Logger;
   public strict_ssl: boolean;
 
-  public constructor(config: ConfigAudit, options: PluginOptions<{}>) {
+  public constructor(config: ConfigAudit, options: PluginOptions) {
     this.enabled = config.enabled || false;
     this.strict_ssl = config.strict_ssl !== undefined ? config.strict_ssl : true;
     this.logger = options.logger;
diff --git a/packages/plugins/audit/src/types.ts b/packages/plugins/audit/src/types.ts
index 75dc0ea07..fc4043349 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/audit/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/audit/src/types.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-// Temporary solution for requiring types will not cause the error.
-import { Config } from '@verdaccio/types';
-
-export interface ConfigAudit extends Config {
+export interface ConfigAudit {
   enabled: boolean;
   strict_ssl?: boolean | void;
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/Memory.ts b/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/Memory.ts
index 318c5221c..ee042ca8e 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/Memory.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/Memory.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import buildDebug from 'debug';
 import { API_ERROR, errorUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
 import {
   Callback,
+  Config,
   IPluginAuth,
   Logger,
   PackageAccess,
@@ -18,12 +19,9 @@ export default class Memory implements IPluginAuth<VerdaccioMemoryConfig> {
   public _logger: Logger;
   public _users: Users;
   public _config: {};
-  public _app_config: VerdaccioMemoryConfig;
+  public _app_config: Config;
 
-  public constructor(
-    config: VerdaccioMemoryConfig,
-    appOptions: PluginOptions<VerdaccioMemoryConfig>
-  ) {
+  public constructor(config: VerdaccioMemoryConfig, appOptions: PluginOptions) {
     this._users = config.users || {};
     this._config = config;
     this._logger = appOptions.logger;
diff --git a/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/types/index.ts b/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/types/index.ts
index a7de3400f..77e72fb1c 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/auth-memory/src/types/index.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import { Config } from '@verdaccio/types';
-
 export interface UserMemory {
   name: string;
   password: string;
@@ -9,7 +7,7 @@ export interface Users {
   [key: string]: UserMemory;
 }
 
-export interface VerdaccioMemoryConfig extends Config {
+export interface VerdaccioMemoryConfig {
   max_users?: number;
   users: Users;
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/htpasswd.ts b/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/htpasswd.ts
index 5b4d254ec..3f5810f9d 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/htpasswd.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/htpasswd.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import fs from 'fs';
 import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'path';
 
 import { unlockFile } from '@verdaccio/file-locking';
-import { Callback, Config, IPluginAuth, Logger, PluginOptions } from '@verdaccio/types';
+import { Callback, IPluginAuth, Logger, PluginOptions } from '@verdaccio/types';
 
 import {
   HtpasswdHashAlgorithm,
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export type HTPasswdConfig = {
   rounds?: number;
   max_users?: number;
   slow_verify_ms?: number;
-} & Config;
+};
 
 export const DEFAULT_BCRYPT_ROUNDS = 10;
 export const DEFAULT_SLOW_VERIFY_MS = 200;
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export default class HTPasswd implements IPluginAuth<HTPasswdConfig> {
   private logger: Logger;
   private lastTime: any;
   // constructor
-  public constructor(config: HTPasswdConfig, options: PluginOptions<HTPasswdConfig>) {
+  public constructor(config: HTPasswdConfig, options: PluginOptions) {
     this.users = {};
 
     // verdaccio logger
diff --git a/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/index.ts b/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/index.ts
index 8a222cf94..5afcfc485 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/htpasswd/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+import { PluginOptions } from '@verdaccio/types';
+
 import HTPasswd, { HTPasswdConfig } from './htpasswd';
 
-export default function (config: HTPasswdConfig, stuff): HTPasswd {
-  return new HTPasswd(config, stuff);
+export default function (config: HTPasswdConfig, params: PluginOptions): HTPasswd {
+  return new HTPasswd(config, params);
 }
 
 export { HTPasswd, HTPasswdConfig };
diff --git a/packages/plugins/local-storage/src/local-fs.ts b/packages/plugins/local-storage/src/local-fs.ts
index c675e6299..bed3a60fd 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/local-storage/src/local-fs.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/local-storage/src/local-fs.ts
@@ -97,10 +97,10 @@ export default class LocalFS implements ILocalFSPackageManager {
       if (locked) {
         debug('unlock %s', packageJSONFileName);
         await this._unlockJSON(packageJSONFileName);
-        this.logger.debug({ packageName }, 'the package @{packageName}  has been updated');
+        this.logger.debug({ packageName }, 'the package @{packageName} has been updated');
         return manifestUpdated;
       } else {
-        this.logger.debug({ packageName }, 'the package @{packageName}  has been updated');
+        this.logger.debug({ packageName }, 'the package @{packageName} has been updated');
         return manifestUpdated;
       }
     } catch (err: any) {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/local-storage/tests/local-database.test.ts b/packages/plugins/local-storage/tests/local-database.test.ts
index c337e3e26..77745050d 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/local-storage/tests/local-database.test.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/local-storage/tests/local-database.test.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jest.mock('../src/fs', () => ({
 setup();
 
 // @ts-expect-error
-const optionsPlugin: PluginOptions<{}> = {
+const optionsPlugin: PluginOptions = {
   logger,
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/plugins/memory/src/local-memory.ts b/packages/plugins/memory/src/local-memory.ts
index de1fb6714..91900f51b 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/memory/src/local-memory.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/memory/src/local-memory.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import buildDebug from 'debug';
 
 import { errorUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
-import { Callback, Config, IPluginStorage, Logger, PluginOptions, Token } from '@verdaccio/types';
+import { Callback, IPluginStorage, Logger, PluginOptions, Token } from '@verdaccio/types';
 
 import MemoryHandler, { DataHandler } from './memory-handler';
 
-export type ConfigMemory = Config & { limit?: number };
+export type ConfigMemory = { limit?: number };
 export interface MemoryLocalStorage {
   secret: string;
   list: string[];
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class LocalMemory implements IPluginStorage<ConfigMemory> {
   private data: MemoryLocalStorage;
   public config: ConfigMemory;
 
-  public constructor(config: ConfigMemory, options: PluginOptions<ConfigMemory>) {
+  public constructor(config: ConfigMemory, options: PluginOptions) {
     this.config = config;
     this.limit = config.limit || DEFAULT_LIMIT;
     this.logger = options.logger;
diff --git a/packages/server/express/src/server.ts b/packages/server/express/src/server.ts
index 17281a1b1..641d2f116 100644
--- a/packages/server/express/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/server/express/src/server.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ import apiEndpoint from '@verdaccio/api';
 import { Auth, IBasicAuth } from '@verdaccio/auth';
 import { Config as AppConfig } from '@verdaccio/config';
 import { API_ERROR, HTTP_STATUS, errorUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
-import { loadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
 import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
 import { errorReportingMiddleware, final, log } from '@verdaccio/middleware';
 import { Storage } from '@verdaccio/store';
 import { ConfigYaml } from '@verdaccio/types';
-import { Config as IConfig, IPlugin, IPluginStorageFilter } from '@verdaccio/types';
+import { Config as IConfig, IPlugin } from '@verdaccio/types';
 import webMiddleware from '@verdaccio/web';
 
 import { $NextFunctionVer, $RequestExtend, $ResponseExtend } from '../types/custom';
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ export interface IPluginMiddleware<T> extends IPlugin<T> {
 
 const debug = buildDebug('verdaccio:server');
 
-const defineAPI = function (config: IConfig, storage: Storage): any {
+const defineAPI = async function (config: IConfig, storage: Storage): Promise<any> {
   const auth: Auth = new Auth(config);
+  await auth.init();
   const app: Application = express();
   const limiter = new RateLimit(config.serverSettings.rateLimit);
   // run in production mode by default, just in case
@@ -62,27 +63,21 @@ const defineAPI = function (config: IConfig, storage: Storage): any {
     hookDebug(app, config.configPath);
   }
 
-  // register middleware plugins
-  const plugin_params = {
-    config: config,
-    logger: logger,
-  };
-
-  const plugins: IPluginMiddleware<IConfig>[] = loadPlugin(
-    config,
+  const plugins: IPluginMiddleware<IConfig>[] = await asyncLoadPlugin(
     config.middlewares,
-    plugin_params,
+    {
+      config,
+      logger,
+    },
     function (plugin: IPluginMiddleware<IConfig>) {
       return plugin.register_middlewares;
     }
   );
 
-  if (_.isEmpty(plugins)) {
+  if (plugins.length === 0) {
+    logger.info('none middleware plugins has been defined, adding audit middleware by default');
     plugins.push(
-      new AuditMiddleware(
-        { ...config, enabled: true, strict_ssl: true },
-        { config, logger: logger }
-      )
+      new AuditMiddleware({ ...config, enabled: true, strict_ssl: true }, { config, logger })
     );
   }
 
@@ -96,7 +91,7 @@ const defineAPI = function (config: IConfig, storage: Storage): any {
 
   // For WebUI & WebUI API
   if (_.get(config, 'web.enable', true)) {
-    app.use(webMiddleware(config, auth, storage));
+    app.use(await webMiddleware(config, auth, storage));
   } else {
     app.get('/', function (req: $RequestExtend, res: $ResponseExtend, next: $NextFunctionVer) {
       next(errorUtils.getNotFound(API_ERROR.WEB_DISABLED));
@@ -135,31 +130,21 @@ const defineAPI = function (config: IConfig, storage: Storage): any {
   return app;
 };
 
-export default (async function (configHash: ConfigYaml): Promise<any> {
+export default (async function startServer(configHash: ConfigYaml): Promise<any> {
   debug('start server');
-  const config: IConfig = new AppConfig(_.cloneDeep(configHash) as any);
+  const config: IConfig = new AppConfig({ ...configHash } as any);
   // register middleware plugins
-  const plugin_params = {
-    config: config,
-    logger,
-  };
-  const filters = loadPlugin(
-    config,
-    config.filters || {},
-    plugin_params,
-    (plugin: IPluginStorageFilter<IConfig>) => plugin.filter_metadata
-  );
   debug('loaded filter plugin');
   // @ts-ignore
   const storage: Storage = new Storage(config);
   try {
     // waits until init calls have been initialized
     debug('storage init start');
-    await storage.init(config, filters);
+    await storage.init(config);
     debug('storage init end');
   } catch (err: any) {
     logger.error({ error: err.msg }, 'storage has failed: @{error}');
     throw new Error(err);
   }
-  return defineAPI(config, storage);
+  return await defineAPI(config, storage);
 });
diff --git a/packages/server/fastify/src/plugins/auth.ts b/packages/server/fastify/src/plugins/auth.ts
index 3341818b6..b9a6b2cb1 100644
--- a/packages/server/fastify/src/plugins/auth.ts
+++ b/packages/server/fastify/src/plugins/auth.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default fp(
   async function (fastify: FastifyInstance, opts: { config: IConfig; filters?: unknown }) {
     const { config } = opts;
     const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+    await auth.init();
     fastify.decorate('auth', auth);
   },
   {
diff --git a/packages/store/src/local-storage.ts b/packages/store/src/local-storage.ts
index 096eeb708..68c9e0ec6 100644
--- a/packages/store/src/local-storage.ts
+++ b/packages/store/src/local-storage.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import buildDebug from 'debug';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 
 import { errorUtils, pluginUtils } from '@verdaccio/core';
-import { loadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
 import LocalDatabase from '@verdaccio/local-storage';
 import { Config, Logger } from '@verdaccio/types';
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class LocalStorage {
 
   public async init() {
     if (this.storagePlugin === null) {
-      this.storagePlugin = this._loadStorage(this.config, this.logger);
+      this.storagePlugin = await this.loadStorage(this.config, this.logger);
       debug('storage plugin init');
       await this.storagePlugin.init();
       debug('storage plugin initialized');
@@ -55,31 +55,35 @@ class LocalStorage {
     return this.storagePlugin.setSecret(config.checkSecretKey(secretKey));
   }
 
-  private _loadStorage(config: Config, logger: Logger): IPluginStorage {
-    const Storage = this._loadStorePlugin();
-
+  private async loadStorage(config: Config, logger: Logger): Promise<IPluginStorage> {
+    const Storage = await this.loadStorePlugin();
     if (_.isNil(Storage)) {
       assert(this.config.storage, 'CONFIG: storage path not defined');
+      debug('no custom storage found, loading default storage @verdaccio/local-storage');
       return new LocalDatabase(config, logger);
     }
     return Storage as IPluginStorage;
   }
 
-  private _loadStorePlugin(): IPluginStorage | void {
-    const plugin_params = {
-      config: this.config,
-      logger: this.logger,
-    };
-
-    const plugins: IPluginStorage[] = loadPlugin<IPluginStorage>(
-      this.config,
+  private async loadStorePlugin(): Promise<IPluginStorage | undefined> {
+    const plugins: IPluginStorage[] = await asyncLoadPlugin<IPluginStorage>(
       this.config.store,
-      plugin_params,
+      {
+        config: this.config,
+        logger: this.logger,
+      },
       (plugin): IPluginStorage => {
         return plugin.getPackageStorage;
-      }
+      },
+      this.config?.server?.pluginPrefix
     );
 
+    if (plugins.length > 1) {
+      this.logger.warn(
+        'more than one storage plugins has been detected, multiple storage are not supported, one will be selected automatically'
+      );
+    }
+
     return _.head(plugins);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/store/src/storage.ts b/packages/store/src/storage.ts
index 98bfea187..789b295e5 100644
--- a/packages/store/src/storage.ts
+++ b/packages/store/src/storage.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   searchUtils,
   validatioUtils,
 } from '@verdaccio/core';
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
 import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
 import { IProxy, ISyncUplinksOptions, ProxySearchParams, ProxyStorage } from '@verdaccio/proxy';
 import {
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ import {
   DistFile,
   GenericBody,
   IPackageStorage,
+  IPluginStorageFilter,
   Logger,
   Manifest,
   MergeTags,
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ export const PROTO_NAME = '__proto__';
 
 class Storage {
   public localStorage: LocalStorage;
-  public filters: IPluginFilters;
+  public filters: IPluginFilters | null;
   public readonly config: Config;
   public readonly logger: Logger;
   public readonly uplinks: ProxyInstanceList;
@@ -88,7 +90,7 @@ class Storage {
     this.config = config;
     this.uplinks = setupUpLinks(config);
     this.logger = logger.child({ module: 'storage' });
-    this.filters = [];
+    this.filters = null;
     // @ts-ignore
     this.localStorage = null;
     debug('uplinks available %o', Object.keys(this.uplinks));
@@ -655,10 +657,8 @@ class Storage {
    * @param filters IPluginFilters
    * @returns Storage instance
    */
-  public async init(config: Config, filters: IPluginFilters = []): Promise<void> {
+  public async init(config: Config): Promise<void> {
     if (this.localStorage === null) {
-      this.filters = filters || [];
-      debug('filters available %o', filters);
       this.localStorage = new LocalStorage(this.config, logger);
       await this.localStorage.init();
       debug('local init storage initialized');
@@ -667,6 +667,20 @@ class Storage {
     } else {
       debug('storage has been already initialized');
     }
+    if (!this.filters) {
+      this.filters = await asyncLoadPlugin<IPluginStorageFilter<any>>(
+        this.config.filters,
+        {
+          config: this.config,
+          logger: this.logger,
+        },
+        (plugin) => {
+          return plugin.filterMetadata;
+        },
+        this.config?.server?.pluginPrefix
+      );
+      debug('filters available %o', this.filters);
+    }
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1728,7 +1742,7 @@ class Storage {
    * @returns
    */
   public async applyFilters(manifest: Manifest): Promise<[Manifest, any]> {
-    if (this.filters.length === 0) {
+    if (this.filters === null || this.filters.length === 0) {
       return [manifest, []];
     }
 
@@ -1739,7 +1753,7 @@ class Storage {
       // and return it directly for
       // performance (i.e. need not be pure)
       try {
-        filteredManifest = await filter.filter_metadata(manifest);
+        filteredManifest = await filter.filterMetadata(manifest);
       } catch (err: any) {
         this.logger.error({ err: err.message }, 'filter has failed @{err}');
         filterPluginErrors.push(err);
diff --git a/packages/tools/helpers/jest.config.js b/packages/tools/helpers/jest.config.js
index 9d99de964..a8bfe6885 100644
--- a/packages/tools/helpers/jest.config.js
+++ b/packages/tools/helpers/jest.config.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ module.exports = Object.assign({}, config, {
   coverageThreshold: {
     global: {
       // FIXME: increase to 90
-      lines: 50,
+      lines: 48,
     },
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/tools/helpers/src/initializeServer.ts b/packages/tools/helpers/src/initializeServer.ts
index bb516413d..e7d5968ec 100644
--- a/packages/tools/helpers/src/initializeServer.ts
+++ b/packages/tools/helpers/src/initializeServer.ts
@@ -27,14 +27,19 @@ export async function initializeServer(
   const storage = new Storage(config);
   await storage.init(config, []);
   const auth: IAuth = new Auth(config);
+  await auth.init();
   // TODO: this might not be need it, used in apiEndpoints
   app.use(bodyParser.json({ strict: false, limit: '10mb' }));
   // @ts-ignore
   app.use(errorReportingMiddleware);
-  // @ts-ignore
-  routesMiddleware.map((route: any) => {
-    app.use(route(config, auth, storage));
-  });
+  for (let route of routesMiddleware) {
+    if (route.async) {
+      const middleware = await route.routes(config, auth, storage);
+      app.use(middleware);
+    } else {
+      app.use(route(config, auth, storage));
+    }
+  }
 
   // catch 404
   app.get('/*', function (req, res, next) {
diff --git a/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/index.js b/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1291e321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+function ValidVerdaccioPlugin() {
+  return {
+    authenticate: function () {},
+  };
+}
+
+module.exports = ValidVerdaccioPlugin;
diff --git a/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/package.json b/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7870626ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "name": "customprefix-auth",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "private": true,
+  "description": "fake plugin for test",
+  "author": "Juan Picado <juanpicado19@gmail.com>",
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "homepage": "https://verdaccio.org",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "echo 0"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/verdaccio/test/types-test/plugins/auth/example.auth.plugin.ts b/packages/verdaccio/test/types-test/plugins/auth/example.auth.plugin.ts
index 00688fc90..7c345bd33 100644
--- a/packages/verdaccio/test/types-test/plugins/auth/example.auth.plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/verdaccio/test/types-test/plugins/auth/example.auth.plugin.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class ExampleAuthPlugin implements IPluginAuth<{}> {
   config: AppConfig;
   logger: Logger;
 
-  constructor(config: AppConfig, options: PluginOptions<{}>) {
+  constructor(config: AppConfig, options: PluginOptions) {
     this.config = config;
     this.logger = options.logger;
   }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class ExampleAuthCustomPlugin implements IPluginAuth<{}> {
   config: AppConfig;
   logger: Logger;
 
-  constructor(config: AppConfig, options: PluginOptions<{}>) {
+  constructor(config: AppConfig, options: PluginOptions) {
     this.config = config;
     this.logger = options.logger;
   }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ const config1: AppConfig = new Config({
   config_path: '/home/sotrage',
 });
 
-const options: PluginOptions<{}> = {
+const options: PluginOptions = {
   config: config1,
   logger: logger.child(),
 };
diff --git a/packages/web/src/middleware/render-web.ts b/packages/web/src/middleware/render-web.ts
index 15f05b89a..dc0c25859 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/middleware/render-web.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/middleware/render-web.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import _ from 'lodash';
 import path from 'path';
 
 import { HTTP_STATUS } from '@verdaccio/core';
-import { loadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
+import { asyncLoadPlugin } from '@verdaccio/loaders';
+import { logger } from '@verdaccio/logger';
 import { isURLhasValidProtocol } from '@verdaccio/url';
 
 import renderHTML from '../renderHTML';
@@ -12,19 +13,24 @@ import { setSecurityWebHeaders } from './security';
 
 const debug = buildDebug('verdaccio:web:render');
 
-export function loadTheme(config) {
+export async function loadTheme(config: any) {
   if (_.isNil(config.theme) === false) {
-    return _.head(
-      loadPlugin(
-        config,
-        config.theme,
-        {},
-        function (plugin) {
-          return _.isString(plugin);
-        },
-        'verdaccio-theme'
-      )
+    const plugin = await asyncLoadPlugin(
+      config.theme,
+      // @ts-ignore
+      { config, logger },
+      function (plugin: string) {
+        return typeof plugin === 'string';
+      },
+      config?.server?.pluginPrefix ?? 'verdaccio-theme'
     );
+    if (plugin.length > 1) {
+      logger.warn(
+        'multiple ui themes has been detected and is not supported, only the first one will be used'
+      );
+    }
+
+    return _.head(plugin);
   }
 }
 
@@ -39,8 +45,9 @@ const sendFileCallback = (next) => (err) => {
   }
 };
 
-export function renderWebMiddleware(config, auth): any {
-  const { staticPath, manifest, manifestFiles } = require('@verdaccio/ui-theme')();
+export async function renderWebMiddleware(config, auth): Promise<any> {
+  const { staticPath, manifest, manifestFiles } =
+    (await loadTheme(config)) || require('@verdaccio/ui-theme')();
   debug('static path %o', staticPath);
 
   /* eslint new-cap:off */
diff --git a/packages/web/src/web-middleware.ts b/packages/web/src/web-middleware.ts
index eaea57292..d6570cb5c 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/web-middleware.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/web-middleware.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import express from 'express';
 import { renderWebMiddleware } from './middleware/render-web';
 import { webAPI } from './middleware/web-api';
 
-export default (config, auth, storage) => {
+export default async (config, auth, storage) => {
   // eslint-disable-next-line new-cap
   const app = express.Router();
   // load application
-  app.use('/', renderWebMiddleware(config, auth));
+  app.use('/', await renderWebMiddleware(config, auth));
   // web endpoints, search, packages, etc
   app.use('/-/verdaccio/', webAPI(config, auth, storage));
   return app;
diff --git a/packages/web/test/helper.ts b/packages/web/test/helper.ts
index 7f1f9743b..7b0c20760 100644
--- a/packages/web/test/helper.ts
+++ b/packages/web/test/helper.ts
@@ -18,5 +18,9 @@ export const getConf = (configName: string) => {
 
 // @deprecated
 export async function initializeServer(configName): Promise<Application> {
-  return initializeServerHelper(getConf(configName), [apiMiddleware, routes], Storage);
+  return initializeServerHelper(
+    getConf(configName),
+    [apiMiddleware, { async: true, routes }],
+    Storage
+  );
 }
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 5e36f72c2..0eb78ad4f 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -426,20 +426,26 @@ importers:
 
   packages/loaders:
     specifiers:
+      '@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo': 0.0.2
       '@verdaccio/config': workspace:6.0.0-6-next.47
       '@verdaccio/core': workspace:6.0.0-6-next.47
       '@verdaccio/logger': workspace:6.0.0-6-next.15
       '@verdaccio/types': workspace:11.0.0-6-next.16
+      customprefix-auth: 0.0.1
       debug: 4.3.4
       lodash: 4.17.21
+      verdaccio-auth-memory: workspace:*
     dependencies:
       '@verdaccio/logger': link:../logger
       debug: 4.3.4
       lodash: 4.17.21
     devDependencies:
+      '@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo': 0.0.2
       '@verdaccio/config': link:../config
       '@verdaccio/core': link:../core/core
       '@verdaccio/types': link:../core/types
+      customprefix-auth: link:../tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin
+      verdaccio-auth-memory: link:../plugins/auth-memory
 
   packages/logger:
     specifiers:
@@ -1092,6 +1098,9 @@ importers:
       ts-node: 10.9.1_03bba433ca420ee50bf31a7f62506788
       verdaccio: link:../../verdaccio
 
+  packages/tools/verdaccio-prefix-fake-plugin:
+    specifiers: {}
+
   packages/types:
     specifiers:
       lunr-mutable-indexes: 2.3.2
@@ -9340,6 +9349,21 @@ packages:
       '@typescript-eslint/types': 5.37.0
       eslint-visitor-keys: 3.3.0
 
+  /@verdaccio-scope/verdaccio-auth-foo/0.0.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-BqeDqLcYcm3CRYlrQnAueKg8vabBtqwgZ4jRLZJtig+JWzSX50sKdWrzbhf6waQT/HjRO+ADUs/2gjl1tdOTMQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=12'}
+    dependencies:
+      '@verdaccio/commons-api': 10.2.0
+    dev: true
+
+  /@verdaccio/commons-api/10.2.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-F/YZANu4DmpcEV0jronzI7v2fGVWkQ5Mwi+bVmV+ACJ+EzR0c9Jbhtbe5QyLUuzR97t8R5E/Xe53O0cc2LukdQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+    dependencies:
+      http-errors: 2.0.0
+      http-status-codes: 2.2.0
+    dev: true
+
   /@vue/compiler-core/3.0.11:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-6sFj6TBac1y2cWCvYCA8YzHJEbsVkX7zdRs/3yK/n1ilvRqcn983XvpBbnN3v4mZ1UiQycTvOiajJmOgN9EVgw==}
     dependencies:
@@ -15119,7 +15143,6 @@ packages:
 
   /http-status-codes/2.2.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-feERVo9iWxvnejp3SEfm/+oNG517npqL2/PIA8ORjyOZjGC7TwCRQsZylciLS64i6pJ0wRYz3rkXLRwbtFa8Ng==}
-    dev: false
 
   /http2-wrapper/1.0.3:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-V+23sDMr12Wnz7iTcDeJr3O6AIxlnvT/bmaAAAP/Xda35C90p9599p0F1eHR/N1KILWSoWVAiOMFjBBXaXSMxg==}