diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index f3f4e15..19215cc 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
 - [ ] Tested on Hyprland
 - [ ] Tested on Sway
 - [ ] Tested on another compositor:
-- **Noctalia version tested against:** <!-- must be >= min_noctalia in plugin.toml -->
+- **Noctalia version tested against:**
+- **Plugin API level:** <!-- must match plugin_api in plugin.toml -->
 
 ## Screenshots / Videos
 
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@
       [README template](https://github.com/noctalia-dev/community-plugins/blob/main/README_TEMPLATE.md), documents
       every entry id and dependency, and includes exact panel IPC commands and launcher prefixes where applicable.
 - [ ] I created `thumbnail.webp` with the [thumbnail generator](https://assets.noctalia.dev/plugins/thumbnail-generator.html).
-- [ ] `version` follows semver and is bumped in this PR; `min_noctalia` is the version I tested against.
+- [ ] `version` follows semver and is bumped in this PR; `plugin_api` is the oldest API level this plugin requires.
 - [ ] Every non-English translation in this PR uses a locale supported by Noctalia core, and I can read, write, and
       understand that language well enough to review and maintain it (no unreviewed machine/LLM translations).
 - [ ] I did not edit `catalog.toml`; CI generates it.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-catalog.py b/.github/workflows/update-catalog.py
index a7e5640..f81be4e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-catalog.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-catalog.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 CATALOG_PATH = ROOT_DIR / "catalog.toml"
-REQUIRED_FIELDS = ("id", "name", "version", "author", "min_noctalia", "tags")
+REQUIRED_FIELDS = ("id", "name", "version", "author", "plugin_api", "tags")
 OPTIONAL_STRING_FIELDS = ("license", "icon", "description")
 OPTIONAL_BOOL_FIELDS = ("deprecated",)
 
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ def load_plugin_manifest(path: Path) -> dict:
         missing_fields = ", ".join(missing)
         raise ValueError(f"{path.relative_to(ROOT_DIR)} is missing: {missing_fields}")
 
+    plugin_api = manifest["plugin_api"]
+    if not isinstance(plugin_api, int) or isinstance(plugin_api, bool) or plugin_api <= 0:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"{path.relative_to(ROOT_DIR)} has invalid plugin_api; expected a positive integer"
+        )
+
     if not isinstance(manifest["tags"], list) or not all(
         isinstance(tag, str) for tag in manifest["tags"]
     ):
@@ -109,7 +115,7 @@ def render_catalog(plugins: list[dict]) -> str:
             lines.append(f"deprecated = {toml_bool(plugin['deprecated'])}")
         lines.extend(
             [
-                f"min_noctalia = {toml_string(plugin['min_noctalia'])}",
+                f"plugin_api = {plugin['plugin_api']}",
                 "tags = ["
                 + ", ".join(toml_string(tag) for tag in plugin["tags"])
                 + "]",
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-plugins.py b/.github/workflows/validate-plugins.py
index c1cf05c..15b86b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-plugins.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-plugins.py
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ ROOT_STRING_FIELDS = (
     "id",
     "name",
     "version",
-    "min_noctalia",
     "author",
     "license",
     "icon",
@@ -112,6 +111,7 @@ PANEL_POSITIONS = {
 ROOT_FIELDS = set(ROOT_STRING_FIELDS) | set(ROOT_ARRAY_FIELDS) | set(ENTRY_TYPES) | {
     "setting",
     "deprecated",
+    "plugin_api",
 }
 BASE_ENTRY_FIELDS = {"id", "entry"}
 ENTRY_FIELDS = {
@@ -521,6 +521,12 @@ class Validator:
         if "deprecated" in manifest and not isinstance(manifest["deprecated"], bool):
             self.add_error(manifest_path, "root field 'deprecated' must be a bool")
 
+        plugin_api = manifest.get("plugin_api")
+        if "plugin_api" not in manifest:
+            self.add_error(manifest_path, "missing required root field 'plugin_api'")
+        elif not is_int(plugin_api) or plugin_api <= 0:
+            self.add_error(manifest_path, "root field 'plugin_api' must be a positive integer")
+
         # A plugin id is "<author>/<plugin>", and the part after the "/" is the directory
         # it lives in - so a folder name is taken once for the whole repo.
         folder = manifest_path.parent.name
@@ -539,10 +545,9 @@ class Validator:
         if folder in RESERVED_NAMES:
             self.add_error(manifest_path, f"'{folder}' is a reserved name and cannot be a plugin directory")
 
-        for field in ("version", "min_noctalia"):
-            value = manifest.get(field)
-            if is_non_empty_string(value) and not SEMVER_RE.fullmatch(value):
-                self.add_error(manifest_path, f"root field '{field}' must use MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH")
+        version = manifest.get("version")
+        if is_non_empty_string(version) and not SEMVER_RE.fullmatch(version):
+            self.add_error(manifest_path, "root field 'version' must use MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH")
 
     def validate_entry_path(self, manifest_path: Path, context: str, plugin_dir: Path, value: Any) -> None:
         if not is_non_empty_string(value):
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 28dd7ff..3080c21 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ Open a PR against `main`. CI validates your manifest, entry scripts, required fi
 - **One plugin per PR.**
 - The directory name matches the part of `id` after the `/` in `plugin.toml` **exactly**.
 - `version` is semver and gets bumped on every change to the plugin.
-- `min_noctalia` is the Noctalia version you actually tested against. Users on older builds are then told the plugin
-  needs an upgrade instead of getting a broken install.
+- `plugin_api` is the oldest Noctalia plugin API level the plugin requires. Use the current documented level for a new
+  plugin, and increase it only when the plugin adopts a capability from a newer API level.
 - `description` is concise catalog copy, limited to 120 characters. Put feature details in the plugin's README.
 - `license` is set in `plugin.toml`. You keep the copyright on your plugin; if it is not MIT, put a `LICENSE` file in
   your plugin directory. There is no repo-wide license covering contributed plugins.
diff --git a/color_picker/plugin.toml b/color_picker/plugin.toml
index bb95c00..713b2bc 100644
--- a/color_picker/plugin.toml
+++ b/color_picker/plugin.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ name = "Color Picker"
 description  = "Pick a color from your screen with hyprpicker."
 license = "MIT"
 version = "1.0.2"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 icon = "palette"
 dependencies = ["hyprpicker"]
 tags = ["theming", "utility", "bar", "panel"]
diff --git a/daily-wallpaper/plugin.toml b/daily-wallpaper/plugin.toml
index 1373016..56ddde8 100644
--- a/daily-wallpaper/plugin.toml
+++ b/daily-wallpaper/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "nzlov/daily-wallpaper"
 name = "Daily Wallpaper"
 version = "1.0.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "nzlov"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = []
diff --git a/ideapad-conservation-mode/plugin.toml b/ideapad-conservation-mode/plugin.toml
index e6c5505..cd99432 100644
--- a/ideapad-conservation-mode/plugin.toml
+++ b/ideapad-conservation-mode/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id           = "lux/ideapad-conservation-mode"
 name         = "IdeaPad Conservation Mode"
 version      = "0.3.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author       = "lux"
 license      = "MIT"
 tags         = ["hardware", "shortcut", "system"]
diff --git a/iio_lock/plugin.toml b/iio_lock/plugin.toml
index 7a15c5c..cc0cba7 100644
--- a/iio_lock/plugin.toml
+++ b/iio_lock/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "nikolaj-zwergius/iio_lock"
 name = "iio-lock"
 version = "1.0.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "nikolaj-zwergius"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = ["pgrep","pkill","iio-hyprland","iio-sway","hyprctl","swaymsg"]
diff --git a/mangowm-keymode/plugin.toml b/mangowm-keymode/plugin.toml
index 8b27d6d..499db6e 100644
--- a/mangowm-keymode/plugin.toml
+++ b/mangowm-keymode/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id           = "gambled23/mangowm-keymode"
 name         = "Mangowm Keymode"
 version      = "1.0.1"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author       = "gambled23"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = ["mmsg"]
diff --git a/mini-docker/plugin.toml b/mini-docker/plugin.toml
index 7655741..dfe9b5f 100644
--- a/mini-docker/plugin.toml
+++ b/mini-docker/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "8bury/mini-docker"
 name = "Mini Docker"
 version = "1.0.3"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "8bury"
 license = "MIT"
 icon = "brand-docker"
diff --git a/nix-monitor/plugin.toml b/nix-monitor/plugin.toml
index c4e840b..01b885b 100644
--- a/nix-monitor/plugin.toml
+++ b/nix-monitor/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id              = "avivbintangaringga/nix-monitor"
 name            = "Nix Monitor"
 version         = "1.1.1"
-min_noctalia    = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api    = 3
 icon            = "package"
 author          = "avivbintangaringga"
 description     = "Nixpkgs update monitor"
diff --git a/portctl/plugin.toml b/portctl/plugin.toml
index 2bb517a..abaa635 100644
--- a/portctl/plugin.toml
+++ b/portctl/plugin.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 id           = "rxtsel/portctl"
 name         = "Portctl"
 version      = "0.2.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author       = "Cristhian Melo"
 license      = "MIT"
 icon         = "plug"
diff --git a/prismlauncher-instances/plugin.toml b/prismlauncher-instances/plugin.toml
index 0395d42..75fa0b8 100644
--- a/prismlauncher-instances/plugin.toml
+++ b/prismlauncher-instances/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "radimous/prismlauncher-instances"
 name = "PrismLauncher Instances"
 version = "1.0.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "radimous"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = ["prismlauncher"]
diff --git a/proton-pass/plugin.toml b/proton-pass/plugin.toml
index 5449e96..bee1bf9 100644
--- a/proton-pass/plugin.toml
+++ b/proton-pass/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "lucasoe/proton-pass"
 name = "Proton Pass"
 version = "0.1.0"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "LucasOe"
 license = "MIT"
 icon = "lock"
diff --git a/sharednd/plugin.toml b/sharednd/plugin.toml
index 9d8f09d..02ff9e4 100644
--- a/sharednd/plugin.toml
+++ b/sharednd/plugin.toml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 id = "whyoolw/sharednd"
 name = "ShareDND"
 version = "1.1.1"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "whyoolw"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = ["niri"]
diff --git a/shelly/plugin.toml b/shelly/plugin.toml
index c1b1aa6..f0cf9e8 100644
--- a/shelly/plugin.toml
+++ b/shelly/plugin.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ id           = "joshuaslate/shelly"
 name         = "Shelly"
 icon         = "package"
 version      = "1.0.1"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 license = "MIT"
 author       = "joshuaslate"
 dependencies = ["shelly"]
diff --git a/todo/plugin.toml b/todo/plugin.toml
index cdff51f..f7b72b8 100644
--- a/todo/plugin.toml
+++ b/todo/plugin.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 id = "nightwatch75/todo"
 name = "To Do"
 version = "0.0.7"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "nightwatch75"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = []
diff --git a/um5606_fan_state/plugin.toml b/um5606_fan_state/plugin.toml
index 46ec27d..25e4fa6 100644
--- a/um5606_fan_state/plugin.toml
+++ b/um5606_fan_state/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "thatonecalculator/um5606_fan_state"
 name = "ASUS UM5606 Fan State"
 version = "1.0.6"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "ThatOneCalculator"
 license = "MIT"
 tags = ["hardware"]
diff --git a/upbeat/plugin.toml b/upbeat/plugin.toml
index 23c9c16..e487dcb 100644
--- a/upbeat/plugin.toml
+++ b/upbeat/plugin.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 id = "neuro/upbeat"
 name = "Upbeat"
 version = "1.0.1"
-min_noctalia = "5.0.0"
+plugin_api = 3
 author = "neuro"
 license = "MIT"
 dependencies = []