diff --git a/src/plugins/bazaar/Bazaar.json.in b/src/plugins/bazaar/Bazaar.json.in
index e725b785734..8311877c71c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bazaar/Bazaar.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/bazaar/Bazaar.json.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     "Name" : "Bazaar",
     "Version" : "${IDE_VERSION}",
     "CompatVersion" : "${IDE_VERSION_COMPAT}",
+    "DisabledByDefault" : true,
     "VendorId" : "huguesdelorme",
     "Vendor" : "Hugues Delorme",
     "Copyright" : "(C) 2016 Hugues Delorme, ${IDE_COPYRIGHT}",
@@ -23,5 +24,8 @@
     ],
     "Url" : "https://www.qt.io",
     "DocumentationUrl" : "https://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-vcs-bazaar.html",
+    "VcsDetectionFiles" : [
+        ".bzr/branch-format"
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES}
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.cpp
index 6168acfd6c6..55e99c92e1d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.cpp
@@ -1126,6 +1126,35 @@ void ICore::restart()
     exit();
 }
 
+/*!
+    Asks the user if they want to enable the \a plugins and their dependencies.
+    If the user agrees, the plugins are enabled.
+    If all plugins are soft loadable without restart, they get loaded directly.
+    Otherwise the "Restart Required" dialog is shown.
+
+    Returns whether the user agreed to enabling the plugins.
+*/
+bool ICore::enablePlugins(const QSet<ExtensionSystem::PluginSpec *> &plugins)
+{
+    std::optional<QSet<PluginSpec *>> additionalPlugins
+        = PluginManager::askForEnablingPlugins(dialogParent(), plugins, /*enable=*/true);
+    if (!additionalPlugins) // canceled
+        return false;
+    const QSet<PluginSpec *> affectedPlugins = plugins + *additionalPlugins;
+    bool softloadable = true;
+    for (PluginSpec *spec : affectedPlugins) {
+        spec->setEnabledBySettings(true);
+        softloadable = softloadable && spec->isSoftLoadable();
+    }
+    ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::writeSettings();
+    if (softloadable) {
+        PluginManager::loadPluginsAtRuntime(affectedPlugins);
+    } else {
+        ICore::askForRestart(Tr::tr("Plugin changes will take effect after restart."));
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 /*!
     \internal
 */
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.h
index 9aa1e93c393..10a90f66464 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/icore.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "core_global.h"
 #include "icontext.h"
 
+#include <extensionsystem/pluginspec.h>
 #include <utils/appmainwindow.h>
 #include <utils/filepath.h>
 #include <utils/qtcsettings.h>
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ public:
 
     static void restart();
 
+    static bool enablePlugins(const QSet<ExtensionSystem::PluginSpec *> &plugins);
+
     enum SaveSettingsReason {
         SettingsDialogDone,
         ModeChanged,
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/vcsmanager.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/vcsmanager.cpp
index de146a5656b..14271eab44f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/vcsmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/vcsmanager.cpp
@@ -12,12 +12,15 @@
 #include "iversioncontrol.h"
 
 #include <extensionsystem/pluginmanager.h>
+#include <extensionsystem/pluginspec.h>
 
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
 #include <utils/fileutils.h>
 #include <utils/infobar.h>
 #include <utils/qtcassert.h>
 
+#include <QJsonArray>
+#include <QLabel>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QMap>
 #include <QMessageBox>
@@ -177,6 +180,74 @@ static FilePath fixedDir(const FilePath &directory)
     return directory;
 }
 
+static void askForDisabledVcsPlugins(const FilePath &inputDirectory)
+{
+    using namespace ExtensionSystem;
+    FilePath toplevel;
+
+    PluginSpec *spec = Utils::findOrDefault(
+        PluginManager::plugins(), [&toplevel, inputDirectory](PluginSpec *plugin) {
+            if (plugin->isEffectivelyEnabled())
+                return false;
+            const QJsonObject metaData = plugin->metaData();
+            const QJsonArray filesArray = metaData.value("VcsDetectionFiles").toArray();
+            if (filesArray.isEmpty())
+                return false;
+            QStringList files;
+            for (const QJsonValue &v : filesArray) {
+                const QString str = v.toString();
+                if (!str.isEmpty())
+                    files.append(str);
+            }
+            if (files.isEmpty())
+                return false;
+            qCDebug(findRepoLog) << "Checking if plugin" << plugin->displayName() << "can handle"
+                                 << inputDirectory.toUserOutput();
+            qCDebug(findRepoLog) << "by checking for" << files;
+            const FilePath dir = VcsManager::findRepositoryForFiles(inputDirectory, files);
+            if (dir.isEmpty())
+                return false;
+            qCDebug(findRepoLog) << "The plugin" << plugin->displayName() << "can handle"
+                                 << inputDirectory.toUserOutput();
+            toplevel = dir;
+            return true;
+        });
+
+    if (!spec)
+        return;
+
+    const Id vcsSuggestion = Id("VcsManager.Suggestion.").withSuffix(spec->id());
+    InfoBar *infoBar = ICore::infoBar();
+    if (!infoBar->canInfoBeAdded(vcsSuggestion))
+        return;
+
+    const QString pluginDisplayName = spec->displayName();
+    Utils::InfoBarEntry info(
+        vcsSuggestion,
+        Tr::tr("A directory under version control was detected that is supported by the %1 plugin.")
+            .arg(pluginDisplayName),
+        Utils::InfoBarEntry::GlobalSuppression::Enabled);
+    info.addCustomButton(Tr::tr("Enable %1").arg(pluginDisplayName), [vcsSuggestion, spec] {
+        // TODO In case the plugin is actually loaded during runtime (softloadable),
+        // we'd need to restructure findVersionControlForDirectory below to take the new plugin
+        // into account.
+        // At the moment softloadable VCS plugins are not supported though.
+        if (ICore::enablePlugins({spec}))
+            ICore::infoBar()->removeInfo(vcsSuggestion);
+    });
+
+    info.setDetailsWidgetCreator([toplevel, pluginDisplayName]() -> QWidget * {
+        auto label = new QLabel;
+        label->setWordWrap(true);
+        label->setOpenExternalLinks(true);
+        label->setText(Tr::tr("The directory \"%1\" seems to be under version control that can be "
+                              "handled by the disabled %2 plugin.")
+                           .arg(toplevel.toUserOutput(), pluginDisplayName));
+        label->setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 8);
+        return label;
+    });
+    ICore::infoBar()->addInfo(info);
+};
 
 IVersionControl* VcsManager::findVersionControlForDirectory(const FilePath &inputDirectory,
                                                             FilePath *topLevelDirectory)
@@ -221,6 +292,8 @@ IVersionControl* VcsManager::findVersionControlForDirectory(const FilePath &inpu
         // report result;
         if (topLevelDirectory)
             topLevelDirectory->clear();
+
+        askForDisabledVcsPlugins(directory);
         return nullptr;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/fossil/Fossil.json.in b/src/plugins/fossil/Fossil.json.in
index ccc9856d2bc..6018e41ed4e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/fossil/Fossil.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/fossil/Fossil.json.in
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
     ],
     "Url" : "https://www.qt.io",
     "DocumentationUrl" : "https://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-vcs-fossil.html",
+    "VcsDetectionFiles" : [
+        ".fslckout"
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES},
 
     "JsonWizardPaths" : [":/fossil/wizard"]
diff --git a/src/plugins/git/Git.json.in b/src/plugins/git/Git.json.in
index 6c6b476b880..d87f9341643 100644
--- a/src/plugins/git/Git.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/git/Git.json.in
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@
             "Description" : "Show given commit hash"
         }
     ],
+    "VcsDetectionFiles" : [
+        ".git",
+        ".git/config"
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES},
 
     "Mimetypes" : [
diff --git a/src/plugins/mercurial/Mercurial.json.in b/src/plugins/mercurial/Mercurial.json.in
index d8125d77ba2..835005771ca 100644
--- a/src/plugins/mercurial/Mercurial.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/mercurial/Mercurial.json.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     "Name" : "Mercurial",
     "Version" : "${IDE_VERSION}",
     "CompatVersion" : "${IDE_VERSION_COMPAT}",
+    "DisabledByDefault" : true,
     "VendorId" : "brianmcgillion",
     "Vendor" : "Brian McGillion",
     "Copyright" : "(C) 2016 Brian McGillion, ${IDE_COPYRIGHT}",
@@ -23,5 +24,8 @@
     ],
     "Url" : "https://www.qt.io",
     "DocumentationUrl" : "https://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-vcs-mercurial.html",
+    "VcsDetectionFiles" : [
+        ".hg/requires"
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES}
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/subversion/Subversion.json.in b/src/plugins/subversion/Subversion.json.in
index 1941eb222c4..81420a0e3ac 100644
--- a/src/plugins/subversion/Subversion.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/subversion/Subversion.json.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     "Name" : "Subversion",
     "Version" : "${IDE_VERSION}",
     "CompatVersion" : "${IDE_VERSION_COMPAT}",
+    "DisabledByDefault" : true,
     "VendorId" : "theqtcompany",
     "Vendor" : "The Qt Company Ltd",
     "Copyright" : "${IDE_COPYRIGHT}",
@@ -23,6 +24,10 @@
     ],
     "Url" : "https://www.qt.io",
     "DocumentationUrl" : "https://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-vcs-subversion.html",
+    "VcsDetectionFiles" : [
+        ".svn/wc.db",
+        "_svn/wc.db"
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES},
 
     "Mimetypes" : [