diff --git a/openpype/hooks/pre_add_last_workfile_arg.py b/openpype/hooks/pre_add_last_workfile_arg.py
index 2558daef30..2a35db869a 100644
--- a/openpype/hooks/pre_add_last_workfile_arg.py
+++ b/openpype/hooks/pre_add_last_workfile_arg.py
@@ -42,13 +42,5 @@ class AddLastWorkfileToLaunchArgs(PreLaunchHook):
             self.log.info("Current context does not have any workfile yet.")
             return
 
-        # Determine whether to open workfile post initialization.
-        if self.host_name == "maya":
-            key = "open_workfile_post_initialization"
-            if self.data["project_settings"]["maya"][key]:
-                self.log.debug("Opening workfile post initialization.")
-                self.data["env"]["OPENPYPE_" + key.upper()] = "1"
-                return
-
         # Add path to workfile to arguments
         self.launch_context.launch_args.append(last_workfile)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_auto_load_plugins.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_auto_load_plugins.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..689d7adb4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_auto_load_plugins.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+from openpype.lib import PreLaunchHook
+
+
+class MayaPreAutoLoadPlugins(PreLaunchHook):
+    """Define -noAutoloadPlugins command flag."""
+
+    # Before AddLastWorkfileToLaunchArgs
+    order = 9
+    app_groups = ["maya"]
+
+    def execute(self):
+
+        # Ignore if there's no last workfile to start.
+        if not self.data.get("start_last_workfile"):
+            return
+
+        maya_settings = self.data["project_settings"]["maya"]
+        enabled = maya_settings["explicit_plugins_loading"]["enabled"]
+        if enabled:
+            # Force disable the `AddLastWorkfileToLaunchArgs`.
+            self.data.pop("start_last_workfile")
+
+            # Force post initialization so our dedicated plug-in load can run
+            # prior to Maya opening a scene file.
+            key = "OPENPYPE_OPEN_WORKFILE_POST_INITIALIZATION"
+            self.launch_context.env[key] = "1"
+
+            self.log.debug("Explicit plugins loading.")
+            self.launch_context.launch_args.append("-noAutoloadPlugins")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_open_workfile_post_initialization.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_open_workfile_post_initialization.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7582ce0591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/hooks/pre_open_workfile_post_initialization.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from openpype.lib import PreLaunchHook
+
+
+class MayaPreOpenWorkfilePostInitialization(PreLaunchHook):
+    """Define whether open last workfile should run post initialize."""
+
+    # Before AddLastWorkfileToLaunchArgs.
+    order = 9
+    app_groups = ["maya"]
+
+    def execute(self):
+
+        # Ignore if there's no last workfile to start.
+        if not self.data.get("start_last_workfile"):
+            return
+
+        maya_settings = self.data["project_settings"]["maya"]
+        enabled = maya_settings["open_workfile_post_initialization"]
+        if enabled:
+            # Force disable the `AddLastWorkfileToLaunchArgs`.
+            self.data.pop("start_last_workfile")
+
+            self.log.debug("Opening workfile post initialization.")
+            key = "OPENPYPE_OPEN_WORKFILE_POST_INITIALIZATION"
+            self.launch_context.env[key] = "1"
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/startup/userSetup.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/startup/userSetup.py
index c77ecb829e..ae6a999d98 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/startup/userSetup.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/startup/userSetup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-from functools import partial
 
 from openpype.settings import get_project_settings
 from openpype.pipeline import install_host
@@ -13,24 +12,41 @@ install_host(host)
 
 print("Starting OpenPype usersetup...")
 
+project_settings = get_project_settings(os.environ['AVALON_PROJECT'])
+
+# Loading plugins explicitly.
+explicit_plugins_loading = project_settings["maya"]["explicit_plugins_loading"]
+if explicit_plugins_loading["enabled"]:
+    def _explicit_load_plugins():
+        for plugin in explicit_plugins_loading["plugins_to_load"]:
+            if plugin["enabled"]:
+                print("Loading plug-in: " + plugin["name"])
+                try:
+                    cmds.loadPlugin(plugin["name"], quiet=True)
+                except RuntimeError as e:
+                    print(e)
+
+    # We need to load plugins deferred as loading them directly does not work
+    # correctly due to Maya's initialization.
+    cmds.evalDeferred(
+        _explicit_load_plugins,
+        lowestPriority=True
+    )
 
 # Open Workfile Post Initialization.
 key = "OPENPYPE_OPEN_WORKFILE_POST_INITIALIZATION"
 if bool(int(os.environ.get(key, "0"))):
+    def _log_and_open():
+        path = os.environ["AVALON_LAST_WORKFILE"]
+        print("Opening \"{}\"".format(path))
+        cmds.file(path, open=True, force=True)
     cmds.evalDeferred(
-        partial(
-            cmds.file,
-            os.environ["AVALON_LAST_WORKFILE"],
-            open=True,
-            force=True
-        ),
+        _log_and_open,
         lowestPriority=True
     )
 
-
 # Build a shelf.
-settings = get_project_settings(os.environ['AVALON_PROJECT'])
-shelf_preset = settings['maya'].get('project_shelf')
+shelf_preset = project_settings['maya'].get('project_shelf')
 
 if shelf_preset:
     project = os.environ["AVALON_PROJECT"]
diff --git a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
index 201dda1c2d..7c472ea1c9 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
@@ -1,5 +1,414 @@
 {
     "open_workfile_post_initialization": false,
+    "explicit_plugins_loading": {
+        "enabled": false,
+        "plugins_to_load": [
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "AbcBullet"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "AbcExport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "AbcImport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "animImportExport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ArubaTessellator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ATFPlugin"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "atomImportExport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "AutodeskPacketFile"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "autoLoader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bifmeshio"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bifrostGraph"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bifrostshellnode"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bifrostvisplugin"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "blast2Cmd"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bluePencil"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Boss"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "bullet"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "cacheEvaluator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "cgfxShader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "cleanPerFaceAssignment"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "clearcoat"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "convertToComponentTags"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "curveWarp"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ddsFloatReader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "deformerEvaluator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "dgProfiler"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "drawUfe"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "dx11Shader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "fbxmaya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "fltTranslator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "freeze"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Fur"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "gameFbxExporter"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "gameInputDevice"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "GamePipeline"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "gameVertexCount"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "geometryReport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "geometryTools"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "glslShader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "GPUBuiltInDeformer"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "gpuCache"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "hairPhysicalShader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ik2Bsolver"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ikSpringSolver"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "invertShape"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "lges"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "lookdevKit"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "MASH"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "matrixNodes"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mayaCharacterization"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mayaHIK"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "MayaMuscle"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mayaUsdPlugin"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mayaVnnPlugin"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "melProfiler"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "meshReorder"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "modelingToolkit"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mtoa"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "mtoh"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "nearestPointOnMesh"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "objExport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "OneClick"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "OpenEXRLoader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "pgYetiMaya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "pgyetiVrayMaya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "polyBoolean"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "poseInterpolator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "quatNodes"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "randomizerDevice"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "redshift4maya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "renderSetup"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "retargeterNodes"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "RokokoMotionLibrary"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "rotateHelper"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "sceneAssembly"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "shaderFXPlugin"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "shotCamera"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "snapTransform"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "stage"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": true,
+                "name": "stereoCamera"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "stlTranslator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "studioImport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Substance"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "substancelink"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "substancemaya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "substanceworkflow"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "svgFileTranslator"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "sweep"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "testify"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "tiffFloatReader"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "timeSliderBookmark"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Turtle"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Type"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "udpDevice"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "ufeSupport"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "Unfold3D"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "VectorRender"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "vrayformaya"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "vrayvolumegrid"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "xgenToolkit"
+            },
+            {
+                "enabled": false,
+                "name": "xgenVray"
+            }
+        ]
+    },
     "imageio": {
         "ocio_config": {
             "enabled": false,
diff --git a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_maya.json b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_maya.json
index ccc967a260..b27d795806 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_maya.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_maya.json
@@ -10,6 +10,41 @@
             "key": "open_workfile_post_initialization",
             "label": "Open Workfile Post Initialization"
         },
+        {
+            "type": "dict",
+            "key": "explicit_plugins_loading",
+            "label": "Explicit Plugins Loading",
+            "collapsible": true,
+            "is_group": true,
+            "checkbox_key": "enabled",
+            "children": [
+                {
+                    "type": "boolean",
+                    "key": "enabled",
+                    "label": "Enabled"
+                },
+                {
+                    "type": "list",
+                    "key": "plugins_to_load",
+                    "label": "Plugins To Load",
+                    "object_type": {
+                        "type": "dict",
+                        "children": [
+                          {
+                              "type": "boolean",
+                              "key": "enabled",
+                              "label": "Enabled"
+                          },
+                          {
+                              "type": "text",
+                              "key": "name",
+                              "label": "Name"
+                          }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                }
+            ]
+        },
         {
             "key": "imageio",
             "type": "dict",
diff --git a/website/docs/admin_hosts_maya.md b/website/docs/admin_hosts_maya.md
index eea6456c76..f0b8710246 100644
--- a/website/docs/admin_hosts_maya.md
+++ b/website/docs/admin_hosts_maya.md
@@ -274,3 +274,14 @@ Fill in the necessary fields (the optional fields are regex filters)
 - Build your workfile
 
 ![maya build template](assets/maya-build_workfile_from_template.png)
+
+## Explicit Plugins Loading
+You can define which plugins to load on launch of Maya here; `project_settings/maya/explicit_plugins_loading`. This can help improve Maya's launch speed, if you know which plugins are needed.
+
+By default only the required plugins are enabled. You can also add any plugin to the list to enable on launch.
+
+:::note technical
+When enabling this feature, the workfile will be launched post initialization no matter the setting on `project_settings/maya/open_workfile_post_initialization`. This is to avoid any issues with references needing plugins.
+
+Renderfarm integration is not supported for this feature.
+:::