diff --git a/api/core/plugin/impl/plugin.py b/api/core/plugin/impl/plugin.py
index 8ac33b50297..108fb5aeb8e 100644
--- a/api/core/plugin/impl/plugin.py
+++ b/api/core/plugin/impl/plugin.py
@@ -98,19 +98,40 @@ class PluginInstaller(BasePluginClient):
         tags: Sequence[str] = (),
         language: str = "en_US",
     ) -> PluginListWithoutTotalResponse:
-        return self._request_with_plugin_daemon_response(
-            "GET",
-            f"plugin/{tenant_id}/management/{category.value}/list",
-            PluginListWithoutTotalResponse,
-            params={
-                "page": page,
-                "page_size": page_size,
-                "response_type": "paged",
-                "query": query,
-                "tags": list(tags),
-                "language": language,
-            },
-        )
+        try:
+            return self._request_with_plugin_daemon_response(
+                "GET",
+                f"plugin/{tenant_id}/management/{category.value}/list",
+                PluginListWithoutTotalResponse,
+                params={
+                    "page": page,
+                    "page_size": page_size,
+                    "response_type": "paged",
+                    "query": query,
+                    "tags": list(tags),
+                    "language": language,
+                },
+            )
+        except HTTPError as e:
+            # Local plugin daemons (e.g. 0.6.x) don't expose the
+            # category-segmented route. Fall back to the generic listing and
+            # filter by declaration.category on the API side.
+            message = e.args[0] if e.args else ""
+            if "404" not in message:
+                raise
+            all_plugins = self.list_plugins_with_total(
+                tenant_id,
+                page=1,
+                page_size=1000,
+            )
+            filtered = [p for p in all_plugins.list if p.declaration.category == category]
+            start = (page - 1) * page_size
+            end = start + page_size
+            return PluginListWithoutTotalResponse(
+                list=filtered[start:end],
+                has_more=end < len(filtered),
+            )
+
 
     def upload_pkg(
         self,
diff --git a/api/tests/unit_tests/core/plugin/test_plugin_manager.py b/api/tests/unit_tests/core/plugin/test_plugin_manager.py
index 290c7301bbe..f8b63e1d166 100644
--- a/api/tests/unit_tests/core/plugin/test_plugin_manager.py
+++ b/api/tests/unit_tests/core/plugin/test_plugin_manager.py
@@ -154,6 +154,40 @@ class TestPluginDiscovery:
             assert result.list == [mock_plugin_entity]
             assert result.has_more is True
 
+    def test_list_plugins_by_category_falls_back_on_404(self, plugin_installer, mock_plugin_entity):
+        """When the category-segmented route 404s (local plugin daemon < 0.7),
+        list_plugins_by_category should fall back to the generic listing and
+        filter by declaration.category on the API side. Regression for #40683.
+        """
+        from requests import HTTPError
+
+        # 404 from the category route, then a generic listing with three plugins
+        # — two Tool, one Model — across two pages.
+        p_tool_1 = mock_plugin_entity
+        p_tool_2 = mock_plugin_entity
+        p_model = mock_plugin_entity
+        p_model.declaration.category = PluginCategory.Model
+
+        with patch.object(
+            plugin_installer,
+            "_request_with_plugin_daemon_response",
+            side_effect=[
+                HTTPError("404"),
+                PluginListResponse(
+                    list=[p_tool_1, p_model, p_tool_2],
+                    total=3,
+                ),
+            ],
+        ):
+            result = plugin_installer.list_plugins_by_category(
+                "test-tenant", category=PluginCategory.Tool, page=1, page_size=10
+            )
+
+        # Filters out the Model entry, returns both Tool entries.
+        assert result.list == [p_tool_1, p_tool_2]
+        assert result.has_more is False
+        assert result.has_more == (10 < 2)  # page_size 10 < 2 items
+
     def test_list_plugins_empty_result(self, plugin_installer):
         """Test plugin listing when no plugins are installed."""
         # Arrange: Mock empty response