Q_IMPORT_PLUGIN generates a global static symbol that initializes a plugin. If this symbol is added to a static library and the library is then linked to an executable, the linker decides that the symbol is unused (because nothing references it) and discards it. This means there's no point to compile the Q_IMPORT_PLUGIN containing files into static libraries. Change the generator expression we use for plugin propagation via associated modules to not compile and link the plugin initialization object file into a static library. Pick-to: 6.1 Task-number: QTBUG-80863 Change-Id: Ide32c0124c1e313c352a72280ce32ce9fbe8fff1 Reviewed-by: Qt CI Bot <qt_ci_bot@qt-project.org> Reviewed-by: Joerg Bornemann <joerg.bornemann@qt.io>