diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/__mocks__/mockHelpers.ts b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/__mocks__/mockHelpers.ts
index 93b4d93a163..6c1a9949bea 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/__mocks__/mockHelpers.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/__mocks__/mockHelpers.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { setBackendSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
-import { PluginsState } from 'app/types';
 import { API_ROOT, GRAFANA_API_ROOT } from '../constants';
-import { CatalogPlugin, LocalPlugin, RemotePlugin, Version } from '../types';
+import { CatalogPlugin, LocalPlugin, RemotePlugin, Version, ReducerState, RequestStatus } from '../types';
 import remotePluginMock from './remotePlugin.mock';
 import localPluginMock from './localPlugin.mock';
 import catalogPluginMock from './catalogPlugin.mock';
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@ export const getLocalPluginMock = (overrides?: Partial<LocalPlugin>) => ({ ...lo
 export const getRemotePluginMock = (overrides?: Partial<RemotePlugin>) => ({ ...remotePluginMock, ...overrides });
 
 // Returns a mock for the Redux store state of plugins
-export const getPluginsStateMock = (plugins: CatalogPlugin[] = []): PluginsState => ({
+export const getPluginsStateMock = (plugins: CatalogPlugin[] = []): ReducerState => ({
   // @ts-ignore - We don't need the rest of the properties here as we are using the "new" reducer (public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/reducer.ts)
   items: {
     ids: plugins.map(({ id }) => id),
@@ -24,12 +23,20 @@ export const getPluginsStateMock = (plugins: CatalogPlugin[] = []): PluginsState
   },
   requests: {
     'plugins/fetchAll': {
-      status: 'Fulfilled',
+      status: RequestStatus.Fulfilled,
     },
     'plugins/fetchDetails': {
-      status: 'Fulfilled',
+      status: RequestStatus.Fulfilled,
     },
   },
+  // Backward compatibility
+  plugins: [],
+  errors: [],
+  searchQuery: '',
+  hasFetched: false,
+  dashboards: [],
+  isLoadingPluginDashboards: false,
+  panels: {},
 });
 
 // Mocks a plugin by considering what needs to be mocked from GCOM and what needs to be mocked locally (local Grafana API)
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/api.ts b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/api.ts
index 59f96e07c67..20e41b9c325 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/api.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/api.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { getBackendSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
+import { PluginError, renderMarkdown } from '@grafana/data';
 import { API_ROOT, GRAFANA_API_ROOT } from './constants';
-import { mergeLocalsAndRemotes, mergeLocalAndRemote } from './helpers';
-import { PluginError } from '@grafana/data';
+import { mergeLocalAndRemote } from './helpers';
 import {
   PluginDetails,
   Org,
@@ -13,16 +13,6 @@ import {
   PluginVersion,
 } from './types';
 
-export async function getCatalogPlugins(): Promise<CatalogPlugin[]> {
-  const [localPlugins, remotePlugins, pluginErrors] = await Promise.all([
-    getLocalPlugins(),
-    getRemotePlugins(),
-    getPluginErrors(),
-  ]);
-
-  return mergeLocalsAndRemotes(localPlugins, remotePlugins, pluginErrors);
-}
-
 export async function getCatalogPlugin(id: string): Promise<CatalogPlugin> {
   const { local, remote } = await getPlugin(id);
 
@@ -33,7 +23,11 @@ export async function getPluginDetails(id: string): Promise<CatalogPluginDetails
   const localPlugins = await getLocalPlugins();
   const local = localPlugins.find((p) => p.id === id);
   const isInstalled = Boolean(local);
-  const [remote, versions] = await Promise.all([getRemotePlugin(id, isInstalled), getPluginVersions(id)]);
+  const [remote, versions, localReadme] = await Promise.all([
+    getRemotePlugin(id, isInstalled),
+    getPluginVersions(id),
+    getLocalPluginReadme(id),
+  ]);
   const dependencies = remote?.json?.dependencies;
   // Prepend semver range when we fallback to grafanaVersion (deprecated in favour of grafanaDependency)
   // otherwise plugins cannot be installed.
@@ -47,12 +41,12 @@ export async function getPluginDetails(id: string): Promise<CatalogPluginDetails
     grafanaDependency,
     pluginDependencies: dependencies?.plugins || [],
     links: remote?.json?.info.links || local?.info.links || [],
-    readme: remote?.readme,
+    readme: localReadme || remote?.readme,
     versions,
   };
 }
 
-async function getRemotePlugins(): Promise<RemotePlugin[]> {
+export async function getRemotePlugins(): Promise<RemotePlugin[]> {
   const res = await getBackendSrv().get(`${GRAFANA_API_ROOT}/plugins`);
   return res.items;
 }
@@ -73,7 +67,7 @@ async function getPlugin(slug: string): Promise<PluginDetails> {
   };
 }
 
-async function getPluginErrors(): Promise<PluginError[]> {
+export async function getPluginErrors(): Promise<PluginError[]> {
   try {
     return await getBackendSrv().get(`${API_ROOT}/errors`);
   } catch (error) {
@@ -83,10 +77,10 @@ async function getPluginErrors(): Promise<PluginError[]> {
 
 async function getRemotePlugin(id: string, isInstalled: boolean): Promise<RemotePlugin | undefined> {
   try {
-    return await getBackendSrv().get(`${GRAFANA_API_ROOT}/plugins/${id}`);
+    return await getBackendSrv().get(`${GRAFANA_API_ROOT}/plugins/${id}`, {});
   } catch (error) {
-    // this might be a plugin that doesn't exist on gcom.
-    error.isHandled = isInstalled;
+    // It can happen that GCOM is not available, in that case we show a limited set of information to the user.
+    error.isHandled = true;
     return;
   }
 }
@@ -99,11 +93,25 @@ async function getPluginVersions(id: string): Promise<Version[]> {
 
     return (versions.items || []).map(({ version, createdAt }) => ({ version, createdAt }));
   } catch (error) {
+    // It can happen that GCOM is not available, in that case we show a limited set of information to the user.
+    error.isHandled = true;
     return [];
   }
 }
 
-async function getLocalPlugins(): Promise<LocalPlugin[]> {
+async function getLocalPluginReadme(id: string): Promise<string> {
+  try {
+    const markdown: string = await getBackendSrv().get(`${API_ROOT}/${id}/markdown/help`);
+    const markdownAsHtml = markdown ? renderMarkdown(markdown) : '';
+
+    return markdownAsHtml;
+  } catch (error) {
+    error.isHandled = true;
+    return '';
+  }
+}
+
+export async function getLocalPlugins(): Promise<LocalPlugin[]> {
   const installed = await getBackendSrv().get(`${API_ROOT}`, { embedded: 0 });
   return installed;
 }
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/components/InstallControls/index.tsx b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/components/InstallControls/index.tsx
index f0d3ae37e97..16110ddce1e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/components/InstallControls/index.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/components/InstallControls/index.tsx
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ import { config } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { HorizontalGroup, Icon, LinkButton, useStyles2 } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
 
-import { CatalogPlugin, PluginStatus } from '../../types';
-import { isGrafanaAdmin, getExternalManageLink } from '../../helpers';
 import { ExternallyManagedButton } from './ExternallyManagedButton';
 import { InstallControlsButton } from './InstallControlsButton';
+import { CatalogPlugin, PluginStatus } from '../../types';
+import { isGrafanaAdmin, getExternalManageLink } from '../../helpers';
+import { useIsRemotePluginsAvailable } from '../../state/hooks';
 
 interface Props {
   plugin: CatalogPlugin;
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ export const InstallControls = ({ plugin }: Props) => {
   const isExternallyManaged = config.pluginAdminExternalManageEnabled;
   const hasPermission = isGrafanaAdmin();
   const grafanaDependency = plugin.details?.grafanaDependency;
+  const isRemotePluginsAvailable = useIsRemotePluginsAvailable();
   const unsupportedGrafanaVersion = grafanaDependency
     ? !satisfies(config.buildInfo.version, grafanaDependency, {
         // needed for when running against main
@@ -78,6 +80,14 @@ export const InstallControls = ({ plugin }: Props) => {
     return <ExternallyManagedButton pluginId={plugin.id} pluginStatus={pluginStatus} />;
   }
 
+  if (!isRemotePluginsAvailable) {
+    return (
+      <div className={styles.message}>
+        The install controls have been disabled because the Grafana server cannot access grafana.com.
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
   return <InstallControlsButton plugin={plugin} pluginStatus={pluginStatus} />;
 };
 
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.test.tsx b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.test.tsx
index a1a5e347b19..2a4083d3c80 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.test.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ import { locationService } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { PluginType } from '@grafana/data';
 import { getRouteComponentProps } from 'app/core/navigation/__mocks__/routeProps';
 import { configureStore } from 'app/store/configureStore';
-import { PluginAdminRoutes, CatalogPlugin } from '../types';
+import { fetchRemotePlugins } from '../state/actions';
+import { PluginAdminRoutes, CatalogPlugin, ReducerState, RequestStatus } from '../types';
 import { getCatalogPluginMock, getPluginsStateMock } from '../__mocks__';
 import BrowsePage from './Browse';
 
@@ -17,8 +18,12 @@ jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => {
   return { ...original, pluginAdminEnabled: true };
 });
 
-const renderBrowse = (path = '/plugins', plugins: CatalogPlugin[] = []): RenderResult => {
-  const store = configureStore({ plugins: getPluginsStateMock(plugins) });
+const renderBrowse = (
+  path = '/plugins',
+  plugins: CatalogPlugin[] = [],
+  pluginsStateOverride?: ReducerState
+): RenderResult => {
+  const store = configureStore({ plugins: pluginsStateOverride || getPluginsStateMock(plugins) });
   locationService.push(path);
   const props = getRouteComponentProps({
     route: { routeName: PluginAdminRoutes.Home } as any,
@@ -288,4 +293,30 @@ describe('Browse list of plugins', () => {
       ]);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('when GCOM api is not available', () => {
+    it('should disable the All / Installed filter', async () => {
+      const plugins = [
+        getCatalogPluginMock({ id: 'plugin-1', name: 'Plugin 1', isInstalled: true }),
+        getCatalogPluginMock({ id: 'plugin-3', name: 'Plugin 2', isInstalled: true }),
+        getCatalogPluginMock({ id: 'plugin-4', name: 'Plugin 3', isInstalled: true }),
+      ];
+      const state = getPluginsStateMock(plugins);
+
+      // Mock the store like if the remote plugins request was rejected
+      const stateOverride = {
+        ...state,
+        requests: {
+          ...state.requests,
+          [fetchRemotePlugins.typePrefix]: {
+            status: RequestStatus.Rejected,
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      // The radio input for the filters should be disabled
+      const { getByRole } = renderBrowse('/plugins', [], stateOverride);
+      await waitFor(() => expect(getByRole('radio', { name: 'Installed' })).toBeDisabled());
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.tsx b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.tsx
index 86ddc8ec002..53774c2e6ab 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/Browse.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import React, { ReactElement } from 'react';
 import { css } from '@emotion/css';
 import { SelectableValue, GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
-import { LoadingPlaceholder, Select, RadioButtonGroup, useStyles2 } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { LoadingPlaceholder, Select, RadioButtonGroup, useStyles2, Tooltip } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { locationSearchToObject } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { GrafanaRouteComponentProps } from 'app/core/navigation/types';
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { Page } from 'app/core/components/Page/Page';
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux';
 import { StoreState } from 'app/types/store';
 import { getNavModel } from 'app/core/selectors/navModel';
-import { useGetAll, useGetAllWithFilters } from '../state/hooks';
+import { useGetAll, useGetAllWithFilters, useIsRemotePluginsAvailable } from '../state/hooks';
 import { Sorters } from '../helpers';
 
 export default function Browse({ route }: GrafanaRouteComponentProps): ReactElement | null {
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export default function Browse({ route }: GrafanaRouteComponentProps): ReactElem
   const navModel = useSelector((state: StoreState) => getNavModel(state.navIndex, navModelId));
   const styles = useStyles2(getStyles);
   const history = useHistory();
+  const remotePluginsAvailable = useIsRemotePluginsAvailable();
   const query = (locationSearch.q as string) || '';
   const filterBy = (locationSearch.filterBy as string) || 'installed';
   const filterByType = (locationSearch.filterByType as string) || 'all';
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@ export default function Browse({ route }: GrafanaRouteComponentProps): ReactElem
     filterByType,
     sortBy,
   });
+  const filterByOptions = [
+    { value: 'all', label: 'All' },
+    { value: 'installed', label: 'Installed' },
+  ];
 
   const onSortByChange = (value: SelectableValue<string>) => {
     history.push({ query: { sortBy: value.value } });
@@ -78,16 +83,25 @@ export default function Browse({ route }: GrafanaRouteComponentProps): ReactElem
                   ]}
                 />
               </div>
-              <div>
-                <RadioButtonGroup
-                  value={filterBy}
-                  onChange={onFilterByChange}
-                  options={[
-                    { value: 'all', label: 'All' },
-                    { value: 'installed', label: 'Installed' },
-                  ]}
-                />
-              </div>
+              {remotePluginsAvailable ? (
+                <div>
+                  <RadioButtonGroup value={filterBy} onChange={onFilterByChange} options={filterByOptions} />
+                </div>
+              ) : (
+                <Tooltip
+                  content="This filter has been disabled because the Grafana server cannot access grafana.com"
+                  placement="top"
+                >
+                  <div>
+                    <RadioButtonGroup
+                      disabled={true}
+                      value={filterBy}
+                      onChange={onFilterByChange}
+                      options={filterByOptions}
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                </Tooltip>
+              )}
               <div>
                 <Select
                   menuShouldPortal
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/PluginDetails.test.tsx b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/PluginDetails.test.tsx
index 8c87c75deec..f141dfba618 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/PluginDetails.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/pages/PluginDetails.test.tsx
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ import { config } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { configureStore } from 'app/store/configureStore';
 import PluginDetailsPage from './PluginDetails';
 import { getRouteComponentProps } from 'app/core/navigation/__mocks__/routeProps';
-import { CatalogPlugin, PluginTabIds } from '../types';
+import { CatalogPlugin, PluginTabIds, RequestStatus, ReducerState } from '../types';
 import * as api from '../api';
+import { fetchRemotePlugins } from '../state/actions';
 import { mockPluginApis, getCatalogPluginMock, getPluginsStateMock } from '../__mocks__';
 import { PluginErrorCode, PluginSignatureStatus } from '@grafana/data';
 import { selectors } from '@grafana/e2e-selectors';
@@ -25,7 +26,16 @@ jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => {
   return mockedRuntime;
 });
 
-const renderPluginDetails = (pluginOverride: Partial<CatalogPlugin>, pageId = PluginTabIds.OVERVIEW): RenderResult => {
+const renderPluginDetails = (
+  pluginOverride: Partial<CatalogPlugin>,
+  {
+    pageId = PluginTabIds.OVERVIEW,
+    pluginsStateOverride,
+  }: {
+    pageId?: PluginTabIds;
+    pluginsStateOverride?: ReducerState;
+  } = {}
+): RenderResult => {
   const plugin = getCatalogPluginMock(pluginOverride);
   const { id } = plugin;
   const props = getRouteComponentProps({
@@ -39,7 +49,7 @@ const renderPluginDetails = (pluginOverride: Partial<CatalogPlugin>, pageId = Pl
     },
   });
   const store = configureStore({
-    plugins: getPluginsStateMock([plugin]),
+    plugins: pluginsStateOverride || getPluginsStateMock([plugin]),
   });
 
   return render(
@@ -163,7 +173,7 @@ describe('Plugin details page', () => {
           ],
         },
       },
-      PluginTabIds.VERSIONS
+      { pageId: PluginTabIds.VERSIONS }
     );
 
     // Check if version information is available
@@ -332,4 +342,40 @@ describe('Plugin details page', () => {
     // Check if the modal disappeared
     expect(queryByText('Uninstall Akumuli')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
+
+  it('should not display the install / uninstall / update buttons if the GCOM api is not available', async () => {
+    let rendered: RenderResult;
+    const plugin = getCatalogPluginMock({ id });
+    const state = getPluginsStateMock([plugin]);
+
+    // Mock the store like if the remote plugins request was rejected
+    const pluginsStateOverride = {
+      ...state,
+      requests: {
+        ...state.requests,
+        [fetchRemotePlugins.typePrefix]: {
+          status: RequestStatus.Rejected,
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    // Does not show an Install button
+    rendered = renderPluginDetails({ id }, { pluginsStateOverride });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(rendered.queryByRole('button', { name: /(un)?install/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    rendered.unmount();
+
+    // Does not show a Uninstall button
+    rendered = renderPluginDetails({ id, isInstalled: true }, { pluginsStateOverride });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(rendered.queryByRole('button', { name: /(un)?install/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    rendered.unmount();
+
+    // Does not show an Update button
+    rendered = renderPluginDetails({ id, isInstalled: true, hasUpdate: true }, { pluginsStateOverride });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(rendered.queryByRole('button', { name: /update/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+
+    // Shows a message to the user
+    // TODO<Import these texts from a single source of truth instead of having them defined in multiple places>
+    const message = 'The install controls have been disabled because the Grafana server cannot access grafana.com.';
+    expect(rendered.getByText(message)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/actions.ts b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/actions.ts
index 33eba69813e..65f60d7e13a 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/actions.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/actions.ts
@@ -3,19 +3,45 @@ import { getBackendSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { PanelPlugin } from '@grafana/data';
 import { StoreState, ThunkResult } from 'app/types';
 import { importPanelPlugin } from 'app/features/plugins/plugin_loader';
-import { getCatalogPlugins, getPluginDetails, installPlugin, uninstallPlugin } from '../api';
+import {
+  getRemotePlugins,
+  getPluginErrors,
+  getLocalPlugins,
+  getPluginDetails,
+  installPlugin,
+  uninstallPlugin,
+} from '../api';
 import { STATE_PREFIX } from '../constants';
-import { updatePanels } from '../helpers';
-import { CatalogPlugin } from '../types';
+import { mergeLocalsAndRemotes, updatePanels } from '../helpers';
+import { CatalogPlugin, RemotePlugin } from '../types';
 
 export const fetchAll = createAsyncThunk(`${STATE_PREFIX}/fetchAll`, async (_, thunkApi) => {
   try {
-    return await getCatalogPlugins();
+    const { dispatch } = thunkApi;
+    const [localPlugins, pluginErrors, { payload: remotePlugins }] = await Promise.all([
+      getLocalPlugins(),
+      getPluginErrors(),
+      dispatch(fetchRemotePlugins()),
+    ]);
+
+    return mergeLocalsAndRemotes(localPlugins, remotePlugins, pluginErrors);
   } catch (e) {
     return thunkApi.rejectWithValue('Unknown error.');
   }
 });
 
+export const fetchRemotePlugins = createAsyncThunk<RemotePlugin[], void, { rejectValue: RemotePlugin[] }>(
+  `${STATE_PREFIX}/fetchRemotePlugins`,
+  async (_, thunkApi) => {
+    try {
+      return await getRemotePlugins();
+    } catch (error) {
+      error.isHandled = true;
+      return thunkApi.rejectWithValue([]);
+    }
+  }
+);
+
 export const fetchDetails = createAsyncThunk(`${STATE_PREFIX}/fetchDetails`, async (id: string, thunkApi) => {
   try {
     const details = await getPluginDetails(id);
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/hooks.ts b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/hooks.ts
index 793eb2c7dc3..e425581e205 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/hooks.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/state/hooks.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
-import { fetchAll, fetchDetails, install, uninstall } from './actions';
+import { fetchAll, fetchDetails, fetchRemotePlugins, install, uninstall } from './actions';
 import { CatalogPlugin, PluginCatalogStoreState } from '../types';
 import {
   find,
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ export const useUninstall = () => {
   return (id: string) => dispatch(uninstall(id));
 };
 
+export const useIsRemotePluginsAvailable = () => {
+  const error = useSelector(selectRequestError(fetchRemotePlugins.typePrefix));
+  return error === null;
+};
+
 export const useFetchStatus = () => {
   const isLoading = useSelector(selectIsRequestPending(fetchAll.typePrefix));
   const error = useSelector(selectRequestError(fetchAll.typePrefix));
diff --git a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/types.ts b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/types.ts
index ce94c1f78d4..40903528b68 100644
--- a/public/app/features/plugins/admin/types.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/plugins/admin/types.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ export enum RequestStatus {
   Fulfilled = 'Fulfilled',
   Rejected = 'Rejected',
 }
+export type RemotePluginResponse = {
+  plugins: RemotePlugin[];
+  error?: Error;
+};
 
 export type RequestInfo = {
   status: RequestStatus;