diff --git a/platform/settings-sync-core/resources/messages/SettingsSyncBundle.properties b/platform/settings-sync-core/resources/messages/SettingsSyncBundle.properties
index dd481b834db3..36a780a346b5 100644
--- a/platform/settings-sync-core/resources/messages/SettingsSyncBundle.properties
+++ b/platform/settings-sync-core/resources/messages/SettingsSyncBundle.properties
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ status.action.settings.sync.failed=Failed
 # logout.dialog.button=Log Out
 plugins.bundled=Bundled plugins
 subcategory.config.link=Configure
+#temporary message
+settings.jba.plugin.required.text=Please download JetBrains "Backup and Sync" plugin from the Plugins page
+settings.jba.plugin.required.title=Plugin download required
 
 settings.category.ui.editor.font=Editor font
 settings.sync.info.message=Sync UI, Code and System settings, Keymaps, Plugins, and Tools.
diff --git a/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/communicator/RemoteCommunicatorHolder.kt b/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/communicator/RemoteCommunicatorHolder.kt
index 3a146966deb8..79ce64523dd6 100644
--- a/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/communicator/RemoteCommunicatorHolder.kt
+++ b/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/communicator/RemoteCommunicatorHolder.kt
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 package com.intellij.settingsSync.core.communicator
 
+import com.intellij.icons.AllIcons
+import com.intellij.openapi.application.EDT
 import com.intellij.openapi.diagnostic.logger
+import com.intellij.openapi.ui.Messages
+import com.intellij.settingsSync.core.SettingsSyncBundle
 import com.intellij.settingsSync.core.SettingsSyncEventListener
 import com.intellij.settingsSync.core.SettingsSyncLocalSettings
 import com.intellij.settingsSync.core.SettingsSyncRemoteCommunicator
+import com.intellij.settingsSync.core.auth.SettingsSyncAuthService
 import com.intellij.util.resettableLazy
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.ApiStatus
+import java.awt.Component
 
 @ApiStatus.Internal
 object RemoteCommunicatorHolder : SettingsSyncEventListener {
@@ -69,10 +77,18 @@ object RemoteCommunicatorHolder : SettingsSyncEventListener {
   }
 
   fun getAvailableProviders(): List<SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider> {
-    val extensionList = SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider.PROVIDER_EP.extensionList
+    val extensionList = arrayListOf<SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider>()
+    extensionList.addAll(SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider.PROVIDER_EP.extensionList)
+    if (extensionList.find { it.providerCode == DEFAULT_PROVIDER_CODE } == null) {
+      extensionList.add(DummyDefaultCommunicatorProvider)
+    }
     return extensionList
   }
 
+  fun getExternalProviders(): List<SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider> {
+    return getAvailableProviders().filter { it.providerCode != DEFAULT_PROVIDER_CODE }
+  }
+
   fun getDefaultProvider(): SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider? {
     return getProvider(DEFAULT_PROVIDER_CODE)
   }
@@ -89,4 +105,37 @@ object RemoteCommunicatorHolder : SettingsSyncEventListener {
     val providerCode = SettingsSyncLocalSettings.getInstance().providerCode ?: return null
     return getProvider(providerCode)
   }
+
+  private object DummyAuthService: SettingsSyncAuthService {
+    override val providerCode = DEFAULT_PROVIDER_CODE
+    override val providerName = "JetBrains"
+    override val icon = AllIcons.Ultimate.IdeaUltimatePromo
+
+    override suspend fun login(parentComponent: Component?): SettingsSyncUserData? {
+      return withContext(Dispatchers.EDT) {
+        if (parentComponent != null) {
+          Messages.showInfoMessage(parentComponent, SettingsSyncBundle.message("settings.jba.plugin.required.text"),
+                                   SettingsSyncBundle.message("settings.jba.plugin.required.title"))
+        } else {
+          Messages.showInfoMessage(SettingsSyncBundle.message("settings.jba.plugin.required.text"),
+                                   SettingsSyncBundle.message("settings.jba.plugin.required.title"))
+        }
+        null
+      }
+    }
+
+    override fun getUserData(userId: String): SettingsSyncUserData? = null
+    override fun getAvailableUserAccounts(): List<SettingsSyncUserData> = emptyList()
+  }
+
+  private object DummyDefaultCommunicatorProvider : SettingsSyncCommunicatorProvider {
+    override val providerCode: String
+      get() = DEFAULT_PROVIDER_CODE
+    override val authService = DummyAuthService
+
+    override fun createCommunicator(userId: String): SettingsSyncRemoteCommunicator? {
+      return null
+    }
+
+  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/config/SettingsSyncConfigurable.kt b/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/config/SettingsSyncConfigurable.kt
index ef86dada2e33..f11f271c2a00 100644
--- a/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/config/SettingsSyncConfigurable.kt
+++ b/platform/settings-sync-core/src/com/intellij/settingsSync/core/config/SettingsSyncConfigurable.kt
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ internal class SettingsSyncConfigurable(private val coroutineScope: CoroutineSco
   private val wasUsedBefore = AtomicBooleanProperty(SettingsSyncLocalSettings.getInstance().userId != null)
   private val userAccountsList = arrayListOf<UserProviderHolder>()
   private val syncPanelHolder = SettingsSyncPanelHolder()
-  private val hasMultipleProviders = AtomicBooleanProperty(RemoteCommunicatorHolder.getAvailableProviders().size > 1)
+  private val hasMultipleProviders = AtomicBooleanProperty(RemoteCommunicatorHolder.getExternalProviders().isNotEmpty())
 
   init {
     syncEnabler.addListener(this)