diff --git a/integration-tests/pkgJson.spec.js b/integration-tests/pkgJson.spec.js
index 6110b1de2..5468da059 100644
--- a/integration-tests/pkgJson.spec.js
+++ b/integration-tests/pkgJson.spec.js
@@ -105,13 +105,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
         };
     }
 
-    function stringContaining (substring) {
-        return {
-            asymmetricMatch: s => typeof s === 'string' && s.includes(substring),
-            jasmineToString: _ => `<stringContaining(${substring})>`
-        };
-    }
-
     const customMatchers = {
         toSatisfy: () => ({ compare (version, spec) {
             const pass = semver.satisfies(version, spec);
@@ -155,10 +148,8 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
                     // Check that the plugin and spec add was successful to pkg.json.
                     expect(getPkgJson('cordova.plugins')[pluginId]).toBeDefined();
                     expect(getPkgJson('dependencies')[pluginId]).tohaveMinSatisfyingVersion('1.1.2');
-                    // Check that the plugin and spec add was successful to config.xml.
-                    expect(getCfg().getPlugins()).toEqual([
-                        { name: pluginId, spec: specWithMinSatisfyingVersion('1.1.2'), variables: {} }
-                    ]);
+
+                    expect(getCfg().getPluginIdList()).toEqual([]);
                 }).then(function () {
                     // And now remove it with --save.
                     return cordova.plugin('rm', pluginId, { save: true });
@@ -267,12 +258,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
             return cordova.platform('add', PLATFORM, { save: true })
                 .then(function () {
                     expect(getPkgJson('cordova.platforms')).toEqual([PLATFORM]);
-
-                    // Config.xml and ios/cordova/version check.
-                    expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([{
-                        name: PLATFORM,
-                        spec: specSatisfiedBy(platformVersion(PLATFORM))
-                    }]);
                 }).then(function () {
                     return cordova.plugin('add', PLUGIN, { save: true });
                 }).then(function () {
@@ -281,7 +266,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
 
                     // Check that installed version satisfies the dependency spec
                     const version = pluginVersion(PLUGIN);
-                    expect(version).toSatisfy(getCfg().getPlugin(PLUGIN).spec);
                     expect(version).toSatisfy(getPkgJson(`dependencies.${PLUGIN}`));
                 });
         });
@@ -299,11 +283,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
                     // Pkg.json has platform
                     expect(getPkgJson('cordova.platforms')).toEqual([PLATFORM]);
                     expect(getPkgJson(`dependencies.cordova-${PLATFORM}`)).toBeDefined();
-
-                    // browser platform and spec have been added to config.xml.
-                    expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([
-                        { name: PLATFORM, spec: stringContaining(platformPath) }
-                    ]);
                 }).then(function () {
                     // Run cordova plugin add local path --save --fetch.
                     return cordova.plugin('add', pluginPath, { save: true });
@@ -311,13 +290,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
                     // Pkg.json has test plugin.
                     expect(getPkgJson(`cordova.plugins.${PLUGIN}`)).toBeDefined();
                     expect(getPkgJson(`dependencies.${PLUGIN}`)).toBeDefined();
-
-                    // Check that plugin and spec have been added to config.xml
-                    expect(getCfg().getPlugins()).toEqual([{
-                        name: PLUGIN,
-                        spec: stringContaining(pluginPath),
-                        variables: {}
-                    }]);
                 });
         });
     });
@@ -409,11 +381,7 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
                     'cordova-browser': specWithMinSatisfyingVersion('5.0.1')
                 });
 
-                // Check that android and browser were added to config.xml with the correct spec.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([
-                    { name: 'android', spec: '~7.0.0' },
-                    { name: 'browser', spec: '~5.0.1' }
-                ]);
+                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([]);
             }).then(function () {
                 // And now remove it with --save.
                 return cordova.platform('rm', ['android', 'browser'], { save: true });
@@ -456,9 +424,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
                 expect(getPkgJson('cordova.platforms')).toEqual([ PLATFORM ]);
                 // Config.xml and ios/cordova/version check.
                 const version = platformVersion(PLATFORM);
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([
-                    { name: PLATFORM, spec: specSatisfiedBy(version) }
-                ]);
                 // Check that pkg.json and ios/cordova/version versions "satisfy" each other.
                 const pkgSpec = getPkgJson(`dependencies.cordova-${PLATFORM}`);
                 expect(version).toSatisfy(pkgSpec);
@@ -491,11 +456,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
             }).then(function () {
                 // pkg.json has new platform.
                 expect(getPkgJson('cordova.platforms')).toEqual([PLATFORM]);
-                // Config.xml and ios/cordova/version check.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([{
-                    name: PLATFORM,
-                    spec: specSatisfiedBy(platformVersion(PLATFORM))
-                }]);
             }).then(function () {
                 return cordova.plugin('add', PLUGIN, { save: true });
             }).then(function () {
@@ -535,11 +495,6 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
             return cordova.platform('add', `${PLATFORM}@4.5.4`, { save: true }).then(function () {
                 // Pkg.json has ios.
                 expect(getPkgJson('cordova.platforms')).toEqual([ PLATFORM ]);
-                // Config.xml and ios/cordova/version check.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([{
-                    name: PLATFORM,
-                    spec: specSatisfiedBy(platformVersion(PLATFORM))
-                }]);
             }).then(function () {
                 return cordova.plugin('add', `${PLUGIN}@4.0.0`, { save: true });
             }).then(function () {
@@ -550,37 +505,4 @@ describe('pkgJson', function () {
             });
         });
     });
-
-    // No pkg.json included in test file.
-    describe('local path is added to config.xml without pkg.json', function () {
-        beforeEach(() => useProject('basePkgJson13'));
-
-        // Test#026: has NO pkg.json. Checks if local path is added to config.xml and has no errors.
-        it('Test#026 : if you add a platform with local path, config.xml gets updated', function () {
-            const PLATFORM = 'browser';
-            const platformPath = copyFixture(`platforms/cordova-${PLATFORM}`);
-
-            return cordova.platform('add', platformPath, { save: true })
-                .then(function () {
-                    expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toContain({
-                        name: 'browser', spec: stringContaining(platformPath)
-                    });
-                });
-        });
-
-        // Test#027: has NO pkg.json. Checks if local path is added to config.xml and has no errors.
-        it('Test#027 : if you add a plugin with local path, config.xml gets updated', function () {
-            const PLUGIN = 'cordova-lib-test-plugin';
-            const pluginPath = copyFixture(path.join('plugins', PLUGIN));
-
-            return cordova.plugin('add', pluginPath, { save: true })
-                .then(function () {
-                    expect(getCfg().getPlugins()).toContain({
-                        name: PLUGIN,
-                        spec: stringContaining(pluginPath),
-                        variables: {}
-                    });
-                });
-        });
-    });
 });
diff --git a/spec/cordova/platform/addHelper.spec.js b/spec/cordova/platform/addHelper.spec.js
index e0a19939f..f69041813 100644
--- a/spec/cordova/platform/addHelper.spec.js
+++ b/spec/cordova/platform/addHelper.spec.js
@@ -217,14 +217,6 @@ describe('cordova/platform/addHelper', function () {
                 });
             });
 
-            it('should write out the version of platform just added/updated to config.xml if the save option is provided', function () {
-                return platform_addHelper('add', hooks_mock, projectRoot, ['ios'], { save: true, restoring: true }).then(function (result) {
-                    expect(cfg_parser_mock.prototype.removeEngine).toHaveBeenCalled();
-                    expect(cfg_parser_mock.prototype.addEngine).toHaveBeenCalled();
-                    expect(cfg_parser_mock.prototype.write).toHaveBeenCalled();
-                });
-            });
-
             describe('if the project contains a package.json', function () {
                 it('should write out the platform just added/updated to the cordova.platforms property of package.json', function () {
                     fs.readFileSync.and.returnValue('file');
diff --git a/spec/cordova/platform/remove.spec.js b/spec/cordova/platform/remove.spec.js
index c70f9c882..9c1a7b309 100644
--- a/spec/cordova/platform/remove.spec.js
+++ b/spec/cordova/platform/remove.spec.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe('cordova/platform/remove', function () {
     beforeEach(function () {
         hooks_mock = jasmine.createSpyObj('hooksRunner mock', ['fire']);
         hooks_mock.fire.and.returnValue(Promise.resolve());
-        cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser mock', ['write', 'removeEngine']);
+        cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser mock', ['write', 'getEngines', 'removeEngine']);
 
         platform_remove = rewire('../../../src/cordova/platform/remove');
         platform_remove.__set__({
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ describe('cordova/platform/remove', function () {
         spyOn(cordova_util, 'removePlatformPluginsJson');
         spyOn(events, 'emit');
         spyOn(cordova_util, 'requireNoCache').and.returnValue({});
+        cfg_parser_mock.prototype.getEngines.and.returnValue([{ name: 'atari', spec: '^0.0.1' }]);
     });
 
     describe('error/warning conditions', function () {
diff --git a/spec/cordova/plugin/add.spec.js b/spec/cordova/plugin/add.spec.js
index b69ee2270..c135e9625 100644
--- a/spec/cordova/plugin/add.spec.js
+++ b/spec/cordova/plugin/add.spec.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe('cordova/plugin/add', function () {
     beforeEach(function () {
         hook_mock = jasmine.createSpyObj('hooks runner mock', ['fire']);
         hook_mock.fire.and.returnValue(Promise.resolve());
-        Cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser prototype mock', ['getPlugin', 'removePlugin', 'addPlugin', 'write']);
+        Cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser prototype mock', ['getPlugin']);
         cfg_parser_revert_mock = add.__set__('ConfigParser', Cfg_parser_mock);
         plugin_info = jasmine.createSpyObj('pluginInfo', ['getPreferences']);
         plugin_info.getPreferences.and.returnValue({});
@@ -164,9 +164,6 @@ describe('cordova/plugin/add', function () {
                     expect(add.determinePluginTarget).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.anything(), jasmine.anything(), jasmine.anything(), jasmine.objectContaining({ 'variables': cli_plugin_variables }));
                     // check that the plugin variables from config.xml got added to cli_variables
                     expect(plugman.install).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.anything(), jasmine.anything(), jasmine.anything(), jasmine.anything(), jasmine.objectContaining({ 'cli_variables': cli_plugin_variables }));
-                    expect(Cfg_parser_mock.prototype.removePlugin).toHaveBeenCalledWith('cordova-plugin-device');
-                    expect(Cfg_parser_mock.prototype.addPlugin).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.any(Object), cli_plugin_variables);
-                    expect(Cfg_parser_mock.prototype.write).toHaveBeenCalled();
                 });
             });
             // can't test the following due to inline require of preparePlatforms
diff --git a/spec/cordova/plugin/remove.spec.js b/spec/cordova/plugin/remove.spec.js
index bf26c10e3..a204763f4 100644
--- a/spec/cordova/plugin/remove.spec.js
+++ b/spec/cordova/plugin/remove.spec.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ describe('cordova/plugin/remove', function () {
         hook_mock = jasmine.createSpyObj('hooks runner mock', ['fire']);
         spyOn(prepare, 'preparePlatforms').and.returnValue(true);
         hook_mock.fire.and.returnValue(Promise.resolve());
-        cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser mock', ['write', 'removeEngine', 'addEngine', 'getHookScripts', 'removePlugin']);
+        cfg_parser_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('config parser mock', ['write', 'getPlugin', 'removePlugin']);
         cfg_parser_revert_mock = remove.__set__('ConfigParser', cfg_parser_mock);
         plugin_info_provider_mock.prototype = jasmine.createSpyObj('plugin info provider mock', ['get', 'getPreferences']);
         plugin_info_provider_mock.prototype.get = function (directory) {
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ describe('cordova/plugin/remove', function () {
                 fs.existsSync.and.returnValue(true);
                 remove.validatePluginId.and.returnValue('cordova-plugin-splashscreen');
                 var opts = { important: 'options', plugins: ['cordova-plugin-splashscreen'] };
+                cfg_parser_mock.prototype.getPlugin.and.returnValue({});
                 return remove(projectRoot, 'cordova-plugin-splashscreen', hook_mock, opts).then(function () {
                     expect(cfg_parser_mock.prototype.removePlugin).toHaveBeenCalled();
                     expect(cfg_parser_mock.prototype.write).toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/spec/cordova/restore-util.spec.js b/spec/cordova/restore-util.spec.js
index 2a046492e..17291e56e 100644
--- a/spec/cordova/restore-util.spec.js
+++ b/spec/cordova/restore-util.spec.js
@@ -149,8 +149,6 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
     }
 
     function expectConsistentPlugins (plugins) {
-        expect(getCfg().getPlugins()).toEqual(jasmine.arrayWithExactContents(plugins));
-
         const unwrappedPlugins = plugins.map(p => p.sample || p);
         expectPluginsInPkgJson(unwrappedPlugins);
 
@@ -160,31 +158,6 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
 
     describe('installPlatformsFromConfigXML', () => {
 
-        it('Test#000 : should change specs in config.xml from using ~ to using ^', () => {
-            const PLATFORM = 'android';
-
-            getCfg()
-                .addEngine(PLATFORM, '~7.1.1')
-                .write();
-
-            setPkgJson('dependencies', {
-                [platformPkgName(PLATFORM)]: '^7.1.1'
-            });
-
-            return restore.installPlatformsFromConfigXML().then(() => {
-                // No changes to pkg.json spec for android.
-                const pkgJson = getPkgJson();
-                expect(pkgJson.cordova.platforms).toEqual([PLATFORM]);
-                expect(pkgJson.dependencies[platformPkgName(PLATFORM)]).toMatch(/^\^/);
-
-                // config.xml spec should change from '~' to '^'.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([{
-                    name: PLATFORM,
-                    spec: jasmine.stringMatching(/^\^/)
-                }]);
-            });
-        });
-
         it('Test#001 : should restore saved platform from package.json', () => {
             setPkgJson('cordova.platforms', [testPlatform]);
 
@@ -205,7 +178,7 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
 
             return restore.installPlatformsFromConfigXML().then(() => {
                 // Check config.xml for spec modification.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([{
+                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).not.toEqual([{
                     name: PLATFORM,
                     spec: `git+${PLATFORM_URL}.git`
                 }]);
@@ -269,28 +242,6 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
             });
         });
 
-        it('Test#007 : should update config.xml to include platforms from package.json', () => {
-            getCfg()
-                .addEngine('ios', '6.0.0')
-                .write();
-            setPkgJson('dependencies', {
-                'cordova-ios': '^4.5.4', 'cordova-browser': '^5.0.3'
-            });
-            setPkgJson('cordova.platforms', ['ios', 'browser']);
-
-            return restore.installPlatformsFromConfigXML().then(() => {
-                // Check to make sure that 'browser' spec was added properly.
-                expect(getCfg().getEngines()).toEqual([
-                    { name: 'ios', spec: '^4.5.4' },
-                    { name: 'browser', spec: '^5.0.3' }
-                ]);
-                // No change to pkg.json dependencies.
-                expect(getPkgJson('dependencies')).toEqual({
-                    'cordova-ios': '^4.5.4', 'cordova-browser': '^5.0.3'
-                });
-            });
-        });
-
         it('Test#016 : should restore platforms & plugins and create a missing package.json', () => {
             getCfg()
                 .addEngine(testPlatform)
@@ -392,7 +343,7 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
             });
 
             return restore.installPluginsFromConfigXML({ save: true }).then(() => {
-                expectConsistentPlugins([
+                expectPluginsInPkgJson([
                     jasmine.objectContaining({
                         name: 'cordova-plugin-camera',
                         variables: { variable_1: ' ', variable_2: ' ', variable_3: 'value_3' }
@@ -405,7 +356,7 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
                         name: 'cordova-plugin-device',
                         variables: { variable_1: 'value_1' }
                     })
-                ]);
+                ].map(p => p.sample || p));
             });
         });
 
@@ -436,7 +387,7 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
             });
 
             return restore.installPluginsFromConfigXML({ save: true }).then(() => {
-                expectConsistentPlugins([{
+                expectPluginsInPkgJson([{
                     name: 'cordova-plugin-camera',
                     spec: '^2.3.0',
                     variables: { variable_1: 'value_1', variable_2: 'value_2', variable_3: 'value_3' }
@@ -448,28 +399,7 @@ describe('cordova/restore-util', () => {
                     name: 'cordova-plugin-splashscreen',
                     spec: undefined,
                     variables: {}
-                }]);
-            });
-        });
-
-        /**
-        *   When config has no plugins and is restored, the plugins will be restored with the
-        *   pkg.json plugins and with the spec from pkg.json dependencies.
-        */
-        it('Test#015 : update config.xml to include all plugins/variables from pkg.json', () => {
-            setPkgJson('dependencies', {
-                'cordova-plugin-camera': '^2.3.0'
-            });
-            setPkgJson('cordova.plugins', {
-                'cordova-plugin-camera': { variable_1: 'value_1' }
-            });
-
-            return restore.installPluginsFromConfigXML({ save: true }).then(() => {
-                expectConsistentPlugins([{
-                    name: 'cordova-plugin-camera',
-                    spec: '^2.3.0',
-                    variables: { variable_1: 'value_1' }
-                }]);
+                }].map(p => p.sample || p));
             });
         });
 
diff --git a/src/cordova/platform/addHelper.js b/src/cordova/platform/addHelper.js
index 59435b108..2094e3fd5 100644
--- a/src/cordova/platform/addHelper.js
+++ b/src/cordova/platform/addHelper.js
@@ -220,13 +220,6 @@ function addHelper (cmd, hooksRunner, projectRoot, targets, opts) {
                                 // was installed. However, we save it with the "~" attribute (this allows for patch updates).
                                 spec = saveVersion ? '~' + platDetails.version : spec;
 
-                                // Save target into config.xml, overriding already existing settings.
-                                events.emit('log', '--save flag or autosave detected');
-                                events.emit('log', 'Saving ' + platform + '@' + spec + ' into config.xml file ...');
-                                cfg.removeEngine(platform);
-                                cfg.addEngine(platform, spec);
-                                cfg.write();
-
                                 // Save to add to pacakge.json's cordova.platforms array in the next then.
                                 platformsToSave.push(platform);
                             }
diff --git a/src/cordova/platform/remove.js b/src/cordova/platform/remove.js
index 2fc0d7b11..37c946444 100644
--- a/src/cordova/platform/remove.js
+++ b/src/cordova/platform/remove.js
@@ -54,9 +54,11 @@ function remove (hooksRunner, projectRoot, targets, opts) {
                     var platformName = target.split('@')[0];
                     var xml = cordova_util.projectConfig(projectRoot);
                     var cfg = new ConfigParser(xml);
-                    events.emit('log', 'Removing platform ' + target + ' from config.xml file...');
-                    cfg.removeEngine(platformName);
-                    cfg.write();
+                    if (cfg.getEngines && cfg.getEngines().some(function (e) { return e.name === platformName; })) {
+                        events.emit('log', 'Removing platform ' + target + ' from config.xml file...');
+                        cfg.removeEngine(platformName);
+                        cfg.write();
+                    }
                     // If package.json exists and contains a specified platform in cordova.platforms, it will be removed.
                     if (pkgJson !== undefined && pkgJson.cordova !== undefined && pkgJson.cordova.platforms !== undefined) {
                         var index = pkgJson.cordova.platforms.indexOf(platformName);
diff --git a/src/cordova/plugin/add.js b/src/cordova/plugin/add.js
index 6ab89ab46..2ef25da0c 100644
--- a/src/cordova/plugin/add.js
+++ b/src/cordova/plugin/add.js
@@ -183,13 +183,6 @@ function add (projectRoot, hooksRunner, opts) {
                                 }
                             }
                         }
-                        xml = cordova_util.projectConfig(projectRoot);
-                        cfg = new ConfigParser(xml);
-                        cfg.removePlugin(pluginInfo.id);
-                        cfg.addPlugin(attributes, opts.cli_variables);
-                        cfg.write();
-
-                        events.emit('results', 'Saved plugin info for "' + pluginInfo.id + '" to config.xml');
                     }
                 });
             }, Promise.resolve());
diff --git a/src/cordova/plugin/remove.js b/src/cordova/plugin/remove.js
index c6b425145..e799b3861 100644
--- a/src/cordova/plugin/remove.js
+++ b/src/cordova/plugin/remove.js
@@ -115,12 +115,15 @@ function remove (projectRoot, targets, hooksRunner, opts) {
     }
 
     function persistRemovalToCfg (target) {
-        events.emit('log', 'Removing plugin ' + target + ' from config.xml file...');
         var configPath = cordova_util.projectConfig(projectRoot);
         if (fs.existsSync(configPath)) { // should not happen with real life but needed for tests
             var configXml = new ConfigParser(configPath);
-            configXml.removePlugin(target);
-            configXml.write();
+
+            if (configXml.getPlugin(target)) {
+                events.emit('log', 'Removing plugin ' + target + ' from config.xml file...');
+                configXml.removePlugin(target);
+                configXml.write();
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cordova/restore-util.js b/src/cordova/restore-util.js
index e6bfaf64e..0cf21b169 100644
--- a/src/cordova/restore-util.js
+++ b/src/cordova/restore-util.js
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ function installPlatformsFromConfigXML (platforms, opts) {
     var comboArray = [];
     var configPlatforms = [];
     var modifiedPkgJson = false;
-    var modifiedConfigXML = false;
     var mergedPlatformSpecs = {};
     var key;
     var installAllPlatforms = !platforms || platforms.length === 0;
@@ -159,18 +158,6 @@ function installPlatformsFromConfigXML (platforms, opts) {
                     }
                     mergedPlatformSpecs[item] = pkgJson.dependencies[item];
                 }
-                // First remove the engine and then add missing engine and elements to config.xml.
-                // Remove to avoid duplicate engines.
-                if (mergedPlatformSpecs[item]) {
-                    cfg.removeEngine(item);
-                    cfg.addEngine(item, mergedPlatformSpecs[item]);
-                    modifiedConfigXML = true;
-                // If there is no spec, just remove and add the engine.
-                } else if (configPlatforms.indexOf(item) < 0) {
-                    cfg.removeEngine(item);
-                    cfg.addEngine(item);
-                    modifiedConfigXML = true;
-                }
             });
         }
 
@@ -191,9 +178,6 @@ function installPlatformsFromConfigXML (platforms, opts) {
             }
             fs.writeFileSync(pkgJsonPath, JSON.stringify(pkgJson, null, indent), 'utf8');
         }
-        if (modifiedConfigXML === true) {
-            cfg.write();
-        }
         if (!comboArray || !comboArray.length) {
             return Promise.resolve('No platforms found in config.xml and/or package.json that haven\'t been added to the project');
         }
@@ -238,7 +222,6 @@ function installPluginsFromConfigXML (args) {
     var pkgJsonPath = path.join(projectRoot, 'package.json');
     var pkgJson;
     var modifiedPkgJson = false;
-    var modifiedConfigXML = false;
     var comboObject;
     var mergedPluginSpecs = {};
     var comboPluginIdArray;
@@ -346,35 +329,6 @@ function installPluginsFromConfigXML (args) {
             fs.writeFileSync(pkgJsonPath, JSON.stringify(pkgJson, null, indent), 'utf8');
         }
     }
-    // Write to config.xml (only if it is different from package.json in content)
-    comboPluginIdArray.forEach(function (plugID) {
-        var configXMLPlugin = cfg.getPlugin(plugID);
-        if (pluginIdConfig.indexOf(plugID) < 0) {
-            pluginIdConfig.push(plugID);
-            if (mergedPluginSpecs[plugID]) {
-                cfg.removePlugin(plugID);
-                cfg.addPlugin({ name: plugID, spec: mergedPluginSpecs[plugID] }, comboObject[plugID]);
-                modifiedConfigXML = true;
-            } else {
-                cfg.removePlugin(plugID);
-                cfg.addPlugin({ name: plugID }, comboObject[plugID]);
-                modifiedConfigXML = true;
-            }
-
-        // Write only if the plugin variables or specs are different from pkgJson
-        } else if (((pluginIdConfig.indexOf(plugID) >= 0) && (mergedPluginSpecs[plugID]) &&
-            (configXMLPlugin.variables !== comboObject[plugID])) ||
-            ((mergedPluginSpecs[plugID] !== configXMLPlugin.spec) ||
-            (configXMLPlugin.variables !== comboObject[plugID]))) {
-            cfg.removePlugin(plugID);
-            cfg.addPlugin({ name: plugID, spec: mergedPluginSpecs[plugID] }, comboObject[plugID]);
-            modifiedConfigXML = true;
-        }
-    });
-
-    if (modifiedConfigXML === true && args.save !== false) {
-        cfg.write();
-    }
 
     // Intermediate variable to store current installing plugin name
     // to be able to create informative warning on plugin failure