diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index c2a1fa2a..58e7a99c 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -251,6 +251,35 @@ workflows:
                   node ../../scripts/only-covered main.js
                 working_directory: examples/support-files
 
+      - cypress/run:
+          attach-workspace: true
+          name: example-use-plugins-and-support
+          requires:
+            - cypress/install
+          # there are no jobs to follow this one
+          # so no need to save the workspace files (saves time)
+          no-workspace: true
+          command: npx cypress run --project examples/use-plugins-and-support
+          # store screenshots and videos
+          store_artifacts: true
+          post-steps:
+            - run: cat examples/use-plugins-and-support/.nyc_output/out.json
+            # store the created coverage report folder
+            # you can click on it in the CircleCI UI
+            # to see live static HTML site
+            - store_artifacts:
+                path: examples/use-plugins-and-support/coverage
+            # make sure the examples captures 100% of code
+            - run:
+                command: npx nyc report --check-coverage true --lines 100
+                working_directory: examples/use-plugins-and-support
+            - run:
+                name: Check code coverage 📈
+                command: |
+                  node ../../scripts/check-coverage main.js
+                  node ../../scripts/only-covered main.js
+                working_directory: examples/use-plugins-and-support
+
       - publish:
           filters:
             branches:
@@ -266,3 +295,4 @@ workflows:
             - example-ts-example
             - example-same-folder
             - example-support-files
+            - example-use-plugins-and-support
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b65e42dc..dbf0c532 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ Register tasks in your `cypress/plugins/index.js` file
 
 ```js
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('@cypress/code-coverage/task'))
+  require('@cypress/code-coverage/task')(on, config)
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+  // with the any changed environment variables
+  return config
 }
 ```
 
@@ -109,8 +112,9 @@ Put the following in `cypress/plugins/index.js` file to use `.babelrc` file
 
 ```js
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('@cypress/code-coverage/task'))
+  require('@cypress/code-coverage/task')(on, config)
   on('file:preprocessor', require('@cypress/code-coverage/use-babelrc'))
+  return config
 }
 ```
 
@@ -122,11 +126,12 @@ If you cannot use `.babelrc` for some reason (maybe it is used by other tools?),
 
 ```js
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('@cypress/code-coverage/task'))
+  require('@cypress/code-coverage/task')(on, config)
   on(
     'file:preprocessor',
     require('@cypress/code-coverage/use-browserify-istanbul')
   )
+  return config
 }
 ```
 
@@ -349,6 +354,37 @@ npm run dev:no:coverage
 - [bahmutov/code-coverage-subfolder-example](https://github.com/bahmutov/code-coverage-subfolder-example) shows how to instrument `app` folder using `nyc instrument` as a separate step before running E2E tests
 - [bahmutov/docker-with-cypress-included-code-coverage-example](https://github.com/bahmutov/docker-with-cypress-included-code-coverage-example) runs tests inside pre-installed Cypress using [cypress/included:x.y.z](https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress-docker-images/tree/master/included) Docker image and reports code coverage.
 
+## Migrations
+
+### v2 to v3
+
+Change the plugins file `cypress/plugins/index.js`
+
+```js
+// BEFORE
+module.exports = (on, config) => {
+  on('task', require('@cypress/code-coverage/task'))
+}
+// AFTER
+module.exports = (on, config) => {
+  require('@cypress/code-coverage/task')(on, config)
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+  // with the any changed environment variables
+  return config
+}
+```
+
+**Tip:** we include [plugins.js](plugins.js) file you can point at from your code in simple cases. From your `cypress.json` file:
+
+```json
+{
+  "pluginsFile": "node_modules/@cypress/code-coverage/plugins",
+  "supportFile": "node_modules/@cypress/code-coverage/support"
+}
+```
+
+See [examples/use-plugins-and-support](examples/use-plugins-and-support)
+
 ## Debugging
 
 This plugin uses [debug](https://github.com/visionmedia/debug) module to output additional logging messages from its [task.js](task.js) file. This can help with debugging errors while saving code coverage or reporting. In order to see these messages, run Cypress from the terminal with environment variable `DEBUG=code-coverage`. Example using Unix syntax to set the variable:
diff --git a/cypress/plugins/index.js b/cypress/plugins/index.js
index f45185fc..689350e6 100644
--- a/cypress/plugins/index.js
+++ b/cypress/plugins/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../task'))
+  require('../../task')(on, config)
 
   // also use .babelrc file when bundling spec files
   // to get the code coverage from unit tests
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@ module.exports = (on, config) => {
   // or use browserify and just push babel-plugin-istanbul
   // directory to the list of babelify plugins
   // on('file:preprocessor', require('../../use-browserify-istanbul'))
+
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object with changed environment variable
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/before-all-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js b/examples/before-all-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
index 172deda4..a7fb752b 100644
--- a/examples/before-all-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
+++ b/examples/before-all-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../../../task'))
+  require('../../../../task')(on, config)
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+  // with the any changed environment variables
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/before-each-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js b/examples/before-each-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
index 172deda4..a7fb752b 100644
--- a/examples/before-each-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
+++ b/examples/before-each-visit/cypress/plugins/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../../../task'))
+  require('../../../../task')(on, config)
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+  // with the any changed environment variables
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/same-folder/plugins.js b/examples/same-folder/plugins.js
index 723dd9e1..2df3f068 100644
--- a/examples/same-folder/plugins.js
+++ b/examples/same-folder/plugins.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../task'))
+  require('../../task')(on, config)
   on('file:preprocessor', require('../../use-babelrc'))
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/support-files/cypress/plugins/index.js b/examples/support-files/cypress/plugins/index.js
index 42aa38ea..b17c48db 100644
--- a/examples/support-files/cypress/plugins/index.js
+++ b/examples/support-files/cypress/plugins/index.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../../../task'))
+  require('../../../../task')(on, config)
   on('file:preprocessor', require('../../../../use-babelrc'))
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/ts-example/cypress/plugins/index.js b/examples/ts-example/cypress/plugins/index.js
index 172deda4..fa838f18 100644
--- a/examples/ts-example/cypress/plugins/index.js
+++ b/examples/ts-example/cypress/plugins/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 module.exports = (on, config) => {
-  on('task', require('../../../../task'))
+  require('../../../../task')(on, config)
+  return config
 }
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/README.md b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f1251b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# example: use-plugins-and-support
+
+Using included plugins and support files
+
+See [cypress.json](cypress.json) file
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress.json b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3681940e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "pluginsFile": "../../plugins",
+  "supportFile": "../../support",
+  "fixturesFolder": false
+}
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress/integration/spec.js b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress/integration/spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..401618d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/cypress/integration/spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/// <reference types="cypress" />
+describe('coverage information', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.visit('index.html')
+  })
+
+  it('calls add', () => {
+    cy.window()
+      .invoke('add', 2, 3)
+      .should('equal', 5)
+  })
+
+  it('calls sub', () => {
+    cy.window()
+      .invoke('sub', 2, 3)
+      .should('equal', -1)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/index.html b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b6691c8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<body>
+  Page body
+  <script src="main-instrumented.js"></script>
+</body>
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main-instrumented.js b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main-instrumented.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0550e9bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main-instrumented.js
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+function cov_6k5v991cn() {
+  var path = 'main.js'
+  var hash = 'd384017ecd51a8d90283ba0dec593332209519de'
+  var global = new Function('return this')()
+  var gcv = '__coverage__'
+  var coverageData = {
+    path: 'main.js',
+    statementMap: {
+      '0': {
+        start: {
+          line: 1,
+          column: 0
+        },
+        end: {
+          line: 1,
+          column: 28
+        }
+      },
+      '1': {
+        start: {
+          line: 1,
+          column: 23
+        },
+        end: {
+          line: 1,
+          column: 28
+        }
+      },
+      '2': {
+        start: {
+          line: 3,
+          column: 0
+        },
+        end: {
+          line: 3,
+          column: 28
+        }
+      },
+      '3': {
+        start: {
+          line: 3,
+          column: 23
+        },
+        end: {
+          line: 3,
+          column: 28
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    fnMap: {
+      '0': {
+        name: '(anonymous_0)',
+        decl: {
+          start: {
+            line: 1,
+            column: 13
+          },
+          end: {
+            line: 1,
+            column: 14
+          }
+        },
+        loc: {
+          start: {
+            line: 1,
+            column: 23
+          },
+          end: {
+            line: 1,
+            column: 28
+          }
+        },
+        line: 1
+      },
+      '1': {
+        name: '(anonymous_1)',
+        decl: {
+          start: {
+            line: 3,
+            column: 13
+          },
+          end: {
+            line: 3,
+            column: 14
+          }
+        },
+        loc: {
+          start: {
+            line: 3,
+            column: 23
+          },
+          end: {
+            line: 3,
+            column: 28
+          }
+        },
+        line: 3
+      }
+    },
+    branchMap: {},
+    s: {
+      '0': 0,
+      '1': 0,
+      '2': 0,
+      '3': 0
+    },
+    f: {
+      '0': 0,
+      '1': 0
+    },
+    b: {},
+    _coverageSchema: '1a1c01bbd47fc00a2c39e90264f33305004495a9',
+    hash: 'd384017ecd51a8d90283ba0dec593332209519de'
+  }
+  var coverage = global[gcv] || (global[gcv] = {})
+
+  if (!coverage[path] || coverage[path].hash !== hash) {
+    coverage[path] = coverageData
+  }
+
+  var actualCoverage = coverage[path]
+
+  cov_6k5v991cn = function() {
+    return actualCoverage
+  }
+
+  return actualCoverage
+}
+
+cov_6k5v991cn()
+cov_6k5v991cn().s[0]++
+
+window.add = (a, b) => {
+  cov_6k5v991cn().f[0]++
+  cov_6k5v991cn().s[1]++
+  return a + b
+}
+
+cov_6k5v991cn().s[2]++
+
+window.sub = (a, b) => {
+  cov_6k5v991cn().f[1]++
+  cov_6k5v991cn().s[3]++
+  return a - b
+}
+//# sourceMappingURL=data:application/json;charset=utf-8;base64,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
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main.js b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5dd69be2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/main.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+window.add = (a, b) => a + b
+
+window.sub = (a, b) => a - b
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package-lock.json b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ec50493
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "name": "example-before-each-visit",
+  "lockfileVersion": 1
+}
diff --git a/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package.json b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c56dbb88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-plugins-and-support/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "name": "use-plugins-and-support",
+  "description": "Using included plugins and support files",
+  "devDependencies": {},
+  "scripts": {
+    "cy:open": "../../node_modules/.bin/cypress open"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/plugins.js b/plugins.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0ba5ce57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// common Cypress plugin file you can point at to have the
+// code coverage tasks registered correctly. From your "cypress.json" file
+// {
+//   "pluginsFile": "@cypress/code-coverage/plugins",
+//   "supportFile": "@cypress/code-coverage/support"
+// }
+//
+module.exports = (on, config) => {
+  require('./task')(on, config)
+  // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+  // with the any changed environment variables
+  return config
+}
diff --git a/support.js b/support.js
index 0f71ca4f..fc2c052d 100644
--- a/support.js
+++ b/support.js
@@ -75,13 +75,7 @@ const filterSpecsFromCoverage = totalCoverage => {
   return coverage
 }
 
-// to disable code coverage commands and save time
-// pass environment variable coverage=false
-//  cypress run --env coverage=false
-// see https://on.cypress.io/environment-variables
-if (Cypress.env('coverage') === false) {
-  console.log('Skipping code coverage hooks')
-} else {
+const registerHooks = () => {
   let windowCoverageObjects
 
   const hasE2ECoverage = () => Boolean(windowCoverageObjects.length)
@@ -206,3 +200,22 @@ if (Cypress.env('coverage') === false) {
     })
   })
 }
+
+// to disable code coverage commands and save time
+// pass environment variable coverage=false
+//  cypress run --env coverage=false
+// see https://on.cypress.io/environment-variables
+if (Cypress.env('coverage') === false) {
+  console.log('Skipping code coverage hooks')
+} else if (Cypress.env('codeCoverageTasksRegistered') !== true) {
+  // register a hook just to log a message
+  before(() => {
+    logMessage(`
+      ⚠️ Code coverage tasks were not registered by the plugins file.
+      See [support issue](https://github.com/cypress-io/code-coverage/issues/179)
+      for possible workarounds.
+    `)
+  })
+} else {
+  registerHooks()
+}
diff --git a/task.js b/task.js
index b597c909..206548c3 100644
--- a/task.js
+++ b/task.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function saveCoverage(coverage) {
   writeFileSync(nycFilename, JSON.stringify(coverage, null, 2))
 }
 
-module.exports = {
+const tasks = {
   /**
    * Clears accumulated code coverage information.
    *
@@ -133,3 +133,30 @@ module.exports = {
     return nyc.report().then(returnReportFolder)
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Registers code coverage collection and reporting tasks.
+ * Sets an environment variable to tell the browser code that it can
+ * send the coverage.
+ * @example
+  ```
+    // your plugins file
+    module.exports = (on, config) => {
+      require('cypress/code-coverage/task')(on, config)
+      // IMPORTANT to return the config object
+      // with the any changed environment variables
+      return config
+    }
+  ```
+*/
+function registerCodeCoverageTasks(on, config) {
+  on('task', tasks)
+
+  // set a variable to let the hooks running in the browser
+  // know that they can send coverage commands
+  config.env.codeCoverageTasksRegistered = true
+
+  return config
+}
+
+module.exports = registerCodeCoverageTasks