diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_PluginUtilities.h b/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_PluginUtilities.h
index de2f5f6d7b..b15f3b9f85 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_PluginUtilities.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_PluginUtilities.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ struct PluginUtilities
 {
     PluginUtilities() = delete;
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     static int getDesktopFlags (const AudioProcessorEditor& editor)
     {
         return editor.wantsLayerBackedView()
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ struct PluginUtilities
     {
         editor.addToDesktop (getDesktopFlags (editor), parent);
     }
+   #endif
 
     static const PluginHostType& getHostType()
     {
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/juce_audio_plugin_client_LV2.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/juce_audio_plugin_client_LV2.cpp
index dd0ccf5005..8f71111f74 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/juce_audio_plugin_client_LV2.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_plugin_client/juce_audio_plugin_client_LV2.cpp
@@ -35,12 +35,16 @@
 
 #define JUCE_CORE_INCLUDE_NATIVE_HEADERS 1
 #define JUCE_CORE_INCLUDE_OBJC_HELPERS 1
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
 #define JUCE_GUI_BASICS_INCLUDE_XHEADERS 1
+#endif
 
 #include <juce_audio_plugin_client/juce_audio_plugin_client.h>
 #include <juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_CheckSettingMacros.h>
 #include <juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_PluginUtilities.h>
-#include <juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_LinuxMessageThread.h>
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include <juce_audio_plugin_client/detail/juce_LinuxMessageThread.h>
+#endif
 
 #include <juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_FlagCache.h>
 #include <juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_LegacyAudioParameter.cpp>
@@ -725,6 +729,7 @@ public:
         return LV2_STATE_SUCCESS;
     }
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     std::unique_ptr<AudioProcessorEditor> createEditor()
     {
         return std::unique_ptr<AudioProcessorEditor> (processor->createEditorIfNeeded());
@@ -734,6 +739,7 @@ public:
     {
         processor->editorBeingDeleted (editor);
     }
+   #endif
 
     static std::unique_ptr<AudioProcessor> createProcessorInstance()
     {
@@ -791,7 +797,7 @@ private:
 
     ScopedJuceInitialiser_GUI scopedJuceInitialiser;
 
-   #if JUCE_LINUX || JUCE_BSD
+   #if (JUCE_LINUX || JUCE_BSD) && ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     SharedResourcePointer<detail::MessageThread> messageThread;
    #endif
 
@@ -890,6 +896,7 @@ private:
               "\tlv2:binary <" << URL::addEscapeChars (libraryPath.getFileName(), false) << "> ;\n"
               "\trdfs:seeAlso <dsp.ttl> .\n";
 
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         if (proc.hasEditor())
         {
            #if JUCE_MAC
@@ -909,6 +916,7 @@ private:
                   "\trdfs:seeAlso <ui.ttl> .\n"
                   "\n";
         }
+       #endif
 
         for (auto i = 0, end = proc.getNumPrograms(); i < end; ++i)
         {
@@ -1141,8 +1149,10 @@ private:
 
         os << "<" JucePlugin_LV2URI ">\n";
 
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         if (proc.hasEditor())
             os << "\tui:ui <" << JucePluginLV2UriUi << "> ;\n";
+       #endif
 
         const auto versionParts = StringArray::fromTokens (JucePlugin_VersionString, ".", "");
 
@@ -1346,6 +1356,7 @@ private:
 
     static Result writeUiTtl (AudioProcessor& proc, const File& libraryPath)
     {
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         if (! proc.hasEditor())
             return Result::ok();
 
@@ -1387,6 +1398,7 @@ private:
               "\topts:supportedOption\n"
               "\t\tui:scaleFactor ,\n"
               "\t\tparam:sampleRate .\n";
+       #endif
 
         return Result::ok();
     }
@@ -1513,6 +1525,7 @@ static Optional<float> findScaleFactor (const LV2_URID_Map* symap, const LV2_Opt
     return parser.parseNumericOption<float> (scaleFactorOption);
 }
 
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
 class LV2UIInstance final : private Component,
                             private ComponentListener
 {
@@ -1825,6 +1838,7 @@ LV2_SYMBOL_EXPORT const LV2UI_Descriptor* lv2ui_descriptor (uint32_t index)
 
     return &descriptor;
 }
+#endif
 
 } // namespace juce::lv2_client
 
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.cpp
index a82ed97a84..cfd290295d 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@
 
 #define JUCE_CORE_INCLUDE_NATIVE_HEADERS 1
 #define JUCE_CORE_INCLUDE_OBJC_HELPERS 1
-#define JUCE_GUI_BASICS_INCLUDE_XHEADERS 1
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #define JUCE_GUI_BASICS_INCLUDE_XHEADERS 1
+#endif
 #define JUCE_GUI_BASICS_INCLUDE_SCOPED_THREAD_DPI_AWARENESS_SETTER 1
 #define JUCE_GRAPHICS_INCLUDE_COREGRAPHICS_HELPERS 1
 
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@
 #include <juce_gui_extra/juce_gui_extra.h>
 
 //==============================================================================
-#if (JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST || JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST3) && (JUCE_LINUX || JUCE_BSD)
+#if (JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST || JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST3) && (JUCE_LINUX || JUCE_BSD) && ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
  JUCE_BEGIN_IGNORE_WARNINGS_GCC_LIKE ("-Wvariadic-macros")
  #include <X11/Xlib.h>
  JUCE_END_IGNORE_WARNINGS_GCC_LIKE
@@ -197,9 +199,11 @@ private:
 #include "format_types/juce_LegacyAudioParameter.cpp"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessor.cpp"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioPluginInstance.cpp"
-#include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorEditor.cpp"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.cpp"
-#include "processors/juce_GenericAudioProcessorEditor.cpp"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorEditor.cpp"
+ #include "processors/juce_GenericAudioProcessorEditor.cpp"
+#endif
 #include "processors/juce_PluginDescription.cpp"
 #include "format_types/juce_ARACommon.cpp"
 #include "format_types/juce_LADSPAPluginFormat.cpp"
@@ -207,9 +211,11 @@ private:
 #include "format_types/juce_VST3PluginFormat.cpp"
 #include "format_types/juce_AudioUnitPluginFormat.mm"
 #include "format_types/juce_ARAHosting.cpp"
-#include "scanning/juce_KnownPluginList.cpp"
-#include "scanning/juce_PluginDirectoryScanner.cpp"
-#include "scanning/juce_PluginListComponent.cpp"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "scanning/juce_KnownPluginList.cpp"
+ #include "scanning/juce_PluginDirectoryScanner.cpp"
+ #include "scanning/juce_PluginListComponent.cpp"
+#endif
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorParameterGroup.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioProcessorParameterWithID.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_RangedAudioParameter.cpp"
@@ -217,7 +223,9 @@ private:
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterInt.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterBool.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterChoice.cpp"
-#include "utilities/juce_ParameterAttachments.cpp"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "utilities/juce_ParameterAttachments.cpp"
+#endif
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_PluginHostType.cpp"
 #include "utilities/juce_AAXClientExtensions.cpp"
@@ -235,3 +243,8 @@ private:
   #include "format_types/juce_LV2PluginFormat_test.cpp"
  #endif
 #endif
+
+#if JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+// commonly used classes in DSP code
+namespace juce { Colour::Colour(juce::uint32) noexcept {} }
+#endif
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.h
index f8a784fce2..e3071e15b1 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/juce_audio_processors.h
@@ -138,14 +138,18 @@
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorParameter.h"
 #include "processors/juce_HostedAudioProcessorParameter.h"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorEditorHostContext.h"
-#include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorEditor.h"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorEditor.h"
+#endif
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorListener.h"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorParameterGroup.h"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessor.h"
 #include "processors/juce_PluginDescription.h"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioPluginInstance.h"
 #include "processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.h"
-#include "processors/juce_GenericAudioProcessorEditor.h"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "processors/juce_GenericAudioProcessorEditor.h"
+#endif
 #include "format/juce_AudioPluginFormat.h"
 #include "format/juce_AudioPluginFormatManager.h"
 #include "scanning/juce_KnownPluginList.h"
@@ -164,7 +168,9 @@
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterInt.h"
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterBool.h"
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioParameterChoice.h"
-#include "utilities/juce_ParameterAttachments.h"
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
+ #include "utilities/juce_ParameterAttachments.h"
+#endif
 #include "utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.h"
 #include "utilities/juce_PluginHostType.h"
 #include "utilities/ARA/juce_ARADebug.h"
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.cpp
index 675a3cfeeb..2194cee872 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.cpp
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ AudioProcessor::AudioProcessor (const BusesProperties& ioConfig)
 
 AudioProcessor::~AudioProcessor()
 {
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     {
         const ScopedLock sl (activeEditorLock);
 
         // ooh, nasty - the editor should have been deleted before its AudioProcessor.
         jassert (activeEditor == nullptr);
     }
+   #endif
 
    #if JUCE_DEBUG && ! JUCE_DISABLE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_BEGIN_END_GESTURE_CHECKING
     // This will fail if you've called beginParameterChangeGesture() for one
@@ -871,6 +873,7 @@ void AudioProcessor::audioIOChanged (bool busNumberChanged, bool channelNumChang
     processorLayoutsChanged();
 }
 
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
 //==============================================================================
 void AudioProcessor::editorBeingDeleted (AudioProcessorEditor* const editor) noexcept
 {
@@ -907,6 +910,7 @@ AudioProcessorEditor* AudioProcessor::createEditorIfNeeded()
 
     return ed;
 }
+#endif
 
 //==============================================================================
 void AudioProcessor::getCurrentProgramStateInformation (juce::MemoryBlock& destData)
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.h
index aa9995c2e4..93138f80d6 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessor.h
@@ -959,6 +959,7 @@ public:
     */
     virtual void setNonRealtime (bool isNonRealtime) noexcept;
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     //==============================================================================
     /** Creates the processor's GUI.
 
@@ -1008,6 +1009,7 @@ public:
         This may call createEditor() internally to create the component.
     */
     AudioProcessorEditor* createEditorIfNeeded();
+   #endif
 
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the default number of steps for a parameter.
@@ -1241,9 +1243,11 @@ public:
 
     virtual CurveData getResponseCurve (CurveData::Type /*curveType*/) const      { return {}; }
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     //==============================================================================
     /** Not for public use - this is called before deleting an editor component. */
     void editorBeingDeleted (AudioProcessorEditor*) noexcept;
+   #endif
 
     /** Flags to indicate the type of plugin context in which a processor is being used. */
     enum WrapperType
@@ -1273,7 +1277,9 @@ public:
     struct TrackProperties
     {
         String name;    // The name of the track - this will be empty if the track name is not known
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         Colour colour;  // The colour of the track - this will be transparentBlack if the colour is not known
+       #endif
 
         // other properties may be added in the future
     };
@@ -1522,7 +1528,9 @@ private:
 
     //==============================================================================
     Array<AudioProcessorListener*> listeners;
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     Component::SafePointer<AudioProcessorEditor> activeEditor;
+   #endif
     double currentSampleRate = 0;
     int blockSize = 0, latencySamples = 0;
     bool suspended = false;
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.cpp
index df2b1efcfb..cb0a9d80d1 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.cpp
@@ -2096,8 +2096,10 @@ bool AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::producesMidi() const
 bool AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::isInput() const noexcept           { return type == audioInputNode  || type == midiInputNode; }
 bool AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::isOutput() const noexcept          { return type == audioOutputNode || type == midiOutputNode; }
 
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
 bool AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::hasEditor() const                  { return false; }
 AudioProcessorEditor* AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::createEditor()    { return nullptr; }
+#endif
 
 int AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::getNumPrograms()                    { return 0; }
 int AudioProcessorGraph::AudioGraphIOProcessor::getCurrentProgram()                 { return 0; }
@@ -2310,8 +2312,10 @@ private:
         double getTailLengthSeconds() const override                  { return {}; }
         bool acceptsMidi() const override                             { return midiIn  == MidiIn ::yes; }
         bool producesMidi() const override                            { return midiOut == MidiOut::yes; }
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         AudioProcessorEditor* createEditor() override                 { return {}; }
         bool hasEditor() const override                               { return {}; }
+       #endif
         int getNumPrograms() override                                 { return 1; }
         int getCurrentProgram() override                              { return {}; }
         void setCurrentProgram (int) override                         {}
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.h
index 7533a933e7..2dd1697aaa 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/processors/juce_AudioProcessorGraph.h
@@ -387,8 +387,10 @@ public:
         bool acceptsMidi() const override;
         bool producesMidi() const override;
 
+       #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
         bool hasEditor() const override;
         AudioProcessorEditor* createEditor() override;
+       #endif
 
         int getNumPrograms() override;
         int getCurrentProgram() override;
@@ -424,8 +426,10 @@ public:
     bool acceptsMidi() const override;
     bool producesMidi() const override;
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     bool hasEditor() const override                         { return false; }
     AudioProcessorEditor* createEditor() override           { return nullptr; }
+   #endif
     int getNumPrograms() override                           { return 0; }
     int getCurrentProgram() override                        { return 0; }
     void setCurrentProgram (int) override                   { }
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.cpp
index 05bd71adb4..d61bbcf24a 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.cpp
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ void AudioProcessorValueTreeState::timerCallback()
                                 : jlimit (50, 500, getTimerInterval() + 20));
 }
 
+#if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
 //==============================================================================
 template <typename Attachment, typename Control>
 std::unique_ptr<Attachment> makeAttachment (const AudioProcessorValueTreeState& stateToUse,
@@ -501,6 +502,7 @@ AudioProcessorValueTreeState::ButtonAttachment::ButtonAttachment (AudioProcessor
     : attachment (makeAttachment<ButtonParameterAttachment> (stateToUse, parameterID, button))
 {
 }
+#endif
 
 //==============================================================================
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.h
index 7e728acaa3..c01da7ae80 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/utilities/juce_AudioProcessorValueTreeState.h
@@ -528,6 +528,7 @@ public:
         friend class AudioProcessorValueTreeState::ParameterAdapter;
     };
 
+   #if ! JUCE_AUDIOPROCESSOR_NO_GUI
     //==============================================================================
     /** An object of this class maintains a connection between a Slider and a parameter
         in an AudioProcessorValueTreeState.
@@ -595,6 +596,7 @@ public:
         std::unique_ptr<ButtonParameterAttachment> attachment;
         JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (ButtonAttachment)
     };
+   #endif
 
 private:
     //==============================================================================