diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/__tests__/__snapshots__/pluginIds.test.ts.snap b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/__tests__/__snapshots__/pluginIds.test.ts.snap
index fc9593b908..3b6110ff3a 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/__tests__/__snapshots__/pluginIds.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/__tests__/__snapshots__/pluginIds.test.ts.snap
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
 exports[`ensureUniquePluginInstanceIds reject multi instance plugins with same id 1`] = `
-"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with id sameId.
-To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique id to each plugin instance."
+"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with ID \\"sameId\\".
+To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique ID to each plugin instance."
 `;
 
 exports[`ensureUniquePluginInstanceIds reject multi instance plugins without id 1`] = `
-"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with id default.
-To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique id to each plugin instance."
+"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with ID \\"default\\".
+To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique ID to each plugin instance.
+
+The plugin ID is \\"default\\" by default. It's possible that the preset you are using already includes a plugin instance, in which case you either want to disable the plugin in the preset (to use a single instance), or assign another ID to your extra plugin instance (to use multiple instances)."
 `;
 
 exports[`ensureUniquePluginInstanceIds reject multi instance plugins without id 2`] = `
-"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with id default.
-To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique id to each plugin instance."
+"Plugin \\"plugin-docs\\" is used 2 times with ID \\"default\\".
+To use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique ID to each plugin instance.
+
+The plugin ID is \\"default\\" by default. It's possible that the preset you are using already includes a plugin instance, in which case you either want to disable the plugin in the preset (to use a single instance), or assign another ID to your extra plugin instance (to use multiple instances)."
 `;
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/pluginIds.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/pluginIds.ts
index 1f4941a3ae..ac0238ff3c 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/pluginIds.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/pluginIds.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,13 @@ export function ensureUniquePluginInstanceIds(
       ([pluginId, pluginInstancesWithId]) => {
         if (pluginInstancesWithId.length !== 1) {
           throw new Error(
-            `Plugin "${pluginName}" is used ${pluginInstancesWithId.length} times with id ${pluginId}.\nTo use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique id to each plugin instance.`,
+            `Plugin "${pluginName}" is used ${
+              pluginInstancesWithId.length
+            } times with ID "${pluginId}".\nTo use the same plugin multiple times on a Docusaurus site, you need to assign a unique ID to each plugin instance.${
+              pluginId === DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID
+                ? `\n\nThe plugin ID is "${DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID}" by default. It's possible that the preset you are using already includes a plugin instance, in which case you either want to disable the plugin in the preset (to use a single instance), or assign another ID to your extra plugin instance (to use multiple instances).`
+                : ''
+            }`,
           );
         }
       },