How to install a WordPress plugin
How do I install a WordPress plugin? This question is answered in detail in this article. Learn step by step how to add new features to WordPress.
Plugins are software that you can add to your WordPress website. They can change or improve the functionality of your website in different ways. For example, you can install plugins to easily create forms, optimize your website for search engines, or improve the security of your website. As a WordPress user, you surely need to install a plugin at some point.
From the plugin directory or upload or via FTP
There are three ways to install plugins on your website. You can either install a plugin from the WordPress plugin directory or upload a plugin in the browser or via FTP. Free and approved plugins, such as Akismet or Jetpack, are offered in the WordPress plugin directory. Installing these plugins is super easy.
Paid plugins are installed manually via browser upload or using an FTP program.
WordPress.com
I often have to disappoint users who ask how can I install a plugin on wordpress.com. Unfortunately, the answer is always: not at all.
ATTENTION: You cannot install plugins on WordPress.com!
That’s why I always recommend to install WordPress yourself.
Let’s go!
How to install a WordPress plugin from the directory
Let’s start with installing a plugin from the WordPress directory. Just follow these 5 steps:
- Plugins > Install
Go to the Plugins menu item in the WordPress admin menu and select Install. The WordPress plugin directory will be displayed with the most popular plugins. - Search for the desired plugin
Enter the name or a group in the search box above. The directory will immediately start displaying the matching plugins. - Check the quality of the plugin
Each plugin is presented in a box with basic information. A high-quality plugin will have good ratings, a high number of active installs, frequent updates and will be compatible with your version of WordPress. Avoid plugins that were last updated more than a year ago. - Install the plugin with one click
Click the Install Now button in the plugin box. Once the installation is complete, the Activate button will appear. Also, the plugin will be displayed on the Installed Plugins screen. - Activate the plugin
You can activate the plugin in the plugin box by clicking the Activate button after the installation is complete. Alternatively, you can activate the plugin later in the plugin overview screen.
Thus, the free plugin WPForms installed with a few clicks.
Upload and install plugin in WordPress admin
The WordPress plugin directory shows a lot of plugins, but not all of them are there. You can also find some cool plugins on third-party websites.
To upload a plugin to WordPress, follow these steps:
- Download Plugin
Note that the plugin must be downloaded in .zip format. Otherwise, the upload will not work in the WordPress dashboard. - Plugins > Install
In the backend of your website, go to the Plugins menu item and select Install. Hover over the Plugins menu item and select. - Upload plugin
On the Add Plugins page, click the Upload Plugin button. A dialog for adding a file will appear. Click the Select File button, which opens a dialog box. Browse and select the file from your computer and click Open. The upload will begin. - Install the plugin
Click the Install Now button and the plugin will be installed. - Activate the plugin
Remember to activate the plugin after installation.
With this, the premium plugin WP Rocket is uploaded and installed.
Upload and install plugin via FTP
With some hosters, large files cannot be uploaded, or the zip format is blocked. Then the WordPress plugin must be installed using an FTP program like FileZilla.
- Download plugin
First, you have to download your plugin from the developer. - Unzip plugin
The plugin download is usually a zip file. You have to unzip it in Explorer or Finder before uploading. In the screenshot I use 7-Zip for this. If you use another operating system, the file manager will look different. - Upload plugin
If you don’t have an FTP program installed, you can download FileZilla for free.
You have to connect to the data of your provider. Then you click on the provider’s page to the directorywp-content > plugins. Now you can drag the directory with the WordPress plugin into this folder. Either directly on your file manager, or from the local page of your FTP tool.
Now the plugin is installed. - Activate the plugin
Finally you have to activate the plugin in WP-Dashboard > Plugins >.
WordPress-Plugin Installation FAQ
Use the search in the plugin directory with different keywords. Note the plugins with the most installations and with an update date shorter than one year. Choose among the best three results.
You can install as many plugins as you want. There is no limit. But keep in mind, each plugin makes your site slower and brings a security risk. Therefore, you should install as few WordPress plugins as possible.
Activated plugins perform their function and can be used.
Installed plugins are only on your server, but cannot be used.
Theoretically yes. However, you should always delete deactivated plugins.
Possible security vulnerabilities can be exploited even with deactivated plugins.
Go to the Plugins menu in the WordPress Dashboard and click on Deactivate for the desired plugin. Then click on Delete.
WordPress-Plugin installed!
This article shows you three ways to install a WordPress plugin.
The easiest and fastest way is directly through the WordPress plugin directory in the WordPress admin. But also the upload is not more complex. WordPress plugin installation made easy.
Do you encounter a problem, write me in the comments.
