Plugins are the cornerstone of the WordPress ecosystem. They allow you to add new features to WordPress, such as a contact form, layout, shopping cart, etc. They make the CMS (Content Management System) unique among its peers because of the sheer extensibility they bring to the platform. Many users are attracted to WordPress because of the plugins, but they don't know how to install them. If this is you, don't worry. We'll walk you through how to install a WordPress plugin in three different ways, so you'll never run out of the cool stuff your site needs.
Installing a Plugin
You can install a WordPress plugin using a search, uploading the plugin, and manually installing a WordPress plugin via FTP.
Installing a Plugin Using WordPress Plugin Search
The easiest way to install a WordPress plugin is to use the plugin search. The only downside to this option is that a plugin must be in the WordPress plugin directory, which is limited to free plugins only. Here’s how to do it:
- Search for plugins that you want to install in the WordPress admin area.
- Find the plugin by typing the plugin name or the feature you are looking for.
- Choose the plugin that suits you best from the listings.
- Click on the ‘Install Now’ button, which will change to ‘Activate’ once installed.
- Click on the ‘Activate’ button to start using the plugin.
And with that, you have installed a WordPress plugin in the easiest and fastest way possible.
Installing a Plugin Using the WordPress Admin Plugin Upload
Paid WordPress plugins cannot be installed using the first method because they are not listed in the WordPress plugin directory. To install these plugins:
- Download the plugin from the source (it will be a zip file). Do not unzip the file.
- Go to the WordPress admin area and click on Plugins -> Add New.
- Click on the ‘Upload Plugin’ button at the top of the page.
- Click on the ‘Choose File’ button and select the plugin zip file from your computer.
- Click on ‘Install Now’.
- After installation, click on the ‘Activate Plugin’ link.
The newly installed plugin will appear in the list as if you had installed it directly through the dashboard search.
Manually Installing a WordPress Plugin via FTP
Installing a plugin via SFTP is similar to installing via upload. Follow these steps:
- Download the plugin source file (it will be a zip file) and extract it.
- Use an FTP client to connect to your website.
- Go to the
/public_html/wp-content/plugins/
folder. - Upload the extracted folder to this directory.
- Visit the WordPress admin area and click on the Plugins link.
- Click on the Activate link under the plugin to start using it.
Conclusion
Without plugins, WordPress is still a fantastic platform that can do a lot. With plugins, however, it can do just about anything. By following the steps above, you can safely install plugins you download from anywhere. Be cautious when downloading plugins from untrustworthy sources, as this can lead to security risks. The WP.org repository and developer websites are secure places to download plugins.