{"id":4467,"date":"2020-10-01T01:06:46","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T01:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/?p=4467"},"modified":"2020-10-01T01:06:47","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T01:06:47","slug":"install-plugin-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/install-plugin-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Install a Plugin in WordPress (Detailed)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Plugins are used on virtually every WordPress website. They play a major role in WordPress’ incredible flexibility that everyone loves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally, WordPress plugins can be installed easily, but there are some situations where you’ll need to take a different approach. And if you’re a beginner, this can be tricky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, in this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to install a plugin in WordPress in 4 different ways, from the easiest, automated way, to the more complex, manual way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Automatically via Dashboard<\/a><\/li>
  2. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via Dashboard<\/a><\/li>
  3. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via cPanel<\/a><\/li>
  4. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via FTP<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    1. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Automatically via Dashboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This is the easiest way to install a plugin in WordPress, but keep in mind that you can only add plugins that are found in the free WordPress repository<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you buy a WordPress plugin from a 3rd party source, then you need to check the other methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From your Dashboard’s menu, go to Plugins<\/strong> > Add New<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"add<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the search bar, add the name of the WordPress plugin that you’re looking for. The results will appear in real-time, so you don’t need to click a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once the plugin you searched for appears, click on Install<\/strong> Now<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"automatically<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    After the WordPress plugin has been installed, it needs to be activated to work. So, click the Activate<\/strong> button that will replace the Install Now button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"activate<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Don’t panic if you forget this step. You can also activate it from Plugins<\/strong> > Installed Plugins<\/strong> whenever you want, by clicking on the Activate<\/strong> link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"activate<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    2. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via Dashboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you purchase a WordPress plugin from a 3rd party source, or you can’t install a plugin using WordPress’ automated feature, then you can upload and install it manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The plugin needs to be in a .zip<\/code> file. Also, make sure you only upload the installation file<\/strong>, not the whole archive that also contains the documentation and other stuff from the developers. Open the archive on your computer, first, to see what it contains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From your Dashboard’s menu, go to Plugins<\/strong> > Add New<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"add<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Click on the Upload Plugin<\/strong> button at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Click the Choose File<\/strong> button and select the WordPress plugin’s .zip<\/code> file from your computer, where you downloaded it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then, click the Install Now<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"upload<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You’ll be redirected to a page where it lets you know if the WordPress plugin has been installed successfully or not. I’ll assume it has. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There, click on the Activate Plugin<\/strong> button. Otherwise, it won’t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"activate<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You can also activate the plugin later from Plugins<\/strong> > Installed Plugins<\/strong>, by clicking on the Activate<\/strong> link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"activate<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

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    3. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via cPanel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re on a shared WordPress hosting, then you most likely have access to cPanel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Basically, cPanel is your server’s control panel that allows you to perform different actions, including handling your WordPress files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Access cPanel – usually by adding \/cpanel<\/code> after your domain – log in to it, then access the File Manager<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"cpanel<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Access the plugins<\/code> folder found in public_html\/wp-content\/plugins<\/code>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re doing this for an add-on domain, not your main domain, then there might be a folder with your domain name, instead of public_html<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you’re in that folder, click on Upload<\/strong> at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"upload<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A new page will open where you’ll have to upload the WordPress plugin file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, click on the Select File<\/strong> button, select the plugin file from your computer, wait for the upload to reach 100%, then click on the Go Back<\/strong> link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"select<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The Go Back link might not send you exactly to the plugins<\/code> folder, especially if the upload page was opened in a new tab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If that’s the case, access the plugins<\/code> folder yourself again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the plugins<\/code> folder, extract the contents of the .zip<\/code> file by right-clicking on it and selecting Extract<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"extract<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You also have an Extract<\/strong> button in the toolbox above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A confirmation pop-up will appear with the path of the installation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Normally, the path is added automatically, but check it to make sure that you’re installing the WordPress plugin in the \/wp-content\/plugins<\/code> folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If the path is correct, click Extract File(s)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"cpanel<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    After that, a pop-up with the Extraction Results<\/strong> will appear, where it shows you what has been extracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s just some info, so you can go ahead and close it by clicking the Close<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"extraction<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    After that, you can see the WordPress plugin installed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Since you don’t need that .zip<\/code> file anymore, there’s no reason to leave it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, right-click on it and select Delete<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"delete<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You can also use the Delete<\/strong> button from the toolbox, at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A confirmation pop-up will most likely appear to ask you if you want to move the file to the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Check the box where it says “Skip the trash and permanently delete the files”<\/strong> and click on the Confirm<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    There’s no need for it to linger in the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Go into your WordPress Dashboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If everything worked fine, you’ll find the plugin in Plugins<\/strong> > Installed Plugins<\/strong>, where it needs to be activated by clicking on the Activate<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"activate<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    4. How to Install a Plugin in WordPress Manually via FTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Unlike Shared hosts, Managed hosts, such as ReadyShip<\/a>, that offer Cloud or VPS hosting, don’t normally use cPanel because they are more focused on optimization and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, you’ll have to install a WordPress plugin via FTP (File Transfer Protocol)<\/a>, using an FTP client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Download and install FileZilla<\/a>, the FTP client that I recommend, on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    After you’ve installed FileZilla, open it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the top, you have to provide some login information to have access to your server’s FTP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"quickconnect<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You need to get this information from your hosting company. You might find it in your account, or in your email after the setup, or you’ll have to contact them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n