Plugins are an essential part of what makes WordPress so powerful and flexible. With over 60,000 free plugins in the official directory alone, they allow you to add all sorts of features and functionality to your WordPress website. Whether you want to improve performance, add ecommerce capabilities, enhance security, or customize your site‘s design, there‘s a plugin for just about anything you can imagine.
As a WordPress user, learning how to confidently find, evaluate and install plugins is a crucial skill to master. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know, including the different methods for installing plugins and a detailed look at installing plugin zip files.
Let‘s dive in!
Finding and Choosing the Right Plugin
With so many plugin options out there, it‘s important to take some time to find the right one for your needs. The official WordPress.org plugin directory is the best place to start your search for free plugins. You can browse featured, popular, and recommended plugins, as well as search for specific keywords. Be sure to read the description, reviews, and pay attention to:
- When the plugin was last updated
- The number of active installations
- Compatibility with your WordPress version
- The quality of support and documentation
For premium plugins, marketplaces like CodeCanyon or the developer‘s own website are good sources. While paid plugins often offer higher quality code, more features and better support compared to their free counterparts, be sure to still evaluate them carefully before buying. Look for trusted, well-established plugin developers with a solid track record.
3 Methods for Installing WordPress Plugins
There are three main ways to install a plugin on your WordPress site:
- Install from the WordPress Plugin Directory
- Upload a Plugin Zip File
- Upload via FTP
Let‘s look at each method in more detail, including their pros and cons and step-by-step instructions.
1. Install from the WordPress Plugin Directory
Installing a free plugin directly from the WordPress plugin directory is by far the easiest method. Here‘s how:
- From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for the plugin you want using the search bar or browse the featured, popular, or recommended plugins
- Click the "Install Now" button
- After installation, click "Activate"
Pros:
- Quick and easy, no need to leave your WordPress dashboard
- Automatically handles installation of plugin files
Cons:
- Only works for free plugins listed in the official directory
- Requires your WordPress site to allow external connections
2. Upload a Plugin Zip File
Many premium plugins, as well as some free plugins hosted outside the official directory, come as a downloadable zip file that you can manually upload to your site. Here‘s how to install a WordPress plugin from a zip file:
- Download the plugin zip file to your computer
- From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New
- Click the "Upload Plugin" button at the top of the page
- Click "Choose File" and select the plugin zip file from your computer
- Click "Install Now"
- After installation, click "Activate Plugin"
Detailed steps with tips:
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When you purchase a premium plugin, you should receive a download link, often from the developer‘s website or a marketplace like CodeCanyon. Download the zip file to a location on your computer that you can easily find.
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In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New. You‘ll see an "Upload Plugin" button at the top of the page, next to the page title. Click on this button.
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On the next screen, you‘ll see a file upload area with a "Choose File" button. Click this button, then locate and select the plugin zip file you downloaded earlier. The plugin file name should now appear next to the button.
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Click the "Install Now" button to start uploading the plugin file to your server. Depending on your internet speed and the size of the file, this may take a few moments.
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After the installation is complete, you‘ll see a success message with a link to activate the plugin. Click the "Activate Plugin" link to complete the process.
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That‘s it! The plugin should now be installed and activated on your site. Depending on the plugin, you may need to configure some settings or consult the plugin‘s documentation for next steps.
Troubleshooting tips:
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If you see an error message after clicking "Install Now", double check that the file you uploaded is a valid zip file and the correct one for the plugin you‘re trying to install.
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In some cases, the zip file you downloaded may contain another zip file inside it. If you get an error, try unzipping the original file and uploading the zip file that‘s inside.
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If your WordPress site is hosted on a server with strict file permissions, you may need to use an FTP client to manually upload the unzipped plugin folder to your wp-content/plugins directory. See the next section for instructions.
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Many premium plugins require an additional step of license key activation to enable automatic updates and support. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the plugin developer to complete this step.
Pros:
- Allows you to install plugins that aren‘t available in the official directory
- Doesn‘t require FTP access to your site‘s files
Cons:
- Requires downloading a file to your computer first
- May require additional steps for license activation
- Slightly more complex than one-click install from the plugin directory
3. Upload via FTP
In some cases, you may need to bypass the WordPress dashboard entirely and upload a plugin directly to your site‘s files using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Here‘s how:
- Download the plugin zip file and unzip it on your computer
- Connect to your WordPress site via FTP using a client like FileZilla
- Navigate to your site‘s /wp-content/plugins/ folder
- Upload the unzipped plugin folder to the plugins directory
- Return to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
- Find the newly uploaded plugin in the list and click "Activate"
Pros:
- Allows you to install plugins when the other methods fail due to file permission issues or server restrictions
- Gives you direct access to your site‘s file structure for troubleshooting
Cons:
- Requires FTP access to your site and knowledge of how to use an FTP client
- Most complex and time-consuming method
- Higher risk of mistakes that could break your site if you modify the wrong files
Plugin Management Best Practices
Installing plugins is just the first step – it‘s equally important to keep them properly maintained and up-to-date. Here are some best practices to follow:
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Keep your plugins (and WordPress core) updated to the latest versions. Outdated plugins are a security risk and can cause compatibility issues.
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Only install plugins from trusted sources to avoid malware and other security threats. If a plugin looks shady or too good to be true, it probably is.
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Delete any plugins you‘re no longer using to avoid unnecessary bloat and potential security holes.
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Be selective about how many plugins you install. While there‘s no hard limit, having too many can slow down your site and increase maintenance overhead.
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Take a backup of your site before installing or updating plugins, just in case something goes wrong.
Essential Plugins Every WordPress Site Needs
To wrap up, here are a few types of plugins that most WordPress sites can benefit from:
- Security: iThemes Security, Wordfence, Sucuri Security
- Performance: WP Rocket, WP Super Cache, Autoptimize
- SEO: Yoast SEO, Rank Math, All in One SEO
- Backups: UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, VaultPress
- Forms: Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms
- Social media: Social Warfare, Shared Counts, Grow by Mediavine
Of course, the specific plugins you choose will depend on your unique needs and goals. But this list provides a solid foundation to build upon.
Conclusion
We covered a lot of ground in this guide! You should now have a thorough understanding of how to find, install, and manage WordPress plugins using a variety of methods.
While the WordPress plugin ecosystem can seem overwhelming at first, taking the time to learn the ropes is well worth it. With the right plugins in place, you‘ll be able to add powerful features and functionality to your site without touching a line of code.
Follow the best practices outlined here, keep your plugins up-to-date, and don‘t be afraid to experiment with new tools to find what works best for you and your site. Happy plugin hunting!
