Installing plugins on your WordPress site is a simple process.
Download & Upload Method
Note: If you’re using premium plugins from a third party source, they will usually come as a .zip file. You’ll need to use the download & upload method to install the plugin zip file on your site.
1. To install a plugin on your WordPress site, locate the Plugins menu after logging in to your site’s WordPress dashboard. Expand this menu.
2. To upload a new plugin, click the Add New link.
3. Click the Upload Plugin button, locate your plugin zip file and then click Install Now. Then, click Activate.
Search & Install Method
You also have the option to search for plugins to install from the WordPress.org Plugin Directory, directly from the Add New page. Click the tabs on this page to see featured, popular, newest and plugins you’ve marked as favorites.
1. Use the search bar to search for the plugin of your choice.
2. Click the Install Now button.
3. Once the plugin is installed, just click Activate.
Manual Installation Method
You can also add plugins manually by uploading them with FTP software. This is more complicated and not for the novice user. You’ll need to download the plugin file to your computer and unzip it. This will give you a folder on your computer with all the plugin files. Then, using an FTP program, upload the plugin folder to the wp-content/plugins folder on your site. Then go to the Plugins screen and you can find your new plugin in the list. Click ‘Activate’ to get started.
More Plugins Menu Options
On the Installed Plugins page, you’ll also see a list of all the plugins currently installed on your WordPress site. Some plugins come bundled with your WordPress installation, like Akismet, a plugin that protects your blog from comment and trackback spam, and Jetpack, a way to connect your blog to a WordPress.com account and activate additional features.
The last menu item beneath Plugins in the WordPress dashboard is the Editor. The built-in WordPress plugin editor can be used to make changes to any of your plugins’ individual PHP files. Just be aware that if you make changes, plugin updates will overwrite your customizations. So, unless you know PHP, you probably won’t want to edit any of your plugin’s PHP code.
