Who doesn’t want to make their site top-notch? Everyone! If you want to add functionality and features to your site without custom programming, install plugins. You can get any plugins you desire and as a site requires. Some examples of the types of functionality that plugins can add to a website include contact forms, SEO, image galleries, social media integration, e-commerce, website builder, google analytics, and many more.

Similar to themes WordPress Plugins are both available in free and premium versions. WordPress plugins are like apps for WordPress websites that add new features to a site. Learn to install plugins and take full advantage of using awesome plugins. We have covered all three methods of installing plugins: installing a WordPress plugin using search, uploading a WordPress plugin, and manually installing a WordPress plugin using FTP.

Installing a WordPress Plugins Using Search #

Well, this is one of the easiest methods to find plugins. You can search both paid and free plugins for your site here. Moreover, free plugins are available in the WordPress plugin directory where you can search for free and see the active installation, star rating, and more. Follow our step-by-step tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin via search.

• From your WordPress Admin panel go to Plugins.
• Click on Add New which will redirect you to the plugin search section.
• Next, click on the Search plugins box which is at the right of the screen.
• Then Type the plugin name or functionality you are looking for.
• The Plugin you search for will appear on the screen or with a bunch of listing with similar functionality.
• Next, click on the Install Now button for the plugin you choose.
• After the successful installation and download, you can click on Activate button.

Now, you can configure the plugin setting and start using it and get benefits.

Installing a WordPress plugin using Admin Plugin Upload #

This method of installing WordPress plugins is for premium plugins. If you have purchased any plugins you can go through this upload method to install them. After purchase, you will get a zip file from the source and download the zip file. After that, follow the following steps.

• From WordPress Admin Area go to Plugins.
• Click on Add New. The plugin interface will get displayed on the screen.
• At the top beside Add Plugins, you will see an Upload Plugin box. Click on Upload Plugin.
• Next, click on choose file to upload the zip file you have downloaded beforehand.
• After you choose the file then click on Install Now.
• Once installed, you need to click the Activate Plugin link to use the plugin.

Installing Plugins Manually in WordPress Using FTP. #

What is FTP? The Full form of FTP is File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a fast and simple way to upload files from your computer to your website or transfer files from one website to another. In rare cases, some web hosting providers offer an FTP server so that users can upload WordPress and other files and we need an FTP client software to run it. Go through the steps to install a plugin manually using FTP.

• Firstly, you need to download the plugin’s source file.
• Extract the plugin zip file on your computer. Extracted file will create a new folder with the same name.
• Next, Open the FTP client and fill in the information required there; website name, hostname, FTP user name, and Password( WordPress hosting provider sends the user name and password via email).
• Once you are connected to your website via FTP, you need to go to /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
• Next, upload the folder you extracted from the zip file to the /wp-content/plugins/ folder on your web server.
• After uploading the files, you need to visit the WordPress admin area and click on the Plugins link.
• You will see a plugin installed successfully.
• Click on Activate to start using it.