In this article we will show you how to install WordPress plugins
As one of the most popular content management systems (CMS), WordPress offers great flexibility and plenty of customization options. It offers a wide variety of WordPress plugins, which allow you to modify the functionality of your website.
WordPress has its own directory, which is supplied with free and premium plugins. These plugins allow you to add various features, ranging from contact forms and personalized newsletters to website caching and WordPress security.
Some plugins can also modify your WordPress website into a functional online store with a WooCommerce plugin or an e-Learning platform with LMS plugins. In fact, you can even create your own WordPress plugin.
In this tutorial, we will show you the step-by-step process of installing the WordPress plugins using three different methods.
At the end of this article, we will also include some tips you can follow when looking for new WordPress plugins to improve your website.
But before we start, if you have never installed WordPress, find out How to Install a WordPress Blog in 7 Steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog
Then back to why we are here.
How to Install WordPress Plugins from the Official Plugin Directory
The easiest way to install WordPress plugins is to access the official plugin directory through your WordPress admin area. However, this WordPress plugin directory is limited to free plugin options only.
Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Extensions->Add. Proceed to search for the plugin in the search bar. You can also browse featured, popular or recommended plugins by clicking on the tabs provided on the left.
For example, if you are looking for the plugin MonsterInsights, you will see it appear as the first result. Click on the button Installer now to start installing the plugin.
Wait for the process to complete and click the button Enable to start using this WordPress Plugin.
Once you have activated the plugin, check and configure the settings of the plugin by going to Extensions -> Plugins installed.
How to manually install WordPress plugins
Another way to install WordPress plugins is to manually upload the plugin files through your WordPress dashboard.
This method allows you to install a plugin that may not be in the official WordPress directory but available from third-party marketplaces, such as CodeCanyon et Codester.
Before starting the plugin installation process, you must first download the file ZIP of the plugin from the source of your choice.
Next, navigate to your WordPress admin area and click Extensions -> Add. Then locate the T-buttonraise an extension at the top left of the page.
Select the file on your computer ZIP plugin you want to download, then click install now.
Wait for the plugin installation to complete and tap Enable extension.
Using an FTP Client to Install WordPress Plugins
There are several premium and custom WordPress plugins that require you to install them manually using a FTP client. For a beginner, the process may be slightly more complicated as you will first need to learn how to set up an FTP client.
Don't worry, the following guide will guide you step by step. All you have to do is just follow the steps.
First of all, extract the plugin ZIP file and save it to a folder on your computer. Keep in mind that the extracted plugin file folder will be the one you need to upload through the FTP client.
Next, connect your website to the FTP server. To do this, find the FTP details of your hosting provider.
Once logged in, navigate to your FTP client – ​​for this example we are using fileZilla. There, enter your login credentials and press the button Quick Connect. Then go to the panel remote site and search the folder wp-content / plugins /.
In the panel local website, upload the extracted plugin folder from your computer to the wp-content/plugins/ folder of your server.
When the transfer is complete, the WordPress Plugin will be installed on your website.
To activate the plugin, you need to access your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to Extensions-> section Plugins installed, locate the plugin, then click Enable.
What to remember when selecting a WordPress plugin?
There are many plugins in the WordPress plugin directory and even more available on third party websites. This number of options can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners trying to figure out what's right for their website.
The following sections will show you some essential things to consider when selecting a plugin for your website.
Regular updates.
WordPress releases regular updates to keep its system up to date. This is how they improve performance, maintain security, fix bug issues, and add new features.
So before installing any plugin, consider these points:
Make sure he's right for the job
- Last update. Choose one WordPress Plugin that is frequently updated can prevent you from committing security violations. This also shows that the developers are still actively maintaining and improving the plugin.
- Number of installations. This number shows how popular said WordPress plugin is. Generally, the more active installs a plugin has, the better its quality.
- Audience. User reviews and comments can help you weigh the pros and cons of a specific plugin. This gives you insight into how the plugin performs in real-time situations.
- Compatibility. A plugin that receives regular updates from its developers is usually compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Always check the description tab to see which version of WordPress is needed to run the plugin.
Before downloading and installing any plugin on your WordPress site, be sure to check the claims made by the developers. Read the plugin's documentation, check out the plugin's support forums, and read reviews.
Searching through blog posts is also a good practice as many websites provide plugin reviews.
At BlogPasCher, we also review and test WordPress plugins with various features including menu plugins, Google Analytics plug-ins et review plugins.
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Install one plugin at a time
When testing a plugin in WordPress, remember to install and test each plugin individually. This way, you'll quickly see if it's causing any problems for your website and if you can fix them.
If you decide to test several different plugins on WordPress, remember to deactivate the previous plugin before trying another one.
Also, when you have several inactive plugins, it is best to remove them as too many installs can overload your WordPress website and impact its performance.
Use only one plugin for each feature
Although WordPress plugins add new features and improve the functionality of your website, installing too many of them can slow down your website.
Indeed, each time you install WordPress plugins, you add new code to your website. When used excessively, plugins will send too many HTTP requests to load their resources, such as CSS style sheets, JavaScript files, and images, which will slow down your website loading speed.
Additionally, installing WordPress plugins that perform similar functionality can cause conflicts, potentially breaking one or both plugins. So, the best practice is to install a WordPress plugin for each feature.
For example, Yoast SEO et AISEO have similar feature sets – just choose one to avoid plugin conflicts.
We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to install WordPress plugins on your blog or website. You now have the opportunity to improve the functionality of your website even if you have no prior technical knowledge or skills.
If you're not sure which plugin to start with, consider what your current website is missing. Next, review available plugins and compare important factors like compatibility, reviews, and latest update.
Here are some of our recommended essential WordPress plugins to get you started:
- Yoast SEO. This plugin helps improve your WordPress blog post and SEO of your page thanks to keyword optimization and meta descriptions
- Elementor ou Beaver Builder. Helps you build your website by providing an easy to use drag and drop interface.
- W3 Total Cache ou WP Super Cache. Increases your website's performance and reduces loading time with caching and integration with CDNs.
- Google XML Sitemaps. Automatically generates XML sitemaps for better search engine optimization.
- Akismet. This plugin detects and filters spam in your comments and contact form submissions to prevent any malicious attacks.
Other recommended resources
We also invite you to consult the resources below to go further in the grip and control of your website and blog.
- How to create a shortcode in WordPress
- How to Create a Simple Gutenberg Block WordPress Plugin
- How to Understand the WordPress Dashboard
- How to Create a Simple WordPress Plugin
Conclusion
That's it for this guide that shows you how to install WordPress plugins. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please let us know within Comments.
However, you will also be able to consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on the WordPress blog creation or the one on Divi: the best WordPress theme of all time.
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