How to add a plug in to Wordpress
As with many things connected with computing, there is more than one way to do this! Often you can install a plugin from within the Wordpress Admin. Sometimes this fails, in which case I use ftp software to install plugins.{+}
Using ftp software to install plugins
Search for a Wordpress plugin
First, find the plug-in that you want to use.
You will find a large selection here http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/
I’m going to search for a stats plugin.
Select your plugin. This will take you to the plug-in’s page where you can click on “download”
Save the plug-in (I usually save them to a folder on my computer called wp-plugins).
Next, use unzip software to unzip the plug-in. Most Windows computers will unzip using the built-in unzip software. Mine won’t (there’s always one, isn’t there??) so I use 7-Zip.
Add your ftp account details to Filezilla
Add your ftp account details to Filezilla
Now open up your ftp software.
I use Filezilla ftp software. This is free and you can download it from http://filezilla-project.org/. Choose Filezilla client.
- Set up your ftp account in Filezilla
- Click on File/Site Manager and then fill in the details of your site.
- Choose “Normal” from the Logontype box. Enter your username and password. Note this is NOT your Wordpress username and password it is your hosting account username and password.
- Navigate through the left-hand menu to find the saved (unzipped) plug-in on your computer.
- Then navigate through the right-hand menu to find your wp-plugins folder. This is usually located in public-html/wp-content/plugins, if you host more than one domain this could be public_html/mydomain/wp-content/plugins.
Add plugin to wordpress using ftp software
Uploading a plugin to wordpress
- If you are using Filezilla, make sure that the “plugins” directory is selected in the “Remote site” menu.
- Then RIGHT click on the plugin in the “Local site” directory and select Upload.
- Wait while your plugin is uploaded to your site.
Activate your new plugin
- Log into your Wordpress admin area and look for Plugins in the lefthand menu.
- If you can’t see the whole Plugins menu click on “Plugins” to expand the menu.
Click on Installed and you should see your newly added plugin in the “Inactive plugins” list
Inactive plugins list
- Click on Activate to the right of the plugin description
Settings menu options
Many Wordpress plugins have their own menu of options.
- After you have activated a new plugin, check your settings menu to see if your new plugin has its own options menu.
- The one that I have just uploaded does, and has added itself to the bottom of the settings menu.