How to Install WordPress Plugin: All the Three Methods

WordPress is the most widely-used CMS (Content Management System) with 18 million installation and currently 33% of all the websites around the world are powered by WordPress. This is mainly because of its structural flexibility to shape up for any sort of website; especially for its unique capability to adapt with thousands of PLUGINS that increase features and functionality. So, for any WordPressers, it is a must-know fact— how to install WordPress plugin. We’ve presented all the three methods available easy way for your complete understanding.

Simply Plugin is an accessory software program that extends the capabilities of an existing application. Plugin is also known as Add-in or Add-on. There are many renowned programs in which you can add plugin to perform extra functionality.

As a matter of fact, this post (Post-6) is the part of a series of seven posts that provide ultimate guide on ‘How to start and manage WordPress Blog/Site’.

What is Plugin? Why to install WordPress Plugin

For instance, you can add PageRank (PR) Lookup Tool with Mozilla Firefox as an extra plugin to look up page rank of any website you visit with this Browser.

Your total WordPress site is structured on three layers—

WordPress Core File which you download from WrodPress.Org is the keystone of the WordPress Website Structure. Theme is like skin on that bony frame. Theme reshaps your site with Graphical Interface with underlying design.

Themes also involve image files, style sheets (*.css), custom Pages, as well as different necessary code files (*.php). Among the .php files function.php files are added to accomplish different functionality. This files are Plugins. But without adding function.php files, you can install and use separate software specially designed to perform a specific function. This is called WordPress Plugin.

Thousands of WordPress plugins available in the market (Free and paid) can do hundreds of works. Some of these are as follows—

Now let’s enter the plugin installation process directly.

How to install WordPress Plugin? How to find them?

The main source where you can download WordPress plugins from is Plugin Repository at WordPress.org. These are free plugin bank. Beyond these, there are paid plugins built by different developers.

If you have expertise in PHP and skilled in Coding with other web languages, you can also develop a plugin aiming to making it perform a definite task in WordPress. There are many websites and tutorials to help you do that job.

Now you can question; how do I find an appropriate plugin for a for a definite function?

The answer is: There are numerous tutorials on WordPress plugins around the Internet. You can find them by googling. If you can pick a plugin by name, you can find it by searching WordPress.org→ Plugin. Again if you are not sure of which plugin to use for a specific WordPress function; just search it Google. Suppose you need a plugin to reduce your image size. Just google the phrase “best image optimization/reduction WordPress plugin“. That’s all; you see that many an expert has come forward to stand by you.

However, on the basis of plugin source, we can install them in WordPress site three different ways—

Now let’s enter the whole process in each case.

Install WordPress plugin by searching WordPress Plugin Repo

This process is straightforward and easiest. It is just installing any free plugin from WordPress.org directly without needing to download it. If you find out a plugin up to your liking and decided to use it; use this method—

Now you can deactivate, delete or update the plugin and configure setting anytime from Installed Plugins page.
After installation and activation, you may go through set-up process in case of many plugins. In other cases, no-setup may be applicable.
However, you’ll get a menu link for each plugin to handle with in your Admin Dashboard.
Where do you get the plugin link?
Experience shows that Plugin links appears in different location such as In the left Menu Panel, within Setting, Within Appearance, on Top bar or even with Post Editor. You have to find that out.

Install downloaded WordPress plugins by Uploading

You may have to follow this process if you have plugins previously downloaded or use a premium plugin not available in WordPress Plugin Directory. Whatever the plugin source may be, your downloaded plugin is a zip file. To upload, install and activate it; just follow—

Manually install WordPress plugin throgh FTP channel

FTP channel is oftentimes used to upload files to one’s Website Directory in Hosting Server. Same process can be applied to upload WordPress plugin. This process is somewhat complicated compared to two others; but you may face situation when there might not have other alternative to install your plugin without FTP.

This happens when your hosting provider have file restrictions that limits your capability to install a plugin from the admin area.

It would be better if you have experience of uploading and downloading files through FTP channel. If you haven’t, read up our article on File Transfer Protocol (FTP) at once and then follow the tips below—

Now let’s proceed through the following way—

Hope you all got a lucid understanding of how to install WordPress plugin in 3 different ways. Feel free to share your experience and queries about using WordPress plugins and their installation process by commenting.

Now jump to the next post. Have a happy WordPress journey!