This article will walk you through the process of installing a new plugin in WordPress. We’ll cover the most common methods to install a WordPress plugin, so you can choose the method that works best for you.
Let’s get started.
Мethod 1. Install a Plugin using the WordPress plugin search
Step 1. Install the plugin
To install the plugin, you can search for it straight in your WordPress Dashboard. Click on Add New (1) in your Plugins menu, then type the name of the plugin (2) you want to install (in our case Contact form 7) into the search bar. Press Install Now (3) next to the plugin.
Step 2. Activate the plugin
Аfter that a button saying Activate will appear. You need to press it and the plugin will be active.
That’s it! You’ve successfully installed and activated the plugin.
Method 2. Install a plugin by using the upload method from WordPress admin
Step 1. Download the archived plugin
Paid WordPress plugins are not listed in the WordPress plugin directory. These plugins cannot be installed using the first method.
That’s why WordPress comes with the upload method to install such plugins.
First, you need to download the plugin from the source (which will be a zip file). Next, you need to go to the WordPress admin area and visit the Plugins » Add New (1) page.
After that, click on the “Upload Plugin” (2) button at top of the page.
Step 2. Install and activate the plugin
Once you’ve clicked on the “Upload Plugin” button the plugin upload form will reveal. Here you need to click on the “Choose File” button and select the plugin file you downloaded earlier.
Once your plugin is installed, you will see a “Plugin installed successfully” message (1).
You’ll also see links to go to the plugin installer or activate your plugin. To start using this plugin on your website click on Activate Plugin button (2).
That’s it, the plugin is successfully installed and active.
Method 3. Installing a WordPress plugin using FTP
Step 1. Log in to your FTP client
You need to use your FTP user in your WPX Admin panel. If you don’t have an FTP user please check the following article.
Then you need to log in to your FTP client (we will use File Zilla). If you are not familiar with File Zilla and how to use it please check here.
Once you are logged in you need to find the “plugins” folder on the site where you want the plugin to be installed.
Please note that if this is your Main website then you simply need to search for the “public_html” folder in the main directory. If it’s not your Main domain then you need to select the “domains” folder and find the site.
In our case, this is our Main website so we need to go to “public_html >> wp_content >> plugins”:
Step 2. Upload the plugin
First, you need to unzip the archived file of the plugin. Once you are in the “plugins” folder select your unzipped plugin folder from your computer. You can then drag and drop this plugin folder (1) into your website’s “plugins” folder (2):
Step 3. Activate the uploaded plugin
Once you’ve uploaded the plugin, switch back to your WordPress dashboard. Then go to Plugins (1).
You should now see the plugin that you just uploaded.
All you need is to click on the Activate button (2):
That’s it, the plugin is now activated.
Method 4. Installing a WordPress plugin using our WPX File Manager
Step 1. Log in to your File Manager
First, you need to log in to File Manager through your WPX admin panel. If you are not familiar with our File Manager and how to log in please check here.
Once you’re in File Manager please navigate to the “plugins” folder of the site where you want the plugin to be installed (public_html > wp_content > plugins).
Please note that if this is your Main website then you simply need to search for the “public_html” folder in the main directory. If it’s not your Main domain then you need to select the “domains” folder and find the site.
Step 2. Upload the plugin
The next step is to upload the plugin that you want to be installed on the site. You need to select the “Upload Files” button from the “File” dropdown menu.
Then select the archived file of the plugin that you’ve purchased and upload it. You should see it in the list with the plugins. Once uploaded you need to select it with the right mouse button and select “Extract Archive”:
Step 3. Activate the plugin
Once you’ve uploaded and unzipped the plugin, switch back to your WordPress dashboard. Then go to Plugins (1).
You should now see the plugin that you just uploaded.
You just need to select Activate (2):
That’s it! Your plugin is now active!
If you get stuck with anything discussed on this page, please get in touch with WPX Support Team via live chat (use the bottom right-hand widget) and they will respond and help within 30 seconds or less.