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
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.
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.
- 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
- Click on Activate to the right of the plugin description
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.